Tennessee Permit Practice Test

Why should you always check your mirrors?

1. To adjust your seat position

2. To be aware of your surroundings and other drivers

3. To see if your lights are working

4. To avoid looking at your phone

The correct answer is: To be aware of your surroundings and other drivers

Checking your mirrors is essential for being aware of your surroundings and understanding what other drivers are doing around you. Being cognizant of the vehicles and pedestrians in your vicinity helps prevent accidents and encourages safe driving practices. It allows you to monitor traffic patterns, gauge distances, and prepare for lane changes or merges. This awareness is crucial, as many collisions occur because drivers fail to notice others in their blind spots or surrounding areas. While adjusting your seat position is important for ensuring comfort and control, it does not specifically pertain to situational awareness. Seeing if your lights are working involves other checks, such as using a reflective surface or having someone assist you. Avoiding looking at your phone, while critical for safe driving, is not directly related to the purpose of checking mirrors. Thus, the act of frequently checking mirrors is fundamentally about maintaining a clear awareness of the driving environment and the actions of other road users.