What is the minimum requirement before changing lanes in Virginia?

In Virginia, signaling your intention to change lanes is a critical requirement for ensuring the safety of all road users. When you signal, you communicate to other drivers and pedestrians your plan to make a lane change, allowing them to anticipate your actions and adjust accordingly. This practice promotes safer driving habits and reduces the likelihood of accidents.

Simply checking mirrors or looking for pedestrians does not sufficiently inform other road users of your movements. Changing lanes immediately without signaling increases the risk of collisions because it does not provide any advance warning to others. Lastly, focusing solely on pedestrians ignores the necessity of considering other vehicles on the road that might be affected by your lane change. Therefore, signaling before making a lane change is not just a requirement; it is an essential aspect of safe driving.