What action is recommended before making a turn to ensure safety?

Signaling your intentions before making a turn is essential for ensuring the safety of both yourself and other road users. By using your turn signals, you communicate to motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians around you that you are about to change direction. This helps everyone anticipate your movement, reducing the risk of a collision.

When you signal, it's not only a matter of law but also a critical part of safe riding behavior. It gives others the necessary time to react appropriately to your planned maneuver, helping to maintain the flow of traffic and enhance overall safety on the road.

In terms of other actions: looking backward is generally less effective for anticipating what others might do; honking your horn can alert others but does not convey your specific intention to turn; and changing lanes can create confusion if other road users are not aware of your intended action. Thus, signaling is the most effective and recommended practice before making a turn.