What should you do after changing lanes according to the SMOG-C method?

After changing lanes, it is important to cancel your turn signal as indicated by the SMOG-C method. This practice ensures that other road users are not misled by an active signal indicating your intent to change lanes when you have already completed that maneuver.

Keeping your signal on after lane changes might cause confusion for drivers behind you or adjacent to you, leading them to think you are planning another maneuver or that you have not yet completed your lane change. By cancelling your signal, you provide clear communication of your actions to others on the road, which enhances safety and reduces the risk of accidents. This step is fundamental in promoting an organized, predictable driving environment.

While signaling before a lane change is crucial to indicate your intent to other drivers, and checking mirrors is essential to ensuring there is a safe gap for the lane change, the task of cancelling the signal afterward is equally vital to maintain clarity in your actions. Thus, completing this final step helps reinforce proper communication on the road.