Why should you check your mirrors when you see an obstruction ahead?

Checking your mirrors when you see an obstruction ahead is crucial for evaluating the impact on traffic flow. This action allows you to assess the situation around you effectively. By observing the vehicles behind and to the sides, you can gauge whether it is safe to slow down, change lanes, or proceed with caution. This helps you maintain awareness of other drivers' behaviors and the overall dynamic of the road, ensuring you can make informed decisions that prioritize your safety and that of others.

While cleaning your mirrors, entertaining yourself, or adjusting your seating position might have their respective contexts, they are not relevant to the immediate need to assess traffic when an obstruction is present. The primary focus during such a situation should be on understanding how the obstruction could influence the movement of vehicles around you, which is why evaluating traffic flow is the appropriate and necessary response.