What is the proper way to prepare before changing lanes to reduce blind spots?

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Reducing blind spots before changing lanes comes from a combined check: adjust your mirrors, position your head to check, and glance over your shoulder toward the lane you want to enter. Proper mirror adjustment means setting the side mirrors so you can just see the edge of your own car in them, which helps you spot vehicles in the adjacent lane without leaning too far. Then turn your head and look over the shoulder toward the lane you plan to enter; this shoulder check reveals any cars that the mirrors might miss. A quick glance back to the direction of travel before you move completes the check and keeps you from moving into an unseen vehicle. The other options don’t address the real need to survey the space beside and behind you—windshield wipers don’t add lane-scan information, hazards or honking don’t provide a reliable view, and looking far ahead alone can leave blind spots unchecked.