Results from improper lane change?

• A. Rear End
• B. Head-On
• C. Side Swipe
• D. Side Impact

Answer: (C)

When you change lanes, the immediate risk is that you move into the space already occupied by another vehicle in the adjacent lane. If you fail to check for that vehicle, signal properly, or ensure a safe gap, your car can brush the side of the vehicle next to you as you pass. That contact along the sides is what a side swipe describes. It’s a collision focused on the sides of the two cars as you move laterally past each other, which fits the common real-world outcome of an improper lane change.

This differs from a rear-end crash, which happens when you’re following too closely and the vehicle in front slows suddenly. It also differs from a head-on crash, which involves crossing into oncoming traffic, and from a generic side impact, which can occur in various other scenarios like intersections. So the result most linked to an improper lane change is a side swipe.