At intersections, which direction should you look first?

When approaching intersections, the recommended practice is to look to the left first. This is because traffic coming from your left is typically closer and poses a greater immediate risk as you prepare to cross the intersection. Most vehicles that you might encounter—whether they are moving straight through or making a turn—will be coming from the left. By looking left first, you can better assess any potential hazards or vehicles that may be entering your path. After checking left, it’s important to also look right to ensure that the intersection is clear from vehicles or pedestrians coming from that direction as well.

While options such as looking ahead or behind may seem relevant in certain contexts, they do not address the immediate risks posed by cross traffic. Focusing on the left side first prioritizes your safety by allowing you to identify and react to vehicles that could potentially impede your movement through the intersection.