Final answer:
When changing lanes, signal for at least 5 seconds and check your mirrors and blind spots without slowing down unless required by traffic conditions. This helps ensure safety for both you and other road users, including any animals like rabbits that may be trying to cross the roadway.
Step-by-step explanation:
When changing lanes on a freeway, the correct procedure to ensure safety is to signal for at least 5 seconds before changing lanes. This allows other drivers to recognize your intention to move over and gives them time to adjust their driving accordingly.
It is important not to assume there is enough space for your vehicle just because you signaled. You must check mirrors and your blind spot to ensure that the lane change can be done safely. You should also maintain your current speed when changing lanes, slowing down can cause other drivers to misjudge your intentions and could potentially lead to a collision. Slowing down before changing lanes is not recommended unless traffic conditions require it.
The safety of a non-vehicle entity, like a rabbit attempting to cross the freeway, depends on many unpredictable factors such as traffic density, driver behaviors, and the animal's own unpredictable movements. Although this question asks about a hypothetical situation regarding a rabbit, the key message is that all drivers need to be observant and ready to react to unexpected obstacles on the road.