When driving, be predictable, consistent and polite. You want everyone to know your intentions so they don’t go and do something stupid because they think you’re doing something else.
Honestly, it’s become so much of a habit that I would sometimes use mine when turning around the perimeter of a parking lot without thinking, despite it being a corner where a turn is the only option.
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Use every tool at your disposal to signal your intentions and awareness of the situation on the road.
Not between double yellows at a light with a turn indicator, and not when the turn lane is a freeway exit (so I’m actually just going straight), but pretty much all other times.
No longer drive but yes.
The drivers around me, including those in front, might not realize it’s a turn only lane. It also shows them that I know it’s a turning lane and shows my intent.
Former president?
Yeah, there can be pedestrians and bikes where I live. With these new e-scooters and ebikes, they can appear pretty fast snd silently, and aren’t always in full control of their ride when going fast and don’t always obey the traffic rules. I don’t want to confuse them.
I always would. The only time it becomes a bit ambiguous is if there are two turn lanes, e.g. you’re turning left from the second-to-left lane. In that case I’d usually indicate later, maybe when I’ve stopped or the white line is solid, so it’s clear I’m not trying to change lanes.
I’m probably over thinking it.
If I see someone in the right turning lane with their right indicator on, I assume they are about to turn right.
If I see someone in the right turning lane but they have their left indicator on, I assume they want to leave the turning lane.
If I see someone in the right turning lane without their indicator on, I assume they are probably going to turn right but they may have made a mistake or changed their mind, so I’m more cautious if I’m passing or try to leave room for them to get out if appropriate. This is the most annoying situation for me because I have less information to guess what they might do next.
Interesting. For me, the latter scenario is the most clear. In the first one, they may want to turn into a driveway, just stop on the roadside altogether, switch to a different lane to their right (on a double turn lane), whatever: they’re potentially trying to deviate from the path they’ve chosen to take. If they just want to follow the path they’re on, turn signals off makes the most sense to me
Of course, if you’re in a country that crosses different traffic directions on green (like Belgian and German lights that go green for you wanting to left turn, but there’s traffic coming straight on) then it’s needed to indicate you’re a turner and not someone going straight on. But then, mixing traffic is a recipe for confusion and accidents anyway (saw a stat recently that right turns having green together with pedestrians increases accidents by iirc some 60% — probably a low number to begin with and so any change looks big, but still crazy to me that countries continue to choose this)
Another scenario that appears more universally, where you have one lane for two options (straight on or right, for example), the turn signal is also needed of course: there is no path you’ve already chosen and so you need to show intent to change
At the end of the day there is no reason not to. Not like it takes any effort or costs anything.
That being said, I usually won’t the closer I am to home/on my main commute. Why? Because I’m driving next to the same people every day. The same work truck with a giant butterfly on it and that one dumb ass looking cyber truck. Along with the other 100 other commuters the same day.
…so what? How is that relevant to anything?
Yes, it’s what you’re taught to do anyway.
Over here they’re called indicators and you’re supposed to indicate any change of direction. So yes, I do. Also I’m not a cunt.
There has been some confusion about this question: https://www.thewisedrive.com/turn-signals-in-dedicated-turn-lanes/ https://www.thewisedrive.com/yes-you-have-to-use-your-turn-signal/ https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/12/26/watch-live-trooper-steve-explains-whether-you-need-to-use-turn-signals-in-turn-only-lanes/
I think the idea of a “direct course” is useful:
I do pay extra attention to giving a signal when I intend to make a U-turn rather than a typical left turn.
Yes, of course. Every time the car changes direction. Don’t be lazy
Just out of instinct.
Doesnt hurt to use them anyway ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
