When should you use your vehicle's turn signals?

Using your vehicle's turn signals before changing lanes or turning is essential for safe driving. Turn signals serve as a communication tool with other road users, informing them of your intentions. This alerts other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists to your planned maneuvers, allowing them to react accordingly and help prevent accidents.

In addition, using turn signals is an important legal requirement in nearly all jurisdictions. Signaling your intentions before making lane changes or turns is a fundamental part of driving etiquette and safety protocols, contributing to overall road safety.

The idea that signals are only necessary when other cars are present, or solely in residential areas, undermines the importance of continuous communication while driving. Likewise, signaling only when approaching intersections does not cover the need to indicate turns and lane changes, which can occur anywhere on the road, not just at intersections.