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Part of safe driving is letting the other drivers around you predict what you will do. Using your turn signals is not difficult, and it's generally required by law whenever you make a turn or change lanes. Providing a signal to turn to other drivers, both in front of you and behind you, is to communicate to them, your intentions to change lane or directions. Communications is an effective tool to help prevent most accidents from happening.



  1. Turn_signals_2.jpg
    Locate the lever on the left side of the steering column. (This lever will be on the right in any car designed for driving on the left side of the road. Note that vehicles imported from a location where driving is on the opposite side of the road and where they have had their driving position moved to the normal position, the lever may be positioned on the opposite side!)
  2. Turn_signals_3.jpg
    To signal a left turn, push the lever down (or up if the lever is to the right of your steering column).
    • You may be able to flick the lever with your fingers without removing your entire hand from the steering wheel. But don't turn the wheel in the process. It's best to keep your other hand on it, too.
  3. Turn_signals_4.jpg
    To signal a right turn, push the lever up (or down if the lever is to the right of your steering column).
  4. Turn_signals_5.jpg
    Once you have moved the lever up or down, an arrow light will begin blinking on the dashboard.
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    The signal will automatically turn off after you have made the turn, in most cases, but you must turn the wheel past a certain point. If it doesn't automatically turn off, move the lever back to its central, neutral position.
    • Many turn signal levers activate the signal in two positions for each direction. You can either push the lever far enough that it clicks, and it will stay on, or you can hold the lever just short of the click position and it will spring back. The springing back position is useful for changing lanes, since you may not turn the steering wheel far enough for the turn signal to turn off automatically.

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  • The best way to remember which way to move the turn signal is to move in the same direction that you are turning your steering wheel. If you leave your hand on the steering wheel and turn left, you will ultimately push downward on the turn signal, thereby signaling left.
  • You should also use your turn signals when you are changing lanes, to alert other drivers appropriately. and keep them in use until you have completely made the lane changes. This includes when entering a traffic lane from a parking area, such as being parallel parked in a parking area.
  • Use a turn signal every time. It's as easy as flipping a lever to to be courteous to other drivers and to pedestrians who might otherwise be where you're turning. If you don't see any, it might be because they're not there, but it might be that you don't see them and your turn signal needs to alert them to you and prevent an accident. Though you should always drive carefully, it's much better to be two problems away from an accident (not noticing someone in your way and them not noticing you signaling) than one (not noticing and crashing into them). Make signaling a habit, so you'll be less likely to forget it under stress.
  • Turn on the signal before braking to let other drivers know why you are slowing.
  • Signal, then look and turn. You'll give others more time to notice. Someone may even make way for you.
  • Remember: your turn signal is to warn drivers that you don't see (i.e. blind spot) what you are going to do.
  • Use your turn signal a few seconds ahead of the turn you want to make. Approximately 100 feet (30.5 m) ahead in a city; further on a highway.


  • When signaling, make sure at least one hand is on the wheel at all times. Also look where you are going and do not turn unless it is safe to do so.
  • Be careful if you want to turn where there are two turnings near each other on the same side of the road. Start signaling when you are at approximately the midpoint of the turning before if you are turning into the farthest one.
  • Some cars don't have levers on the left side. If when you push the lever on the left side, your windscreen wipers come on, then try the right lever.

Article Info

Categories: Driving Basics

In other languages:

Español: Cómo usar las direccionales, Português: Como Utilizar as Setas de Direção, Italiano: Come Usare gli Indicatori di Direzione in Auto, Deutsch: Blinker einsetzen

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