by Tom Reindl

Created on: April 26, 2007   Last Updated: March 02, 2010

What's so important about turn signals? If you drive as often as I do, especially on the freeway, you might know that turn signals save lives, as well as time. On a busy freeway, or in any traffic jam, using your turn signal isn't just considered good etiquette, it's essential if you want to move about traffic without creating dangerous situations for yourself and those drivers around you.

A simple flip of the turn signal handle upward will let people know you intend to turn right; down is a left turn or move. I recommend using your signal whenever you plan to make a lane change, a road turn, or turning into a parking spot. I also recommend using your turn signal when entering and leaving freeways, as well as entering road traffic while pulling away from a roadside parking spot.

Why is this so important? The answer is very simple. Declare your intentions.

That is what I have been teaching my fourteen year old daughter; in fact, it is the first thing I taught her about driving. But why should I declare my intentions, what's so important about that? Can't they guess where I'm going? They most certainly can guess, but often, drivers around you will guess wrong, or be completely unaware that you are making a move. A turn signal grabs their attention; that's why we get so irritated when someone has forgotten to turn their signal off after completing their move.

Declare your intentions. Let people know what you intend to do, so they can make room or be given an opportunity to react to your intentions. Leaving your turn signal off when you make a turn or a lane change is one of the surest ways to become involved in an auto accident. Unfortunately, that auto accident never involves only you. It might involve one other driver and their passengers, or it might involve many drivers and passengers, including your own precious cargo.

Declare your intentions. Wars have been started because intentions weren't clearly defined. Fathers usually want young men to declare their intentions regarding daughters. But on the road, if you fail to declare your intentions, people may die or be injured, and you may incite road rage. Who needs that?

Declare your intentions; let people know what you want to do, and driving will not only be safer, but easier as well. Most drivers will make room for people who signal their intentions, but if you don't let people know where you are going, no one will make room for you. Use your signal on the freeway before there is an open space in heavy traffic. This allows drivers behind you to slow down and create a space. If you wait to signal until there is already a space, chances are another driver, thinking just like you, will grab that space because without your signal, he had no idea you wanted it.

There are a myriad of good reasons to use your turn signals, and no good reasons not to. Please try to remember that when you declare your intentions, you let people know what you want, which is the surest way to get it.

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