# Can a misused turn signal lead to responsibility for a traffic crash? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 17, 2012, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-misused-turn-signal-lead-to-responsibility-for-a-traffic-crash/634961 "2012-09-17T11:47:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-misused-turn-signal-lead-to-responsibility-for-a-traffic-crash/634961/41 "2013-11-29T03:22:00Z")
And on top of all that, we have _yet another_ type of advisory line in CA, which I think is not unique to CA: The short dashes vs. long dashes. Short dashes indicate that the lane you are in will soon separate from the adjacent lane(s) and go off in a different direction. So if that’s not where you want to go, get out of this lane now while you still can! At some point before the divergence, the short dashes turn into a solid single white line (the most common case is the right-most lane, on a freeway or street, leading to an off-ramp or right-turn-only lane). Once the line becomes solid white (most often seen alongside both left-turn and right-turn lanes), as I’ve always understood it, you are committed to stay in that lane and go where the lane takes you. (Some [good illustrations here](http://epg.modot.org/index.php?title=620.2_pavement_and_curb_markings_%28mutcd_chapter_3b%29#Fig._620.2.5.1), scroll down to see a few more.) ETA: Note also the solid white line separating the two lanes of a two-lane off-ramp (one or two pics down from the linked one.) They don’t want you changing lanes on the off-ramp there either. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-misused-turn-signal-lead-to-responsibility-for-a-traffic-crash/634961/42 "2013-11-29T19:10:14Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > And on top of all that, we have _yet another_ type of advisory line in CA, which I think is not unique to CA: The short dashes vs. long dashes. Those are described [here](http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/knowledge/faqs/faq_part3.htm#q9) (same source as\*\* Lord\*\* **Feldon** ’s post). Thanks for the images. ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-misused-turn-signal-lead-to-responsibility-for-a-traffic-crash/634961/43 "2013-12-01T23:19:26Z")
Machine Elf, When riding a motorcycle, Always ASSUME that the other guy will try to kill you! This attitude has helped to keep me alive for over 45 years. Sure, the other driver was wrong to signal a turn when they were going straight. However, if they caused an accident, you would still be dead! So they get a ticket and you get to die. Not a win for you. I am glad that this lesson did not cost you blood or scrapes and especially it did not cost you your life. IMO an argument about who has the right-of-way is best left to lawyers in a courtroom setting. It is not advisable to argue this while riding a motorcycle, nor any small car or bicycle (mass matters). Keep your head on a swivel and the rubber side down! I hope to see you out there in the wind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-misused-turn-signal-lead-to-responsibility-for-a-traffic-crash/634961.md?page=2)