# Right turn signal or four-way flashers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824 "2014-09-29T02:08:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/21 "2014-09-29T14:12:50Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I don’t think in my entire life I’ve seen someone use their hazards to indicate parallel parking. Since we are talking about a “signal” to other drivers, all your appeals to logic are for meaningless. Hazards means you are stopped or driving well below expected speed. Turn signals mean you are going in that direction. That’s what everyone else on the road is expecting of you. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/22 "2014-09-29T14:19:45Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Right turn signal > [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](#): > > Why? Because that’s what everybody understands. Flashers mean emergency not parking. Listen to your wife. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/23 "2014-09-29T14:34:02Z")
In practice, what I actually do is to stop abreast of the open spot, then turn on my turn signal. Drivers behind quickly get the idea, or don’t. Most are attentive enough to ‘get it’, so that when you pull up far enough to begin backing, they stay back far enough for you to manage to get far enough out of the lane for them to go on their way. The wife is actually right, in this limited case. Generally, they are wrong, but, this time?.. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/24 "2014-09-29T14:38:26Z")
Another vote for right turn signal. If it’s on a street with parallel parking people know to expect that. Flashers would indicate to me you are either temporarily parked where you are and not moving, or disabled. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/25 "2014-09-29T14:40:50Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I don’t think in my entire life I’ve seen someone use their hazards to indicate parallel parking. Since we are talking about a “signal” to other drivers, all your appeals to logic are for meaningless. Hazards means you are stopped or driving well below expected speed. Turn signals mean you are going in that direction. That’s what everyone else on the road is expecting of you. Yes, this. I was taught in driver’s ed to pull ahead of the spot and flick the turn signal in the direction you’re going to park. Everyone else was taught this, but rural/suburbanite folks all forgot, just like they forgot how to parallel park (or never really learned in the first place). In any major city if you move closer to the row of parked cars with your blinker on and stop ahead of an empty spot, people behind you will hang back because they know you’re going to park. If they don’t, they’re ignorant jackholes and you can feel smug that you’re a better driver than them. Turning on your hazards means you’re double parking for a short while and will rightly attract the ire of the people behind you. There may not be a whole lot of logic to it, but if these signals are to have universal understanding, then OP is wrong, OP’s wife is right. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/26 "2014-09-29T14:43:40Z")
Right turn, Clyde. Look it up in your driver’s manual, I’ll bet it’s there! ---
**Author:** ![Krouget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b38774/32.png) [@Krouget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krouget)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/27 "2014-09-29T15:05:05Z")
> [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](#): > > When I pull up to a parking space to parallel park, I turn on my four-way flashers. I want the cars behind me to know that I am not going anywhere, that they should go around me or wait until I back into the parking spot. > > My wife says this is all wrong. She says I should put on my right-turn signal. I think this is misleading those behind me to think I am temporarily stopped and will go forward to make a right turn. > > Who is right here? Your wife is correct. Signal in the direction you’re going to move, ahead of time, and start slowing down to indicate what’s going on. If the driver behind you is at-all paying attention, they’ll get it. Of course, many people don’t pay attention and will drive up to your bumper, then act shocked when your reverse lights come on. I’d wave these people on if they still don’t get it. If they don’t then move, they’re probably fighting you for the spot.🙂 If you put on your hazard lights, I’d just as well assume you were double-parking for a moment (and would still likely go around you, anyway), but technically, and on a driving test, you signal. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/28 "2014-09-29T16:14:25Z")
Right turn signal. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/29 "2014-09-29T19:12:47Z")
Yes, right is right. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/30 "2014-09-29T19:46:06Z")
> [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](#): > > But look, you are driving in traffic looking for a parking spot on your right. You see one about three spaces up and put on your right turn signal. The driver behind you thinks you are going to make a right turn at the next intersection and stays right on your tail. Now you stop just ahead of the open space and prepare to back in, but the car behind you blocks you and is probably too close to turn into the left hand lane. This happens all the time. > > On the other hand, when I see the parking space, I turn on the four-ways. NOW anyone behind me thinks, "Whoa, this guy is gonna stop; I better swerve left to get around him. Now there is nobody behind me and I can park. If they put on their right turn signal I don’t assume where they’re going to turn. It could be the next street, a drive way, a parking spot or just be pulling over to the shoulder. It’s my job to slow down a bit, back off and see what happens. Four-way flashers would be confusing. It either means you’re going to stop of be driving way below the speed limit. I won’t be expecting any turn. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/31 "2014-09-29T22:08:50Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > If they put on their right turn signal I don’t assume where they’re going to turn. It could be the next street, a drive way, a parking spot or just be pulling over to the shoulder. It’s my job to slow down a bit, back off and see what happens. > > Four-way flashers would be confusing. It either means you’re going to stop of be driving way below the speed limit. I won’t be expecting any turn. Indeed. Four-ways typically indicate “I am stopped right here” or “I am having vehicle trouble and going very, very slowly”, not “I am about to do something and you get to guess what it is.” On a busy street, my initial guess would be “I’m double parking for a minute.” The correct indicator light, coupled with your back-up lights, will quickly let anyone with a clue know what you’re about to do. Slow down and put your turn signal on a reasonable distance before the empty space if possible, to allow others to give you room and get around you safely. ---
**Author:** ![jesant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/977dab/32.png) [@jesant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesant)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/32 "2015-03-19T18:34:40Z")
Drivers who put on their 4-way flashers to parallel park are sending the wrong message, and it’s dangerous and annoying to the car(s) behind. Your brake lights already tell me you’re stopping, your turn signal tells me you’re going to park. If I see this I’ll stop and wait for the person to park. This is common courtesy (if not law). What all too often happens though, is that someone puts on their flashers (which indicates that they are stopping in the middle of the street for whatever reason) and since I have no idea what they’re doing or how long they’re going to be stopped, I immediately pull around them and so does everyone else, making it difficult if not impossible for them to park, and maybe even blocking traffic in the opposite direction. I see this all the time in the city where I live and I wonder how it happens that drivers make this error because it’s taught properly in driver’s ed. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/33 "2015-03-19T19:02:23Z")
I’ve never seen nor heard of anyone using his 4-way hazards to signal parallel parking. Always use your right turn signal (except in rare cases when you’re pulling in from the left). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/34 "2015-03-19T19:16:31Z")
Here in St. Paul, if I signal for a right turn, they’ll run right up my ass because they’re expecting me to drive up to the corner and turn right, and then they’re going to get all pissed off before they pass me anyway. If I use my hazards, they’re going to drive around me and I won’t be able to back up and park until they’re done driving into oncoming traffic. If I just shift into reverse, that at least tells them that I’m planning on backing up, rather than just a hazard, and they _might_ actually stop and wait for me to park, otherwise, see above. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/35 "2015-03-19T19:34:00Z")
> [@Morelin](#): > > In Driver’s Ed, we were taught to use the blinker in the direction we were parking. FWIW. Yep. This is how it works. To me, flashers indicate you’re going to stop right where you are for whatever reason. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/36 "2015-03-19T21:58:20Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If your car is stopped just ahead of an open parallel spot and you’ve got your right-turn signal on, it’s fairly easy to conclude that you’re about to parallel park. And that couples with your back lights being on should be enough that even a mouth breather should have a clue. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/37 "2015-03-20T19:51:19Z")
Another vote for right turn signal. Hazard lights indicate that you are parking in the road or signaling trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/38 "2015-03-20T20:08:46Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > And that couples with your back lights being on should be enough that even a mouth breather should have a clue. This. Right turn signal, and select reverse ASAP (i.e. the moment your car stops). Most folks will not crowd your rear bumper because they see the open space and put two and two together. For them what do crowd you cuz they’re clueless, they’ll usually either go around you or back up themselves to give you room. Occasionally they can’t back up because there’s a line of cars crowding behind them (or they won’t cuz they’re a dick and they’re gonna take your spot), in which case you’re SOL and should probably move on to the next parking opportunity. four-way flashers are confusing to other drivers in this context. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824/39 "2015-03-20T20:41:42Z")
Turn signal for parallel parking. 4-way (while stopped) for I’m parked here and ain’t moving. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-turn-signal-or-four-way-flashers/699824.md?page=1)