# Should I use my turn signal at this intersection? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 20, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260 "2026-05-20T19:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/1 "2026-05-20T19:20:08Z")
I’m putting this in IMHO because I don’t think there’s a factual answer; and by that I mean, this situation is so specific that I doubt Missouri law even covers it. https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.7082115,-90.6197335&z=14&output=embed&dg=ntvb So I’m driving northeast on Highway N, and I want to exit the highway onto Highway NN. I say, I sould signal that I’m making a right turn, because I’m exiting Highway N by keeping right and onto another road, and not staying on it like other traffic. Mrs. H says that since I’m not turning in the strictest sense (indeed, I’m continuing straight even though the road I’m on kind of curves northward), I needn’t signal. What say you? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/2 "2026-05-20T19:22:17Z")
It never hurts to make your intention obvious, especially as you are technically turning onto a different road. The amount of energy that using your turn signal consumes is negligible. Were it me, I’d use my turn signal coming up to that Y intersection, regardless of which direction I was taking. Just don’t leave it on for the next three miles once you turn onto NN. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/3 "2026-05-20T19:23:39Z")
I say that if the traffic flow isn’t clearly indicated by painted lines, you are correct to use your turn signal whichever way you were going (left or right) - same as you would if you were on the highway pulling onto the shoulder. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/4 "2026-05-20T19:27:48Z")
I took a look at the intersection on street view. I would definitely signal, since you are technically exiting Highway N for NN. Even though your actual driving direction doesn’t change much, you are crossing a dotted line divider and as such are changing lanes to take that exit. You are correct to signal. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/5 "2026-05-20T19:32:35Z")
Is there a speed decrease going from N to NN ? If so then you definitely want to signal indicating the reason you may be slowing. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/6 "2026-05-20T19:36:47Z")
I don’t think so, but good point, that. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/7 "2026-05-20T19:43:25Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > It never hurts to make your intention obvious, especially as you are technically turning onto a different road. The amount of energy that using your turn signal consumes is negligible. I agree. Whether or not the law strictly requires it, doing so is courteous driving. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/8 "2026-05-20T20:03:04Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > It never hurts to make your intention obvious Quoted for truth. Maybe you are and maybe you aren’t required to signal here, but there is no situation I can think of where it would be a detriment to yourself or anyone else to do so. If I were driving and signaling as described, and if anyone asked me why I signaled there because I didn’t have to, my reply would be “why (the hell) not?” ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/9 "2026-05-20T20:06:22Z")
If you remain on the road upon which you have been traveling, you don’t signal. Where Dixie Highway enters Homewood, it turns 90 degrees left, goes 150 feet, and then turns 90 degrees right. I don’t signal that, and most other people don’t, either. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/10 "2026-05-20T20:06:24Z")
You have to cross the dotted white line to get on NN, so in just about every state AFAIK, doing that without signaling can get you pulled over for failure to signal if a cop was behind you and was particularly bored. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/11 "2026-05-20T20:09:36Z")
Here’s in intersection in question, if anyone’s interested: [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/EGgVy4y.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/mBOteLv) ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/12 "2026-05-20T20:25:38Z")
I would signal. Highway N is already curving to the left at the point where it intersects with Highway NN. The double yellow line follows N, and there’s a sign with an arrow pointing left. Also, N is wider than NN. All of these indicate that the main traffic will go left. And, as @kenobi_65 said, it can’t hurt to signal. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/13 "2026-05-20T20:30:57Z")
Yes, use your signal. Make your intentions as clear as possible to the chucklehead behind you who is looking at their phone. If you’re slowing to make the ‘turn’ and said chucklehead is an impatient sort of chucklehead that might otherwise be inclined to pass over the double yellow, seeing your signal might convince him/her to be patient for another hundred yards or so and you’ll be out of the way. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/14 "2026-05-20T20:32:16Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > I took a look at the intersection on street view. I would definitely signal, since you are technically exiting Highway N for NN. Yeah, looking at the map. “No, I wouldn’t signal there.” Looking at streetview. “Yes, definitely signaling there.” I’m pretty automatic with signaling though. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/15 "2026-05-20T21:57:10Z")
I agree with signaling. No harm in it, and it makes clear the direction you’re intending. Maybe 99% of the time it won’t matter, but 1% of the time it will get someone’s attention that otherwise would have been assuming you were going the other way (like maybe a pedestrian about to cross the street at night on the smaller highway). ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/16 "2026-05-20T22:03:54Z")
There’s an intersection similar to this where I live, where the primary road turns while a side road goes “straight”. I right turn signal to when going onto the side road, like Hwy NN. I do _not_ left turn signal to continue on the main road, like Hwy N. That would imply that I am making a left turn and willing to yield to oncoming traffic. Which is definitely not the case. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/17 "2026-05-21T00:49:40Z")
I used to pass through an eerily similar intersection in a similar rural area in MO, but about 60 miles from the OP’s spot. I, like many others above, will signal for sure if I’m changing highway designators. IOW, if the road I’m on continues as the left branch, I’ll signal if taking the right branch. _Regardless_ of which branch is straight, which is curved or which is more curved. Ideally I’d signal my intent to go left or right regardless of which is the continuing road and which is the branch-off. But at least back then I (usually) wasn’t that fussy. The MO law on point? Who knows and who cares? This is about driver-driver communication in the service of accident reduction, not about pettifogging compliance with any pettifogging rules that may or may not exist. I would much rather follow, or approach from the opposite direction, someone who is signalling their intent accurately even if legally unnecessarily, rather than I would approach or follow someone who’s not signaling an intent they have, or worse yet, signaling an intent they don’t have. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/18 "2026-05-21T13:59:33Z")
Nobody would signal who stays on N. It’s just a curve in the road. NN just happens to be there. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/19 "2026-05-21T14:37:36Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The MO law on point? Who knows and who cares? This is about driver-driver communication in the service of accident reduction, not about pettifogging compliance with any pettifogging rules that may or may not exist. Not to hijack or sidetrack the discussion, but my wife was recently a passenger in a car where the driver got pulled over for not signalling as she was coming _out_ of a roundabout. And got a lecture from the cop about how you are and are not supposed to signal at a roundabout. All of which agrees with the driver’s handbook but seems completely counterintuitive to me as a driver. According to the cop, if you are turning right you signal right as you approach the roundabout. If you are going straight or turning left, you signal right as you are approaching your exit from the roundabout. He says you never signal left as you approach the roundabout if you are going 3/4 of the way around. One roundabout that I went through frequently on my way to work had mostly southbound traffic turning right and eastbound traffic going 3/4 around to head north. South and east were little-used county roads that didn’t get much traffic, but I would take that east county road to work. If I didn’t signal a left turn before entering the roundabout, traffic coming from the west would assume I was turning right and would barely slow down as they hit the roundabout, and I’d likely plow right into them (even though I had right of way). So yeah it’s definitely more about making your intentions known to other drivers than following the letter of the law. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260/20 "2026-05-21T14:57:11Z")
There’s no good answer to drivers who assume behavior not yet in evidence just based on “most people turn here, not there”. I’m frankly amazed to learn Kansas has any laws whatsoever on how to signal in a roundabout. Later today I’ll look up FL’s laws to see if they say anything on-point. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-turn-signal-at-this-intersection/1030260.md?page=2)