Definitely signal. I don’t even understand why it’s a question. And, not just for drivers, maybe there’s a biker coming along on your right – they would certainly like to know that you’re turning. Or a pedestrian crossing NN.
What is the possible harm in accurately signaling?
I would say it depends on the other traffic involved. If you’re the only car in the area at that moment, there’s really no point in signalling. In my personal view, turn signals are for letting other drivers (or bikes, pedestrians, etc.) know what you are about to do if there are multiple options. If I’m in a left turn only lane, one may safely assume I’ll be turning left. Therefore, no signal from me. But, in the case at hand, if there is a car behind me as I approach the Y, or someone coming the other way on NN, yes I will signal my intentions.
It uses up far less of my brain power to signal every single time. I’m the one you’ll find on a rural road in the middle of nowhere in a dedicated turn lane with no cars around for miles with my signal going waiting for my green arrow.
I think it was my grandfather who had these words of wisdom: You don’t signal for the cars you can see. You signal for the cars you can’t see. This is not to say that my dear old grandfather believed in invisible cars. He was saying that if you’re driving with your head so far up your own ass that you don’t realize there are cars near enough to be of concern but for some reason they don’t register with you, use your freakin’ turn signal. A passenger who won’t shut the hell up, a song that’s got you absolutely bangin’, the setting sun in your eyes - all can be enough of a distraction that adding a measure of safety by clearly indicating your intent is a good thing, and can keep you from running over the pedestrian crossing NN, assuming you’re going to stay on N.
I say it is a good habit that should come automatically.
Agreed. In recent months, I’ve been driving around in my old home town late at night, when there is literally no one else on the road; I still use my turn signals, because it’s a habit which has been ingrained by 45 years of driving.
Assessing the area for possible reasons to signal definitely takes more brainpower than just getting into the habit of signaling, and that assumes you even see the bikers, pedestrians, and other cars.
Also, let’s say you’re stopped at a red and planning on turning left, two lanes in your direction, no one behind you so you (for some reason) decide you don’t need to signal. Then, someone pulls up behind you, assuming you’re going straight – nothing better than being stuck behind some bozo who decided they don’t need to signal someone is already stuck behind them!
The OP’s question reminded me of this intersection. If you’re heading west on Madison, the right lane just splits off onto Airbase, and from the center lane you can take either road. If you’re in the center lane, signaling your intent to exit onto Airbase makes sense. But if you’re in the right lane signaling it ambiguous, because the driveway for Parrish Automotive is right there at the split. Are you signalling that you’re going to Parrish Automotive, or are you just signalling that you’re exiting Madison onto Airbase? IMO signalling is unnecessary in the latter case because that’s the only way you can go from the right lane, and most drivers don’t, but a few do, and I always find confusing when they do.
I don’t think we’re related, but my dad had that same saying “You don’t signal for the cars you can see. You signal for the cars you can’t see.”
Safety systems as a whole work because there’s multiple redundancies. Removing layers is reducing overall safety because it’s making some corner case more dangerous. Being safe needs to be an always-on process.
I know that intersection!
If I were in the center lane westbound, I would appreciate if a driver ahead of me and in the right lane signaled intent to take Airbase Drive. That way, I know that the driver is paying attention and won’t suddenly realize they’re in a lane that’s making a forced exit and make a last second swerve toward the center lane - and me - to stay on Madison.
If I were in the right lane, I wouldn’t bother signaling at all. I may not feel the need to signal onto Airbase from the Center lane either, because it does not cross any divider lines and likely won’t matter to the flow of traffic if I continue straight on Madison or bear right onto Airbase. The exception would be if there were traffic to my right that might switch to the left lane once they reached Airbase for some reason, then I would probably signal my intention to avoid a potential conflict.
My rule is that if you are crossing road markings, always signal. It’s probably a traffic violation not to. Otherwise, a judgment call based on current traffic.
I drive BMWs. What’s a “turn signal”?
I was going to say no, as I was thinking about a local place, but seeing what it actually looks like in first person, I definitely think you should signal. It is an off road, and there is only one lane so people will not know you are going to turn unless you signal.
I would not signal for the other direction, but I’m curious if you ever see people who do.
This is the key point. Never mind the precise legalities – there are always at least two components to being a safe driver: (1) always make any pending change in your movement obvious and careful, and (2) always be on the alert for the dumbasses who fail to understand your signals.
You don’t signal when you are changing lanes?
From that photo you are crossing a dotted line that distinguishes one road from another. No idea what local laws are but IMO you should absolutely signal even though you are technically not turning the wheel much if at all.
Staying on Highway N requires you to NOT signal so turning onto NN does require you to.
And, as others have said, why not signal? What harm would tha do?
The problem is if you use your turn signal too much, you might run out of blinker juice. Fortunately, you can top it off with blinker juice that you can buy from Amazon (seriously!). Or just send your spouse/girlfriend into the auto parts store to buy some for you while you wait in the parking lot; hilarity ensues!
The spouse/girlfriend will get laughed at, because everybody knows it’s called blinker fluid.
And then they will send her home with a package of elbow grease: “it’s the same stuff, pretty much.”
It’s not the same issue. Legally, if you are remaining on the road you are already on, you aren’t changing lanes. The road is just curving. The fact is though, if I’m making the 90 curve on Dixie Highway, and a car is approaching, I do signal even though they have a stop sign and even though legally they are entering the main road from a side street.