When should you use your turn signals?

Using turn signals is essential for communicating your intentions to other drivers on the road, ensuring safety and reducing the risk of accidents. The correct response, which indicates that turn signals should be used whenever you are making a turn or changing lanes, reflects the standard practice and legal requirement in most driving environments.

Employing turn signals before executing these maneuvers provides advance notice to surrounding drivers about your actions, which facilitates smoother traffic flow and helps prevent misunderstandings that might lead to collisions. Proper use of turn signals is a fundamental aspect of defensive driving, as it enables others to anticipate your movements, especially in busy traffic situations.

The other choices suggest limited circumstances for using turn signals, which overlooks the importance of signaling in all relevant situations. For example, using turn signals only when changing lanes fails to address the necessity of alerting drivers about turning at intersections or into driveways. Similarly, restricting signals to moments when traffic is present does not take into account that other vehicles or pedestrians might be approaching even when the road seems clear. Limiting the requirement to residential areas disregards that the need for clear signaling applies universally, regardless of the type of road you're on. Overall, consistent use of turn signals enhances road safety for everyone.