Washington Written Drivers Permit Practice Test

When must you use your turn signal?

1. Only when changing lanes

2. When you are changing lanes, turning, or merging

3. Only when other vehicles are present

4. Only in residential areas

The correct answer is: When you are changing lanes, turning, or merging

Using your turn signal is crucial for ensuring safe driving and effective communication with other road users. The requirement to signal when changing lanes, turning, or merging is established to inform other drivers of your intentions, thereby reducing the likelihood of accidents. When you signal while changing lanes, other drivers can adjust their speed and position, promoting smoother traffic flow. Similarly, signaling before turning or merging helps those around you anticipate your actions, which is especially important in busy intersections or while entering highways. Employing this practice at all times, rather than selectively, supports road safety and adherence to traffic laws, which typically mandate indicating your intentions regardless of the presence of other vehicles. This means that options mentioning limited circumstances for signaling do not capture the comprehensive obligation to indicate lane changes, turns, or merges, emphasizing the role of turn signals in traffic safety.