Is it illegal to turn off the turn signal before crossing the street?

Pursuant to Clause 1, Clause 2, Article 15, Law on Road Traffic (Law No. 23/2008/QH12, dated November 13, 2008), it is stipulated as follows:

When wanting to change direction, the driver must reduce speed and signal the turn.

While changing direction, drivers and operators of specialized motorbikes must give the right of way to pedestrians and cyclists on their reserved lanes, give way to vehicles going in the opposite direction, and only allow vehicles to change direction when they observe that it does not cause obstacles or danger to other people and vehicles.

Thus, according to the provisions of the Road Traffic Law, before preparing to change direction (turn left or right), you must turn on the turn signal to notify the vehicles participating in traffic on both sides or behind you to proactively give way or avoid the road for you to change direction.

Turning on your turn signal before changing lane is required by law and is the responsibility of the road user. Therefore, turning off your turn signal before crossing the road will have no meaning or effect and will be punished as if you did not turn on your turn signal.

Point a, Clause 3, Article 6 of Decree 100/2019 stipulates the penalty for the act of a vehicle changing direction without signaling is 400,000 - 600,000 VND.

Cases where you must use turn signals

According to the provisions of Articles 14, 15, 16, 18 of the 2008 Road Traffic Law, the following cases require turning on the turn signal: Changing lanes; changing direction (turning right, turning left, making a U-turn); requesting to overtake; moving the vehicle from a parking position or driving close to the sidewalk to stop the vehicle.

In addition, to make traffic easier, the Traffic Police Department recommends turning on turn signals in situations such as:

- Going through the roundabout: Turn on the turn signal according to the principle "enter left, exit right".

- When entering a roundabout, use the left turn signal, when exiting the roundabout, use the right turn signal.

- Following a curve: Drivers entering a curve (not a turn, swerve, or lane change) should use their turn signals.

- Backing into an alley: Signal should be turned on because the driver's visibility is limited, making it difficult to adjust the direction of the vehicle and to facilitate the movement of other vehicles.

- Going through a Y-shaped intersection: If there is a turn sign, turn on the signal as usual. If there is no sign and go straight along the right branch (from the base of the Y up), you do not need to signal.

To ensure safety and to be recognized by other vehicles, the driver should turn on the turn signal about 25 - 30 meters before turning and keep it on for another 5 - 10 meters after turning in the straight-ahead position before turning it off. Therefore, people nearby will know when the vehicle is about to change direction and when it has finished changing direction. In addition, to ensure that the turn signal always works well, it needs to be checked periodically and repaired immediately if there is a problem.

Minh Hoa (t/h)

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