Are drivers legally supposed to signal every time they turn or pull over? Every day, I see drivers who don’t bother signalling when pulling in or out of driveways and parking spaces. It’s hard to know what they’re doing – especially when I’m walking with my two young kids on a sidewalk or trying to get us safely from the car to the grocery store. – Grace, Ottawa
When it comes to signalling, the law sends mixed signals – at least in Ontario.
There, the law states drivers must signal most moves on the road, including turning at intersections, changing lanes and pulling over, “if the operation of any other vehicle may be affected.”
That means if there’s not a car or cyclist nearby, you won’t get an $85 ticket – $120 in a community safety zone – for failing to signal, said Sean Shapiro, a road safety expert and former Toronto traffic cop.
Also, in parking lots, you won’t get a ticket for failing to signal even if you do affect other vehicles. That’s because most of Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act – including the requirement to signal – doesn’t apply on private property, Shapiro said.
But if you turn without signalling in a parking lot and cause a crash, for example, you could face charges including careless driving, he said.
The rules vary by province. In British Columbia, you must signal when your move will affect traffic – but that includes vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians and even livestock.
“There’s no good excuse not to use your turn signals,” Corporal Michael McLaughlin, a spokesman for B.C. Highway Patrol, said in an email.
In most other provinces, including Alberta and Quebec, you must signal anytime you turn, change lanes or pull over.
In most provinces, the rules apply in parking lots.
Message sent?
The law aside, you should signal every time you turn, including in parking lots, said driving expert Tim Danter.
“Turn signals are there for a reason. They’re there to communicate intention and show direction,” Danter said. “You should signal going into and out of parking spots. Parking lots are where you really need the communication because it’s a war zone.”
You should also signal when backing out of a parking spot or driveway, Danter said.
Even though Ontario’s law doesn’t apply in every situation, don’t get in the habit of signalling in some places and not others, Shapiro said.
“When you start excusing certain places, you develop bad habits,” he said. “Forget about the ticket and think about avoiding the collision.”
For instance, when you’re making a right turn and someone is behind you, they need time to adjust their speed.
“You don’t want them slamming on their brakes because they didn’t know you were turning [because you didn’t signal],” he said.
That also means signalling before you cross a sidewalk full of pedestrians to get into a driveway, for instance, he said.
While you legally have to yield to anyone on the sidewalk, signalling gives them advance warning in case you don’t – even though Ontario’s law only requires you to signal for other vehicles, Shapiro said.
“There could be a runner that you didn’t see,” he said. “Or somebody on a mobility scooter.”
Timing matters
We couldn’t find any laws that say exactly how far before your turn you should start signalling.
According to Ontario’s Driver’s Handbook, you should signal “well before” your turn and make sure other drivers can see it. For instance, if you are parallel parking, don’t wait to signal until you’re directly beside your spot, Danter said.
“You don’t want someone right up on your butt because they didn’t know you wanted to park,” he said.
But signalling too far before your turn might confuse other drivers.
For instance, if you’re turning right at an intersection but there’s a gas station just before it, a driver pulling out might think you’re turning into the station – even though you’re going straight past it – and decide to go.
“If my signal is on too early and somebody’s leaving the gas station, they could pull out in front of me,” Danter said.
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