How Many Points Are Deducted for Not Using Turn Signals When Changing Lanes

[StCody]

The illegal act of not using turn signals when changing lanes will result in a deduction of 1 point and a fine ranging from 20 to 50 yuan. However, due to differences in local traffic control regulations, the penalties vary across different cities. For example, in Zhejiang, the penalty is a fine of 100 yuan and a deduction of 1 point, while in Shenzhen, it is a fine of 300 yuan and a deduction of 1 point. Forgetting to use turn signals can be captured: Traffic management authorities have increasingly sophisticated methods for monitoring road traffic. Even actions like not wearing a seatbelt or making phone calls while driving can be captured, let alone the violation of not using turn signals. However, in reality, most drivers who fail to use turn signals while driving do not receive violation notifications. The highest chance of being caught for forgetting to use turn signals is in strictly controlled road sections or during on-site enforcement by traffic police. The main reason is that capturing the act of not using turn signals through electronic surveillance is relatively difficult and often relies on manual identification in fixed road sections.

[VonJuliet]

Last time, I heard a traffic police friend explain this regulation in detail. Under the new 2024 traffic rules, failing to signal when changing lanes will uniformly deduct 1 point and impose a fine ranging from 50 to 200 yuan. It doesn't seem like much of a deduction, right? But the key point is that accumulating 12 points in a year requires retaking the written test for the driver's license. I have a friend who suffered because of this. More importantly, not signaling is highly prone to causing accidents, as the vehicle behind cannot anticipate your driving path. Once, while driving in the rain, I encountered a car ahead suddenly changing lanes without signaling, and I had to swerve sharply to avoid a collision. Now, I've developed the habit of always signaling when changing lanes. Signaling three seconds in advance also reminds me to check the rearview mirror, making driving both safer and more worry-free.

[ErinMarie]

When I was a novice driver, I got caught by an electronic police camera for not using my turn signal, which scared me quite a bit. I specifically looked up the traffic regulations: failing to signal when changing lanes results in a 1-point deduction. Later, my driving instructor reminded me not to take it lightly just because the penalty is small, as this type of violation is particularly prone to being reported. Nowadays, many vehicles in the city come equipped with dashcams. Once, I saw a video on a platform where someone uploaded footage of an illegal lane change, and the comment section was filled with people criticizing it as dangerous driving. After developing the habit of using turn signals, I realized that driving actually became smoother—drivers behind me often slow down and yield when they see my signal.

[LeLily]

I read in the news that there will be a major crackdown on lane changes without signaling on highways. I checked the 'Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law,' and Article 57 clearly states: you must turn on the turn signal in advance when changing lanes. From my own tests, it takes at least three seconds from flicking the turn signal to completing the lane change, giving the following vehicle enough time to react. Once, I took a ride-hailing car, and the driver changed lanes as if he was drifting every time, with the turn signal just for show. When I got off, I couldn't help but remind him, and he actually said that other cars would speed up to block him if he signaled. That kind of thinking is really dangerous—safe lane changes can actually prevent 70% of rear-end collisions.