Should Turn Signals Be Used When Meeting Oncoming Vehicles?

[LeahRose]

No turn signals are required when meeting oncoming vehicles during the Subject 3 driving test. Specific details are as follows: Precautions: During the oncoming vehicle test in Subject 3, upon hearing the voice prompt "oncoming vehicle ahead," the examinee must pay attention to the approaching vehicle and drive along the right side of the lane until the test item concludes. It is important to yield to other vehicles and avoid crossing the non-motorized vehicle lane line. When meeting other vehicles at night, low beam headlights should be activated. Deduction points for oncoming vehicle test in Subject 3: Failing to slow down and drive on the right side when meeting oncoming vehicles on roads without central separation facilities or centerlines, or failing to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, pedestrians, or non-motorized vehicles will result in a 100-point deduction. Failing to yield when encountering difficulties in meeting oncoming vehicles will also result in a 100-point deduction. Poor judgment of lateral safety distance and making emergency turns to avoid oncoming vehicles will lead to a 100-point deduction.

[Herbert]

I've been driving trucks for twenty years, let me share a little trick: you don't need to use turn signals when meeting another vehicle! Those are for turning or changing lanes. When two vehicles approach each other on a narrow road, I just flash my headlights twice to remind the other driver to turn off their high beams. Last week on a mountain road, the guy in the opposite lane suddenly turned on his right turn signal, making me think he was pulling over, and I almost slammed on the brakes - that's really dangerous. Remember, when meeting another vehicle, grip the steering wheel firmly and maintain a straight line, don't mess with the light controls. If you really need to slow down to yield, just tap the brake lightly to illuminate your taillights - that's enough.

[DelSerenity]

A cold tip from someone who just passed the driving test's third stage: using turn signals during oncoming traffic immediately deducts 100 points! The instructor repeatedly emphasized that turn signals should only be used in three situations—starting, turning, and changing lanes. The test guidelines only list three requirements for oncoming traffic operations: decelerate, keep right, and observe. I was extremely nervous during my test and almost mistook the windshield wiper lever for the turn signal. Later, I developed a good habit of releasing the accelerator two seconds before encountering oncoming traffic, keeping my right foot hovering over the brake, ready to yield at any moment.

[JasmineAnn]

Once while driving at night, I was completely blinded by the headlights of an oncoming car, which made me finally understand the rules of lighting: turn signals are not for oncoming traffic! These two functions are actually two separate systems in a car. What you should do when meeting another car is to switch your lights—you should dim your high beams to low beams when you're 150 meters away. If the other car's high beams are blinding you, a quick double flash of your headlights is enough to remind them. I always keep polarized glasses in my car, and if someone doesn't dim their lights, I slow down and move to the right—safety first.

[McAngela]

Our driving school safety officers keep reminding us: Misusing turn signals is even more dangerous than not using them at all! Especially during oncoming traffic, if you suddenly turn on your left signal, the car behind might think you're making a U-turn, while the oncoming vehicle assumes you're turning left—that's how chain rear-end collisions happen. The correct approach is simple: Ease off the gas and slow down in advance, keep your wheels straight without crossing the line. Remember to turn off fog lights during rainy night encounters—their glare is more annoying than high beams. I learned this the hard way when an oncoming car, blinded by my fog lights, drove straight into a water puddle.

[CamilaDella]

Last time during car maintenance, the veteran mechanic shared a case: novice drivers often confuse meeting another vehicle with turning. In fact, turn signals are an electrically controlled turn signal system, while meeting another vehicle falls under driving operations. For example, at that right-angle bend in our neighborhood, meeting another vehicle usually requires stopping to yield. In such cases, hazard lights work better than turn signals—I’ve tried it myself. When I used the right turn signal, neighbors still squeezed through, but when I switched to hazard lights, everyone tacitly took turns passing.