Should You Use Turn Signals When Meeting Another Vehicle?
2 Answers
You do not need to use turn signals when meeting another vehicle. Before meeting another vehicle, you should follow the principle of 'look, calculate, and slow down': 1. Look: Carefully observe the situation. Observe the following: the model, speed, and load of the oncoming vehicle; the width and condition of the road; pedestrians, vehicles, and obstacles on the roadside; whether there are other vehicles coming from the opposite direction or behind that may overtake. 2. Calculate: Based on the distance and speed of the two vehicles, estimate the approximate meeting position and control your vehicle's speed to choose a suitable meeting spot. Suitable meeting positions should be: a) where the road is wider—if the road width is limited, choose a spot where both vehicles can safely pass; b) where there are no obstacles on the right front of both vehicles. 3. Slow down: Reduce speed. If conditions are poor when approaching the meeting point, further reduce speed. Do not proceed blindly; if necessary, stop first to ensure a smooth meeting between the two vehicles.
As a beginner driver, I often wonder whether to use the turn signal when encountering oncoming traffic. My driving instructor taught me that turn signals are for indicating turns or lane changes, not just for when two vehicles meet. Passing another vehicle is mainly about slowing down and moving to the side, especially on narrow roads or rural lanes. If I use the signal randomly, the other driver might misunderstand that I intend to turn left or right, leading to unnecessary stops or confusion. Once, I turned on the left signal to indicate yielding, but the oncoming car suddenly stopped and waited for me, nearly causing an accident. Now I understand that when passing another vehicle while going straight, I just need to slow down quietly and keep to the right—only using the signal if I actually plan to turn. Developing good habits can reduce trouble and improve overall driving safety.
