A common question asked by clients is whether or not to signal or not.

The main purpose of a signal is to inform or communicate what you intend to do to other road users, therefore the answer to the question is simple – if a signal will be of benefit to another road user to communicate what you intend to do then do it.

Having said this it is also critical that a signal gives a clear communication ie not confusing or misleading.

The most common sitiuation this will apply to is pulling away from the side of the road; give a signal if you intend to move away if there is someone to benefit, but if there is no one about it is not necessary to signal.   In order that the signal is not confusing it is important that you are ready to move away, and that the signal is not put on if there is someone approaching quickly from behind and it may force them to slow down or stop to let you move away.  This is because it is ambiguous ie confusing.

Sometimes it can be less confusing not to signal, usually where there are multiple lanes for turning right, and you are inside one of those lanes, but NOT changing lanes.  Sometimes it is necessary to signal to inform others you intend to move away, but there is a junction on the right close by, in this situation it is imporatant to judge whether it is better to signal or not, if you do signal it would then be critical to cancel your signal immediately after.