{"id":3072,"date":"2019-02-15T10:03:42","date_gmt":"2019-02-15T10:03:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ingenie.wpengine.com\/young-drivers-guide\/?p=3072"},"modified":"2019-02-20T10:39:42","modified_gmt":"2019-02-20T10:39:42","slug":"how-to-signal-in-a-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ingenie.com\/young-drivers-guide\/how-to-signal-in-a-car","title":{"rendered":"How to signal in a car"},"content":{"rendered":"

Signalling lets the other cars around you know what you\u2019re doing so that they can react appropriately.

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So, if you\u2019re planning on turning off onto a side road, using your indicator lets other vehicles know that you\u2019re probably planning to slow down. That gives them the opportunity to safely slow down too.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Signalling is one of the most important tools you\u2019ve got to keep you safe on the road - \u2018I\u2019m here! I\u2019m doing this!\u2019 - so it\u2019s vital to make sure that you\u2019re doing it properly. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

5 ways to signal your intention<\/h2>\r\n\r\n
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    Indicators<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

    But you knew that, didn't you? I can tell you lots of fancy ways to give people clues to what you're going to do next, but indicators are the ones you'll use every couple of minutes for your entire driving career.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    Use every other method of signalling to reinforce what you're saying with your indicators.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    Position of the car<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

    When you\u2019re coming up to a junction, reinforce the direction you\u2019re going to take by positioning your car. If you\u2019re turning onto a right-hand side road, move towards the right side of your lane.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    That\u2019ll let everyone know what you\u2019re going to do and<\/strong> let other people move into position if they're turning the other way. In my case, it also helps me remember what on earth my driving instructor has asked me to do. We\u2019re working on it.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\r\n

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    Hazard lights<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

    Turning on your hazard lights will make both your indicator lights flash at the same time. You should only use these when you are a hazard to other road users or you want to make another driver aware of a hazard on the road. <\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\r\n

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    Brake lights<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

    When you brake, softly and smoothly like the pro you are, your brake lights will give drivers behind you plenty of warning that you are slowing down. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

    These red lights will automatically turn on at the back of your car whenever you use your foot brake. Try not to use them at traffic lights as they may dazzle the person behind you - put on your handbrake for more than a short pause.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\r\n

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    Arm signals<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

    Arm signals can be useful in slow traffic when other drivers may not be able to see your indicators.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    It\u2019s always better to use indicators than arm signals because they\u2019re easier for other drivers to see and you can keep your hands on the wheel. You could also be misunderstood if you use arm signals - not everyone is as thorough with their driving revision as you are!<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    Even so, you should have a look at arm signals in case you need to use them or someone else does. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

    Remember:<\/strong> Arm signals could come up in your theory test<\/a>.<\/blockquote>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n

    When to signal<\/h2>\r\n\r\n

    You should always signal when needed, even if you can\u2019t see any other road users around. There might be a vehicle or pedestrian that you can\u2019t see and your signal might help them. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

    Make sure that you signal with plenty of time to give other people enough time to react to any manoeuvre that you\u2019re making:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t