Turn Signal Violations as a Cause of Car Accidents

There are a lot of rules for driving that we all learn when studying for our driving exams. However, after getting your license and becoming an experienced driver, you often forget to continue driving in the manner you were taught. When driving, it is imperative to use your turn signal when making a turn or simply changing lanes. This helps to keep the driver and company safe along with those in other vehicles as well.

Unfortunately, many do not use their signal when necessary. People improperly use or simply don’t use their signal for a number of different reasons, including forgetting to, being too lazy, not having enough time, having a broken signal (hand signals should be used instead in this case.) or even because they want to cut off another driver.

People everywhere continuously violate this law. This problem is one that one of our own staff feels quite strongly about. It can become a major issue that causes an accident when a driver comes into a person’s lane and hits them after failing to use their turn signal. Not only is this violation dangerous, but it can also be costly and a major cause of car accidents.

A ticket for not using your turn signal can be at minimum, around $100, if there is only one infraction. Unfortunately, if there are multiple infractions in one incident, these can be stacked. To stay safe and avoids these costs, take a look at a summary of the Arizona state traffic law for this issue listed below.

• Before attempting to turn a vehicle, the driver must make the vehicle is in the proper position. To enter another road, driveway or otherwise turn a vehicle from one direction to another or just to change lanes on a roadway, the driver must also check to ensure their safety along with others on the road.
• They must not complete the turn without a proper signal to other drivers, in case another vehicle may be affected by the change in traffic.

While the main gist of the law is that use of a turn signal is required in the events mentioned above, there are other points regarding the law. Timing is important when it comes signal use and when a driver needs to quickly reduce speed is another event that requires this use.

See these additional points regarding this traffic law below. 

• The law also states that a signal of whether the driver plans to turn left, or right should be made continuously throughout at least the last hundred feet that the car moved when required.

• Also, the driver cannot make a sudden stop or decrease in their car’s speed unless they first five a signal to the driver of any vehicle that is immediately to their rear when they have the opportunity to do so.

It is very easy for using a turn signal to seem very small in the bigger picture of maneuvering through traffic, but one small infraction could also impact numerous lives. As explained in the example of one of our law firm employees and the law outlined above, using your signal is imperative as a driver, so take heed.

Although, it would be nice if our vehicles simply provided the turn signal for us, neglecting to use them ourselves is not worth the possible outcome of an accident. Be a diligent driver. Follow the law, and keep the roads safe for everyone, including yourself.
While we hope this article will help to prevent accidents as a result of improper turn signal use, the professional car accident lawyers at Hutzler Law are here for any of your Arizona personal injury law needs.

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This post was written by Mark Kennedy