Rules of the road

Turns & Lane Changes

Signalling, checking blind spots, and changing lanes safely.

Signal well before turning, position your vehicle in the correct lane for the turn, and always back up your mirrors with a shoulder check before changing lanes.

A signal tells other road users what you intend to do; a shoulder check tells you whether it is actually safe to do it. Neither one substitutes for the other.

Key facts

A right turn should begin and end close to the right side of the road; a left turn should begin and end in the far left lane in your direction.
A turn signal does not give you the right-of-way; it only tells other road users what you plan to do next.

A mirror cannot show a vehicle in your blind spot; only a shoulder check can.

Signal early and choose the right lane

Signal well before the turn, not at the last moment, so drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians around you have time to react to your plan. A right turn should begin and end close to the right side of the road; a left turn should begin and end in the far left lane travelling in your direction.

While waiting to turn left at an intersection, keep your front wheels pointed straight ahead until you can actually complete the turn. If you turn the wheel early and are struck from behind, your own vehicle can be pushed into oncoming traffic.

Back up your mirrors with a shoulder check

Mirrors alone cannot show you a vehicle, cyclist, or pedestrian in your blind spot. Before any lane change or turn, check your mirrors and then look over your shoulder to confirm the space beside and behind you is actually clear.

For a right turn, specifically check your right rear blind spot for a cyclist or smaller vehicle that a mirror alone will not reveal, since that space is exactly where a right-turning vehicle’s path crosses a cyclist’s.

Change lanes only into a real gap

Signal, check mirrors, shoulder check, and move only when there is a gap large enough to enter without forcing anyone to brake or swerve. If the gap is not there, wait: a turn signal is a request, not a right-of-way.

Never turn your steering wheel to begin a lane change or turn until you are actually ready to move into that space; committing to the turn while still waiting invites exactly the kind of rear-end push described above.

Common mistakes

Signalling a lane change and moving before completing a shoulder check.
Turning the front wheels toward a left turn before the way is actually clear.
Treating a turn signal as if it grants the right-of-way to move.
Skipping the right rear blind-spot check before a right turn.

Check your understanding

1. Why is a shoulder check needed before a lane change even if your mirrors look clear?

A mirror cannot show a vehicle or cyclist sitting in your blind spot; only a direct shoulder check confirms that space is actually clear.

2. You are stopped at an intersection waiting to turn left when the way is clear. Why should you keep your front wheels pointed straight ahead rather than turned toward the turn?

If your wheels are already turned and your vehicle is struck from behind, it could be pushed directly into oncoming traffic; keeping the wheels straight avoids that risk.

3. Does signalling a turn give you the right-of-way to make it?

No. A signal only tells other road users what you intend to do; you must still yield according to the normal right-of-way rules before completing the turn.