How far in advance should you signal before turning?

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Giving a signal well before you turn is essential to warn other road users of your upcoming maneuver. This advance notice lets drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians anticipate what you’ll do, slow down if needed, and adjust their position safely. About 100 feet (roughly 30 meters) before the turn provides enough lead time at typical city speeds—roughly two seconds—so others can see your intent and respond without being surprised.

If you wait until you’ve already begun the turn, you reduce that critical warning window, creating a higher chance of abrupt moves or collisions. Fifty feet is usually too short for people to notice and react in time. Signaling 200 feet isn’t harmful, but it isn’t necessary for standard urban turns and can be impractical in heavy traffic, where you still need to signal in a reasonable, predictable window.

So, aim to signal at least 100 feet before turning and keep the signal on through the turn to maintain clear communication with others.