Turns, lanes, passing and parking
When does the handbook tell you to use hand-and-arm signals instead of your signal lights?
- When your signal lights are not working or bright sunlight makes them hard to see. Correct answer
- Whenever you signal a turn after dark, when your arm is easier to notice.
- Whenever you change lanes on a freeway, in addition to your signal lights.
Why
Signal lights are the normal tool, and the handbook names only two cases where your arm takes over: the lights are not working, or bright sunlight makes them hard to see. Darkness is not on that list. A freeway lane change does need a signal, given at least five seconds before you move over, but the signal lights handle it unless one of those two problems applies. Whichever method you use, you signal every time you turn, change lanes, slow down or stop. The arm signals cover a left turn, a right turn, and slowing down or stopping, and before the drive test the examiner may ask you to show them.
Where this comes from
California Driver's Handbook, June 2025 edition. The correct answer is When your signal lights are not working or bright sunlight makes them hard to see.
The rule behind this one
Turns, lanes, passing and parking in California goes through the whole topic, with the page of the California Driver's Handbook behind every rule.
More on turns, lanes, passing and parking
- You are about to cross an intersection and plan to turn into a driveway just beyond it. When should you turn on your signal?
- Traffic lanes are often referred to by number. On a road with several lanes in your direction, which one is the Number 1 Lane?
- You are parked at the curb and about to pull out onto a street with several lanes in your direction. Which lane do the handbook's tips point you to?
- Coming from a two-way street, you turn left onto a one-way street that has three lanes going your way. In which lane may you finish the turn?