The Arrive Alive website received this request for assistance:
“Yesterday evening I went onto the www.arrivealive.co.za website, after searching in Google for Rules of the Road.
I am enquiring about the distance when one has to give an indication “indicator lights” before turning left/right? I find it very annoying and frustrating when motorists in front of me decide on the spur of the moment to turn left/right and suddenly switch on their indicator lights. Especially when rounding a bend to enter an unexpected turn to the left/right. (e.g. coming down Doncaster Road in Kenilworth, Cape Town – at the traffic lights by Kenilworth Centre – turning across the intersection into Kenilworth Park. When entering Punters Way (a bend) on the left hand side is a petrol station.).
Regards,
Denise”
Herewith find a response from the Experts:
“The rule (in layman’s language) is that one must signal early enough to give other road users sufficient time to react as necessary, but not so early as to confuse other road users.
For example, if turning left, don’t signal left at the intersection before the one you intend turning at. And if the intersections are far apart, don’t signal wayyyy too early as other road users may think you are about to turn into a driveway entrance.
Also, don’t signal at the intersection. That is far too late.
The indicators are there to indicate your intention to turn. They are a warning device. They are not to indicate what is already obviously occurring.”
Also find Regulation 300:
Driving signals
The driver of a vehicle on a public road who intends to stop such vehicle or suddenly reduce the speed thereof, or to turn such vehicle to the left or to the right, or to move such vehicle to the left or right on the roadway, shall give a conspicuous signal, in the manner prescribed in regulations 324 to 328, of his or her intention, visible to any person approaching him or her from the front or from the rear or from the side, and of a duration sufficient to warn any such person of his or her intention.
Also view on the Arrive Alive website: