Do you use your turn signal in a turn-only lane? Why or why not?

It's the only acceptable form of communication amongst others going at deadly speeds with a vehicle that can kill anyone. So I would say it's just common decency to use one. And the law. And helpful.

I use it any time I'm turning. Remember, it's for the people in front of you as well as the people behind you, and at night, it can sometimes be hard to tell if the oncoming lane is a turn-only lane.

Why would it matter? You know that you're in a turn-only lane, but people around you? Not necessarily.

I do because it's the law, dillweed.

always use your turn signal ANY TIME you are changing from one lane to another, merging, or MIND BLOWING INFO: turning at an intersection.
also turn it on with ample time to indicate YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A TURN, YOU STUPID MOTHERFUCKING ASSSHOLE PLOWING DOWN THE ROAD IN A MULTIPLE TON MUDERBOX COMPLETLEY IGNORING ANYONE ELSE IN EXISTENCE.

Use every tool at your disposal to signal your intentions and awareness of the situation on the road.

Are you turning? Then use your TURN INDICATOR!!1! Does the opposing flow of traffic know you're in a turning only lane? No.
- Not all tuen lanes cut across opposing traffic.
  
  Point being ARE YOU TURNING...?
  
  Okay then what about the highway exit near my home? I can't see when people get into a turn lane and I can turn left from my off ramp. If they'd just all signal that they're turning my life would be easier.
  This is just true regardless of if the turn lane crosses traffic or not.

I don't drive, but as a pedestrian:
USE YOUR GODDAMN TURN SIGNAL

Yes. Driving is about predictability. Anything you can to let other drivers predict what you will do is helpful, even if it feels redundant.
- This is absolutely the correct answer.
- I can't stress this enough with everyone.
  The safest thing you can do while driving is be predictable.
  Don't speed up/slow down/stop abruptly. Use your turn signals before you need to do anything else.
  Example: I'm in the middle of a 2 lane ave in the center. My turn is coming up. Before I slow down, check my mirrors or turn to see if it's safe change lanes I turn on my signal. This let's everyone know I'm going to change what I'm currently doing.
  ... Sadly that also means the cars in the outside lane start speeding up because "oh no you're not slowing me down. I'm important and have things to do"
  This self centric mentality just tells people not to use turn signals and just jump in front of other cars without notice.
  Then we get more accidents.
  
  Driving should be a very compassionate activity, but us monkey brains use our most selfish tendencies when doing it. I just take the bus now.

Yep. I use it as much as possible. I use it in car parks. I use it pulling out of parking spots. I use it pulling out of my driveway.

Yes, because I'm not a bad driver.

I don't use mine because I'm too preoccupied with my tinder matches to even realize that I'm turning. I coast through(literally) life imagining myself the hero of my unsung story and everyone else is the villain.
why can't these self-centered assholes understand that I'm the good guy?!
uh-oh, I'm getting pulled over again for texting this while driving. another corrupt cop oppressing me!
/s

Basically always. Unless my signal automatically turned off as I merged into the left lane and then I turned left immediately before I even had time to turn it back on

When driving, be predictable, consistent and polite. You want everyone to know your intentions so they don't go and do something stupid because they think you're doing something else.

Yes.
Because I don't think about using my turn signal.
I just use it every time I'm about to turn.
- Sometimes I'll be kinda zoned out and realize I just signaled because the road curved.
- 100%
  I've tried explaining this concept to people in my life who insist on considering context when deciding whether to use their turn signal. But about half of them seem stuck on this idea that moving their fingers a few inches is a task that justifies a cost-benefit analysis each time.
  I don't get it, man...

Yes, of course. Every time the car changes direction. Don’t be lazy

If there’s a hint of ambiguity about the layout of the road or my intentions, I signal. It can me 3 am and I’m the only person on the road. It’s right the thing to do.
- no hint required. if the vehicle is turning, it should be signaled. its not a decision that needs to be made but a required action that must be taken.
  
  So signaling in each curve of the road? /s
- It’s habit at that point. Good.

Sigh... The fact that you have to ask.
Yes; you should always use your turn signal when you are turning. Just because you saw the arrow on the ground, that you are now stopped ontop of, doesn't mean everyone else is fully aware of your intention to turn. Hence, signals to indicate your intentions to those around you...

No longer drive but yes.
The drivers around me, including those in front, might not realize it's a turn only lane. It also shows them that I know it's a turning lane and shows my intent.
- Former president?
  Edit: former presidents can't drive... It's a joke folks
  
  TIL about former presidents! Nah I just took !fuckcars@lemmy.world to heart.

The signal is for others, not yourself. Use it.

If you signal in turn lanes or while switching lanes when no one is around you'll build healthy habits of using your signal in all other appropriate times.
Signal every time you plan to deviate from your current lane of travel.
Also FFS, signal before you start to merge so that people know what the fuck you're doing. Too many times I've ridden with people that got upset when no one is "letting them in" and they haven't even bothered to tell people they want in.
- That last paragraph is so accurate. Some people are literally being trained. Look for an opening. THEN signal and move right away. Basically no warning. I had this argument the other day. It's wrong.
  You have to signal THEN look. Then move.
  
  This.
  Also, I'd you don't have time to signal, then you don't have time to make that maneuver.
  Avoid fast lane changes and short notice turns. Remember that the people in the other 2 ton crushing machines hurtiling along at 70+ mph probably have below average intelligence, no insurance, and are fucking around on their phones.
- sadly at least here in ontario around toronto, a lot of the time if you signal before changing lanes the people tend to purposefully block you and not let you infront of them, training many to not want to properly signal. very childish mentalities here.

Just because you're in a turn only lane doesn't mean other drivers know you're in a turn only lane.
The turn signal is for them, not for you.

Yes, because other road users aren't always paying full attention, or may not be familiar with the lanes. This helps them figure out what I'm going to do, hopefully reducing the chance of an accident.

Over here they're called indicators and you're supposed to indicate any change of direction. So yes, I do. Also I'm not a cunt.

It's zero effort to turn on the signal. I say do it every time you're planning to turn or merge. Why not?
I guess sometimes if I'm behind a bunch of cars in a turn lane, I'll wait until I'm up near the front and about to actually turn.

Have you ever seen someone use a turn lane to only jump out of it at the last moment? I have, too often. The signal is at least assurance to others I'm not a complete idiot and shows that I'm confident in the direction I'm driving.
Not to say people who use turn signals don't also do this.
- Have you ever seen someone use a turn lane to only jump out of it at the last moment?
  Yeah, when they have their turn signal on to indicate they want to change to a different lane
  Leaving the turn signal on when you're already where you want to be is the more confusing thing. I know most people do it because it's taught that way in driving schools, but it's a matter of habit, not actually logical if we'd design the system anew and everyone learned from scratch
- Have you ever seen someone with their turn light on, only for them to go straight?
  The turn signal is only an assurance that the driver has made contact with the signal lever, not their intentions.

Well, yes, because you're still changing direction and have to indicate this. Our street traffic laws in Switzerland do not make exceptions for turn lanes.

Yes, because if you don't do it every time, eventually you'll forget when it really matters.
It also provides clarity to other drivers. People do dumb things in cars. If someone's in the turning lane ahead of me without their signal, there's part of me that's watching to see if they're confused and about to do something foolish. Signals = clear intentions = peace of mind.

If I see someone in the right turning lane with their right indicator on, I assume they are about to turn right.
If I see someone in the right turning lane but they have their left indicator on, I assume they want to leave the turning lane.
If I see someone in the right turning lane without their indicator on, I assume they are probably going to turn right but they may have made a mistake or changed their mind, so I'm more cautious if I'm passing or try to leave room for them to get out if appropriate. This is the most annoying situation for me because I have less information to guess what they might do next.
- Interesting. For me, the latter scenario is the most clear. In the first one, they may want to turn into a driveway, just stop on the roadside altogether, switch to a different lane to their right (on a double turn lane), whatever: they're potentially trying to deviate from the path they've chosen to take. If they just want to follow the path they're on, turn signals off makes the most sense to me
  Of course, if you're in a country that crosses different traffic directions on green (like Belgian and German lights that go green for you wanting to left turn, but there's traffic coming straight on) then it's needed to indicate you're a turner and not someone going straight on. But then, mixing traffic is a recipe for confusion and accidents anyway (saw a stat recently that right turns having green together with pedestrians increases accidents by iirc some 60% — probably a low number to begin with and so any change looks big, but still crazy to me that countries continue to choose this)
  Another scenario that appears more universally, where you have one lane for two options (straight on or right, for example), the turn signal is also needed of course: there is no path you've already chosen and so you need to show intent to change

The best thing you can be while on the road is predictable. Applies to everyone in traffic too.

If you were being tested for your driver's license, would you use the turn signal to indicate your turn?
Therein lies the correct, and only, answer.

Yes, and for a much simpler reason than everyone here: It's the law!

Yes.
Mainly because I don't want to reinforce a habit where I turn and don't signal.

I got the idea to post this after seeing 3 cars in one day not use their turn signals in a turn lane. I always use mine, for all of the very good reasons people have been replying with.

I always would. The only time it becomes a bit ambiguous is if there are two turn lanes, e.g. you're turning left from the second-to-left lane. In that case I'd usually indicate later, maybe when I've stopped or the white line is solid, so it's clear I'm not trying to change lanes.
I'm probably over thinking it.

Just out of instinct.
Doesnt hurt to use them anyway ¯(ツ)/¯

Yes, of course I do. I usually signal even when I'm totally alone on the road.

Yeah, there can be pedestrians and bikes where I live. With these new e-scooters and ebikes, they can appear pretty fast snd silently, and aren’t always in full control of their ride when going fast and don’t always obey the traffic rules. I don’t want to confuse them.

I follow road guidelines. That is to say, if I'm turning off the road/lane I'm on, yes I indicate. The lane can be identified by lane border lines. The road's junctions can be identified by gaps in said lane border lines, either bordering another road or becoming a dotted line. If you cross the line you indicate in all circumstances. Note, though, that I was taught in England, notorious for having the most in-depth and hardest to pass driving tests in the world.

Unless I think having the signal on would confuse other drivers, yes.
Using a signal in some multilane turn only lanes would make it unclear if I was merging into the next lane or using the current lane to turn, so I don't use it too early if it seems like it would be confusing. I do turn it on close to the intersection to indicate that I know that it is a turn lane.
I also don't use it for exit only lanes if there is a long lane to get there. If it is short like a turn lane then I do to make it clear know it is an exit/turn.

You have to where I live :)

Do you assume everyone around you is fully aware of what’s happening when they are controlling their death machines?
- *their
  
  Thanks fixed

Honestly, it's become so much of a habit that I would sometimes use mine when turning around the perimeter of a parking lot without thinking, despite it being a corner where a turn is the only option.

Yes, it's what you're taught to do anyway.

Yes. Habit.

Not if I'm already in the lane. If I have to merge into the lane, I usually leave my turn signal on until it shuts off when I make the actual turn. If I'm already in the lane and it's turn-only you don't need it, on the highway anyway. If you're talking about intersections and stoplights like in the city and surrounding areas, I always use turn signals at those.

yes. there is no stipulation to not use it because of a turning lane.

If you don’t then your dashboard doesn’t know to get rid of the speed limit sign

There has been some confusion about this question: https://www.thewisedrive.com/turn-signals-in-dedicated-turn-lanes/ https://www.thewisedrive.com/yes-you-have-to-use-your-turn-signal/ https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/12/26/watch-live-trooper-steve-explains-whether-you-need-to-use-turn-signals-in-turn-only-lanes/
I think the idea of a "direct course" is useful:
No person shall turn a vehicle at an intersection unless the vehicle is in proper position upon the roadway as required in RSA 265:42, or turn a vehicle to enter a private road or driveway, or otherwise turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety. No person shall so turn any vehicle without giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided.
I do pay extra attention to giving a signal when I intend to make a U-turn rather than a typical left turn.

At the end of the day there is no reason not to. Not like it takes any effort or costs anything.
That being said, I usually won't the closer I am to home/on my main commute. Why? Because I'm driving next to the same people every day. The same work truck with a giant butterfly on it and that one dumb ass looking cyber truck. Along with the other 100 other commuters the same day.
- .....so what? How is that relevant to anything?

If I'm driving, almost always, the exception being if it's a highway off ramp I'll indicate to go into the off ramp lane, then stop indicating as it should be clear.
If I'm cycling then very rarely, as the position in the lane or lane you're in is far more noticeable than if you're driving, so I'll only stick my hand out to indicate if I have to merge into traffic to turn (eg a right turn from a single lane road, or to get into the turn lane to begin with)

Not between double yellows at a light with a turn indicator, and not when the turn lane is a freeway exit (so I'm actually just going straight), but pretty much all other times.

Actually I do it sometimes, but I feel like it does not make sense since there is no other way to go xd, but also when I do it it feels like automatic, my brain goes "turn>turn signal"
- it should be autonomic. you shouldnt ever 'decide' to use a turn signal. it should be an automatic reaction to the vehicle turning 100% of the time under any and all circumstances.
  
  Turn signal should be on before you turn if possible