Some people believe that traffic violations are primarily a way for police departments to generate revenue. People tend to think of traffic enforcement as inconvenient and frustrating. However, traffic statutes exist to enhance public safety. Operating a motor vehicle or riding in one can be a major source of injury risk. Traffic statutes help people share the road as safely as possible.
Effective communication is a critical component of road safety, and turn signals are one of the primary ways that drivers communicate with one another. What do traffic laws in Ohio require from drivers planning maneuvers in traffic?
Turn signals make traffic predictable
Other drivers may need to slow down, provide more space or delay their own maneuvers based on the intentions of a nearby motorist. Indicating an intent to turn or to merge into another lane of traffic allows everyone nearby, including those approaching the driver and those behind them, to reasonably predict their next move.
As such, current Ohio statutes generally require that people activate their turn signals 100 feet before they intend to merge into another lane of traffic or turn. The failure to do so can result in completely preventable crashes. Those injured in wrecks related to a driver’s failure to use a turn signal can potentially use that failure to show the other driver was at fault.
A failure to comply with traffic statutes can lead to liability, not just the risk of a ticket. Drivers who break the law are often culpable if they cause crashes. Working with a personal injury attorney can help people review motor vehicle collision circumstances and prove that another driver was at fault for their harm.