Roadwise States New Mexico Driving lessons Signaling your moves New Mexico driving lesson · Communicating & Managing Space
Signaling your moves A 2-minute lesson from the New Mexico course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 2 minutes
Course unit Communicating & Managing Space
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 22, 23 Other drivers expect you to keep doing what you're doing. Signaling warns them before you change direction or slow down, giving them time to react or at least not be surprised.
Use your turn signals before you: Change lanes Turn right or left Merge into traffic Park Handbook p. 22 ↗ Know the rule
Signal every time you change direction, even when you don't see anyone. It's easy to miss someone who needs to know.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Know the rule
If a vehicle is about to enter the street between you and your turn, wait until you've passed it to signal. Signaling early may make it think you're turning where it is, and pull into your path.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Know the rule
After a turn or lane change, make sure your signal is off. After small turns it may not cancel by itself, and others may think you'll turn again.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Know the rule
Your brake lights tell others you're slowing. Slow down as early as it is safe to do so.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Know the rule
Don't slow down or stop suddenly without signaling the driver behind you, if you have time.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Know the rule
The faster you're going, the more distance it takes to turn, slow or stop.
Handbook p. 23 ↗ Put it into practice
You plan to turn right at the second driveway, but a car is waiting to pull out of the first one. Wait until you pass that car, then signal, so it doesn't pull out thinking you're turning in front of it.
A useful reminder Signal at least 100 feet before the turn, and cancel the signal after.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
At least how far before a turn should you signal? 100 feet 50 feet 300 feet 20 feet Answer: 100 feet
Signal at least 100 feet before you make your turn.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ If a vehicle is about to enter the street between you and where you plan to turn, what should you do? Signal only after you begin turning Wait until you've passed it to signal Turn without signaling at all Signal early so the driver knows to wait Answer: Wait until you've passed it to signal
If you signal too early, that driver may think you plan to turn where they are and pull into your path.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ What should you do after completing a turn or lane change? Leave the signal on for a few seconds Check that your brake lights are off Leave the signal on until your next turn Make sure your turn signal is off Answer: Make sure your turn signal is off
After a turn or lane change, make sure your turn signal is off, even if it didn't click off automatically.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Why is it a good habit to signal every time you change direction, even if you don't see anyone around? It's easy to miss someone nearby It lets you skip mirror checks It gives you the right-of-way It's required only on highways Answer: It's easy to miss someone nearby
Signal even when you don't see anyone else around — it's easy to miss someone who needs the information.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ What do your brake lights communicate to drivers behind you? That you are about to change lanes That the driver behind should pass That your parking brake is engaged That you are slowing down Answer: That you are slowing down
Your brake lights let people know that you are slowing down.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Besides turning and changing lanes, when does the handbook say to use your turn signal? Before you stop at a stop sign Before you merge or park Before you enter a school zone Before you go straight through an intersection Answer: Before you merge or park
Use your turn signals before you change lanes, turn right or left, merge into traffic or park.
Handbook p. 22 ↗ Previous lesson Breakdowns & staying out of blind spots Next lesson Adjusting to road & weather conditions More in Communicating & Managing Space About the source Roadwise’s New Mexico course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 22, 23. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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