What is a rule of thumb for using turn signals before moving a vehicle?

Using turn signals is essential for communicating intentions to other drivers on the road. The rule of thumb of signaling three flashes before moving a vehicle serves as a standard practice to provide adequate notice of your intentions, especially when changing lanes or making turns. This allows other drivers ample time to react and adjust their driving accordingly, promoting safety on the road.

When a driver activates their turn signal for three flashes, it effectively alerts other road users that a maneuver is about to happen. This practice emphasizes the importance of being predictable and visible to others, which is critical in preventing accidents.

While other signaling methods, such as two flashes or a single long flash, may communicate potential action, they can often be too ambiguous, causing confusion among other drivers. Therefore, the three flashes of the signal technique is widely understood and accepted as a standard practice for signaling intentions.