Using your indicators correctly isn’t simply about remembering to signal every time you turn. Learn how misleading signals can confuse other road users, when you should or shouldn’t signal, and what the DVSA expects during the UK practical driving test.
Why using your indicators correctly isn’t simply a case of always signalling
Most learner drivers are taught the importance of signalling from the very beginning of their driving lessons. And quite rightly. A well-timed signal can tell a pedestrian, cyclist or another driver what you intend to do and give them valuable time to react.
But there is an important part of signalling that is sometimes overlooked:
A signal that is unnecessary, badly timed or misleading can be worse than no signal at all.
The purpose of an indicator is not simply to show that you have remembered to use it. Its purpose is to communicate your intention clearly to other road users.
This is reflected directly in Rule 103 of The Highway Code, which says that drivers should give clear signals in plenty of time, but should first check that it is not misleading to signal at that time. It also specifically advises drivers to make sure their signals do not confuse other road users.
That distinction is particularly important for learner drivers — but it is equally relevant to experienced drivers.
What is a misleading signal?
A misleading signal is one which could reasonably cause another road user to believe that you intend to do something that you are not actually going to do.
This could be because:
- you signal too early
- you signal too late
- you signal for a road or entrance you are not going to use
- you continue signalling after your intended manoeuvre
- you signal when your vehicle’s movement does not match the signal
- your signal could reasonably be interpreted as an instruction to another road user
- you use a signal simply because you have been taught to do so, without considering whether it will actually help anyone
The Highway Code’s official signals guidance makes the principle quite clear: direction indicators communicate an intention to move left or right or turn, and those signals should not be used for another purpose.
The important question, therefore, isn’t simply:
“Should I signal?”
A better question is:
“Who could benefit from this signal, and could anyone misunderstand it?”
That is a much more useful way to think about signalling.
Why misleading signals can be dangerous
Imagine you are following a car approaching a junction.
The car’s left indicator comes on.
You naturally start preparing for the car to turn left. You may slow down, alter your position or prepare to continue past it.
But the car doesn’t turn.
Instead, it continues straight ahead.
The driver may have forgotten to cancel the indicator. They may have accidentally activated it. Or perhaps they signalled for a road further ahead.
Whatever the reason, you have been given information that does not match what the driver is actually doing.
This is why Rule 104 of The Highway Code also advises drivers to watch for signals from other road users but not to rely on them blindly. You should proceed only when you are satisfied that it is safe, and be aware that another vehicle’s indicator may not have been cancelled.
A signal is therefore information — not permission.
The classic example: signalling too early for a side road
This is one of the clearest examples in The Highway Code itself.
Imagine you are driving along a road and intend to stop just beyond a side road.
You might think:
“I’m going to pull over on the left, so I’ll signal left now.”
That seems logical.
But if you signal before passing the side road, a driver or pedestrian waiting at that junction could reasonably assume you intend to turn into it.
They may begin to move out.
You haven’t actually done anything illegal simply by indicating, but your signal has communicated the wrong intention.
Rule 103 specifically uses this example.
If you want to stop after a side road, you should wait until you are passing the side road before signalling. Your brake lights will already warn traffic behind that you are slowing down.
The lesson
Don’t signal simply because you know what you intend to do.
Signal when your signal will help other people understand what you are about to do.
The “nearest junction” problem
Another common situation occurs when two junctions are close together.
For example:
You intend to turn left at the second side road.
The first side road is only a few metres before it.
If you signal left too early, someone waiting at the first junction may think you are turning into their road.
You therefore need to consider where your signal will first become useful.
Sometimes this means delaying the signal slightly.
That can feel strange to a learner who has been taught:
“Signal early.”
But “early” does not mean as early as possible.
It means early enough to give useful information without creating confusion.
That distinction is extremely important.
When you should NOT signal
There is a common misconception among learner drivers that signalling is always safer.
This matters particularly at junctions, where another driver’s indicator is only one of several clues to consider. My guide to judging safe gaps at junctions explains why observation, vehicle speed and positioning must all inform your decision.
It isn’t.
There are situations where deliberately not signalling can be the correct decision because a signal would be unnecessary or misleading.
For example:
Turning where nobody can benefit
Imagine you are approaching a quiet left turn with no vehicles, cyclists or pedestrians who could benefit from knowing your intention.
You may decide that a signal isn’t necessary.
This isn’t automatically a fault.
Current DVSA examiner guidance specifically says that a candidate may choose not to signal where there is nobody to benefit from the signal.
The important point is that this should be a conscious decision based on your surroundings — not simply a failure to remember.
Following the road rather than turning
Consider a bend in the road where the road itself curves left.
You are not actually turning into another road; you are following the road ahead.
Putting your left indicator on simply because the steering wheel is turning left could give the impression that you intend to enter a side road.
The same principle applies to bends, lane layouts and situations where the road changes direction.
Your steering movement does not automatically mean that you need an indicator.
Ask yourself what other road users would understand from the signal.
Roundabouts: one of the biggest sources of misleading signals
Roundabouts are particularly important because the correct signal depends on which exit you are taking, the road layout and what other road users need to know.
The Highway Code’s Rule 186 gives specific guidance.
First exit
For the first exit to the left, you should normally:
- approach in the left-hand lane
- signal left
- remain to the left
- continue signalling left to leave
unless signs or road markings indicate otherwise.
Right-hand exit or going full circle
For an exit to the right or going full circle, you should normally:
- approach in the appropriate right-hand lane
- signal right
- remain to the right
- signal left after passing the exit before the one you want
again unless signs or markings indicate otherwise.
Intermediate exits
This is where learners sometimes develop an unfortunate habit.
For an intermediate exit, Rule 186 says you should not normally need to signal on approach.
Instead, select the appropriate lane, stay in it and signal left after passing the exit before the one you want.
So, for a typical “straight ahead” roundabout, automatically signalling right on approach is not the correct technique.
In fact, the DVSA specifically gives signalling right when intending to go ahead at a roundabout as an example of a signalling fault.
But what if the road layout is unusual?
This is where blindly following a memorised routine can cause problems.
Not every roundabout looks like the diagram in a driving theory book.
You might encounter:
- unusual lane markings
- five or six exits
- closely spaced exits
- a staggered layout
- spiral lanes
- traffic lights
- bus lanes
- cycle lanes
- unusual road geometry
In these circumstances, read the road rather than relying on a memorised sequence.
Rule 184 tells drivers to take account of all the information available, including signs, traffic lights and lane markings, and to time signals so they do not confuse other road users.
The safest approach is therefore:
Look → understand the road layout → decide what you are going to do → signal if it helps → carry out the manoeuvre.
What about changing lanes?
Lane changes are another situation where signalling should communicate a genuine intention.
Suppose you are travelling along a two-lane road and want to move from the left lane into the right lane.
The signal should tell other road users:
“I intend to move into that lane.”
It should not mean:
“I have decided that I own this lane.”
The signal does not give you priority.
You still need to check your mirrors, assess the blind spot where appropriate, consider the speed and position of other traffic and only move when it is safe.
The same principle applies when returning to the left lane.
Signal because you are changing your road position, not merely because the road happens to bend.
Don’t let your indicator make the decision for you
One of the easiest mistakes for a learner driver is to become focused on completing a routine:
Mirror → signal → manoeuvre.
The routine is useful, but it should not become mechanical.
The purpose of the routine is to help you make a safe decision.
It should not become:
“I’ve checked my mirror, therefore I must signal.”
Instead:
“I’ve checked my surroundings. I know what I’m going to do. Will a signal help anyone understand my intention?”
That small change in thinking can make a significant difference to your driving.
The DVSA’s examiner guidance describes signals as needing to be necessary, correct and properly timed, rather than simply requiring an indicator every time a vehicle changes direction.
What about signalling when turning into a road?
A useful test is to consider the people who might be affected.
For example, if you are turning left into a road, your signal could be useful to:
- a vehicle behind you
- a cyclist behind or alongside you
- a pedestrian waiting to cross
- someone waiting to emerge from the road you are entering
But you should also be aware of cyclists and other vulnerable road users who may be affected by your change of direction.
The Highway Code’s Rule H3 makes it clear that drivers should not cut across cyclists, horse riders or horse-drawn vehicles going ahead when turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane.
A signal does not make it safe to turn.
Observation comes first.
The danger of “signalling someone out”
A particularly important point for both new and experienced drivers is that an indicator should not be used to tell another driver:
“You can go.”
This is different from communicating your own intention.
For example, imagine you stop to allow a vehicle to emerge from a side road.
If you deliberately flash your headlights, wave them out or use your indicators in a way that could be interpreted as an invitation, you could create uncertainty.
The Highway Code specifically says that flashing headlights should only be used to let other road users know that you are there, and you should never assume that a headlight flash means you are being invited to proceed.
The safest communication is usually the clearest one:
Make your own intentions obvious and allow the other road user to make their own safe decision.
A simple test for deciding whether to signal
When you’re unsure, ask yourself three questions:
1. What am I actually going to do?
Are you turning?
Changing lane?
Moving around an obstruction?
Stopping?
Moving off?
Changing your road position?
2. Who could benefit from knowing?
Look for:
- vehicles
- cyclists
- motorcyclists
- pedestrians
- horse riders
- vehicles waiting at junctions
- vehicles approaching from behind
3. Could my signal be misunderstood?
This is the question many drivers forget.
If someone could reasonably interpret your indicator as meaning something different from what you intend, wait until the signal becomes clear or don’t signal.
That is exactly the principle behind Rule 103.
Misleading signals on the practical driving test
For learner drivers preparing for their practical test, this is particularly important.
The examiner assesses signalling under three headings:
Necessary
Did you give a signal when one was needed?
Correctly
Was it the appropriate signal?
Properly timed
Was it given at the right time — neither so early that it could mislead someone nor so late that it was no longer useful?
The current DVSA examiner guidance specifically lists:
- signalling unnecessarily
- failing to cancel an indicator
- using the wrong signal
- signalling too early
- signalling too late
- misleading signals before intended left or right turns
- giving a late exit signal at a roundabout
as examples of signalling faults.
The official guidance for candidates also gives examples such as signalling left or right but not turning, signalling right when intending to go ahead at a roundabout, and signalling too late to be effective.
So, contrary to a common learner-driver belief, putting your indicator on every time you turn does not automatically demonstrate good signalling.
The examiner is looking for evidence that you understand when a signal is necessary, what it should communicate and when it should be given.
Can you fail your test for a misleading signal?
A single signalling mistake does not automatically mean you will fail your driving test.
Driving-test faults are assessed according to their circumstances and severity.
However, a misleading signal can become much more serious if it causes another road user to act on the incorrect information and creates danger.
The examiner is assessing your overall ability to drive safely and responsibly, rather than simply counting indicators.
This is why it is much better to develop good signalling judgement during your lessons rather than trying to memorise exactly when an examiner expects to see an indicator.
The biggest signalling mistake learners make
Perhaps the most important lesson is this:
Don’t drive for the examiner. Drive for the people around you.
If you are approaching a junction and you can see a pedestrian, cyclist or vehicle that could benefit from your signal, communicate your intention clearly.
If nobody can benefit from your signal, don’t feel that you have to indicate simply to demonstrate that you know where the indicator stalk is.
If signalling early could make someone think you are turning somewhere else, wait.
If your indicator is still flashing after your manoeuvre, cancel it.
And if another driver is signalling, don’t assume they are definitely going to do what their indicator suggests.
The Highway Code expects drivers to consider whether their signals will help rather than confuse other road users.
Think communication, not choreography
Good signalling isn’t about following a rigid sequence of movements.
It’s about communication.
The best drivers constantly ask themselves:
“What information do the people around me need?”
Sometimes the answer is:
“I should signal now.”
Sometimes it is:
“I should wait.”
And occasionally it is:
“There is nobody to benefit from a signal, so signalling could actually create confusion.”
That isn’t poor signalling.
That’s good judgement.
The Highway Code provides the framework, but real driving requires you to interpret the situation around you.
For learner drivers, that is an important step towards becoming a genuinely safe and independent driver — and for experienced drivers, it is a useful reminder that an indicator is not there to tick a box.
Use it to communicate your intentions clearly, at the right time, to the people who need the information.
Key Highway Code rules to remember
Rule 103 – Give clear signals in plenty of time, but check that the signal will not be misleading or confusing.
Rule 104 – Watch for signals from other road users, but don’t automatically rely on them.
Rule 110 – Flash headlights only to let other road users know you are there.
Rule 184 – At roundabouts, use the available information and time signals so they do not confuse other road users.
Rule 186 – Sets out the specific signalling and positioning guidance for roundabouts.
Rule H3 – Take particular care not to cut across cyclists, horse riders or horse-drawn vehicles when changing direction.
A final thought
The best signal isn’t necessarily the earliest signal.
It’s the signal that gives the right information, to the right person, at the right time — without causing confusion.
Good signalling decisions also depend on reading the road ahead. See my practical guide to driving safely on unfamiliar roads.
