When turning or changing lanes, you must:
- Always signal your intentions, even when no visible traffic is present. ✓
- Signal only if there is visible traffic.
- Signal only when driving at night.
- Signal only when driving in heavy traffic at night.
Answer: A. Always signal your intentions, even when no visible traffic is present.
You must always signal your intentions when turning or changing lanes, even when no visible traffic is present.
Why this is the answer
The Texas handbook says a good driver lets others know before turning or stopping, and it lists changing lanes and making a turn as times to signal. It also tells you to signal before lane changes or merging and to do it even when you do not see cars or motorcycles. Signaling communicates intention and helps others plan; a surprise move often causes a crash. Because the rule is not conditioned on visible traffic or darkness, the always-signal choice matches.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. Signal only if there is visible traffic. — Signaling only when visible traffic is present is wrong because the handbook tells you to signal even when no cars or motorcycles are in sight.
- C. Signal only when driving at night. — Waiting until night to signal is wrong because the handbook gives turning and changing lanes as times to signal without limiting it to nighttime.
- D. Signal only when driving in heavy traffic at night. — Signaling only in heavy traffic at night is wrong because the handbook's instruction to signal for turns and lane changes is not tied to traffic density or time of day.
Remember it
Think of the signal as a message you send before the move, not a reply to traffic you happen to see.