Turn signals and full stops

Key points

1. Other drivers expect you to keep going the same way, so your turn signals let them know you intend to turn or change lanes.

   Source: PDF page 53

   “Other drivers expect you to continue traveling in the same direction. By using your turn signals, you let them know that you intend to turn or change lanes.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 53

2. Signal at least 100 feet before you plan to turn.

   Source: PDF page 53

   “Get into the habit of signaling every time you make a change. Signal at least 100 feet before you plan to turn.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 53

3. Switch off your turn signal after completing the turn, because driving with it on causes confusion.

   Source: PDF page 53

   “Switch off your turn signals after completing the turn. Driving with turn signals on without intending to turn can create confusion.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 53

4. If you plan to turn just past an intersection, do not confuse other drivers by signaling too soon.

   Source: PDF page 53

   “If you plan to turn beyond an intersection, do not confuse other drivers by signaling too soon.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 53

5. Always signal before turning, changing lanes or driving away from the curb.

   Source: PDF page 71

   “Always signal your intention before turning, changing lanes, or driving away from the curb.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 71

6. You must come to a complete stop at a stop sign or red light, even when making a right turn.

   Source: PDF page 71

   “Regardless of traffic, you must come to a complete stop at a stop sign or red light, even when making a right turn.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 71

Numbers to know

3 questions from the West Virginia practice test

1. 1. How far before a planned turn should a driver signal?

   1. At least one mile
   2. Exactly 10 feet
   3. Only after entering the intersection
   4. At least 100 feet
   Show answer

   At least 100 feet. West Virginia advises signaling at least 100 feet before turning. That advance notice gives drivers and pedestrians time to understand your intended path and respond. Waiting until the intersection is not enough warning, and one mile can mislead road users about which access point you intend to use. The ten-foot option is too late for normal traffic. Check mirrors and the blind spot, activate the signal early, and cancel it after the maneuver so the indicator does not create a false message.

2. 2. What should a driver do after completing a turn?

   1. Turn on the hazard flashers while moving
   2. Leave the signal on for the next mile
   3. Switch off the turn signal
   4. Sound the horn twice
   Show answer

   Switch off the turn signal. The handbook directs drivers to switch off a turn signal after completing the maneuver. Leaving it on can mislead other road users into expecting another turn or lane change. Hazard flashers and the horn serve different purposes and do not cancel an active direction indicator. As soon as the vehicle is straight and the turn is finished, check the dashboard indicator and cancel it. This small follow-through keeps the signal from sending a false message at the next driveway, intersection, or lane change.

3. 3. Before turning, changing lanes, or pulling away from the curb in West Virginia, what must you always do?

   1. Sound your horn
   2. Signal your intention
   3. Flash your high beams
   4. Come to a complete stop
   Show answer

   Signal your intention. The handbook's rule is simple: always signal your intention before turning, changing lanes, or driving away from the curb. Signaling tells other drivers that you intend to turn or change lanes. Horns and high beams are not substitutes for a signal, and a full stop is not required before every lane change. Signal early enough for others to react, since the road test guidance warns against signaling too early or too late, and cancel the signal once the move is complete.

Source: the West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, Chapter VI: Traffic Laws And Rules Of The Road. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.