CALGARY- Winter driving is all about preparing for the unexpected, like hitting a patch of ice or dealing with foggy conditions. It sure doesn’t help when other drivers keep you on your toes, by doing things like suddenly changing lanes without signaling.
Police blame bad habits and distracted driving as the top reasons people don’t signal. Driving instructors suggest turning on the blinker at least 30 metres ahead of the intersection in a city, and at least 100 metres in advance on a highway.
“Signaling is a communication,” explains Ron Wilson from the Alberta Motor Association. “We’re not signaling for us. We know where we’re going when we’re driving. We’re signaling to communicate to other drivers.”
By law, drivers must signal before pulling into or away from a curb, turning left or right, and changing lanes.
“The law says put your signal on to allow people time to let you react to the lane change, and that’s pretty easy” adds Const. Jim Lebedeff from the Calgary Police Traffic Unit.
Those caught not signaling could face a $115 fine and two demerit points. Drivers who don’t signal enough in advance and don’t give other drivers time to react could also face penalties for an unsafe lane change.
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