Is it illegal to turn on the turn signal without turning?

Administrative penalties in the field of road transport are regulated by Decree 100100/2019 issued by the Government in 2019. The Decree does not specify any offenses related to turning on or off turn signals, but only generally defines the offense of not giving a warning signal beforehand.

Decree 100/2019, amended by Decree 123/2021/ND-CP, also does not specify any offenses related to whether or not the turn signal is on; it only regulates offenses related to changing direction or lanes without giving a signal.

Accordingly, Decree 100/2019, amended by Decree 123/2021/ND-CP, stipulates the following offenses related to changing direction or lanes without prior signaling:

For motorcycles

- A fine of 100,000 to 200,000 VND will be imposed for changing lanes without giving a signal as required (point i, clause 1, Article 6 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP).

- A fine of 400,000 to 600,000 VND will be imposed for the following violations: changing direction without reducing speed or without giving a turn signal; turning left at a location with a sign prohibiting left turns for the type of vehicle being driven, and vice versa for turning right (point a, clause 3, Article 6 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP).

Traffic police of Da Nang Public Security Department are directing traffic.

For cars

- A fine of 400,000 to 600,000 VND will be imposed for changing lanes without signaling (point a, clause 2, Article 5 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP).

- A fine of 800,000 to 1,000,000 VND will be imposed for the offense of changing lanes without using turn signals (Clause c, Point 3, Article 5 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP).

- A fine of 4 million to 6 million VND and suspension of the driver's license for 1 to 3 months will be imposed for changing lanes without signaling on a highway.

Tractors, specialized vehicles

A fine of 800,000 to 1,000,000 VND will be imposed for changing lanes without signaling on a highway (Clause d, Point 4 and Clause a, Point 10, Article 7 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP).

In comparison with the above regulations, there is no offense defined as signaling but failing to change direction or signaling but failing to change lanes. Decree 100 only stipulates offenses of changing direction or lanes without signaling.

Decree 100 does not specify the penalty for using turn signals incorrectly. However, the 2008 Road Traffic Law stipulates that when wanting to change direction, the driver must reduce speed and give a turn signal.

Therefore, signaling left but turning right, or vice versa, does not indicate the direction of the turn and can be dangerous for vehicles behind. Consequently, signaling in the wrong direction can still result in penalties, similar to changing direction without signaling.

CHAU THU

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