California Driver License (DMV) Written Practice Test

How many seconds should you signal before you make a turn?

1. 3 seconds

2. 5 seconds

3. 7 seconds

4. 10 seconds

The correct answer is: 5 seconds

The correct answer is 5 seconds. This is because signaling in advance gives other drivers behind you enough time to react and adjust their speed accordingly. However, signaling too early (such as 7 or 10 seconds before) may confuse other drivers and cause them to slow down unnecessarily. On the other hand, signaling too late (such as 3 seconds before) may not give other drivers enough time to react and could lead to a collision. Thus, 5 seconds is the ideal amount of time to signal before making a turn to ensure the safety of yourself and others on the road.