No Blinker in a Left Turn Lane: Is It Illegal?

Question

My question is simple, and pedantic:

An intersection near my house has a marked left turn lane, and a marked straight lane.

Problem is, the main road turns to the right at this roughly "Y" shaped intersection. This means the marked "straight" lane turns a shallow right, and the "left" lane goes straight ahead (when they have the light, of course).

My Question: I don't use my blinker when in the "left turn lane" on the basis that if I'm not turning my wheel then I shouldn't need the blinker. Is this illegal under Ohio state law? This code seems relevant, but I can't make heads or tails of it.

Answer 1

It's legal

The Ohio Court of Appeals has addressed a nearly identical situation in State v. Paseka.

The relevant law is, as you noted in the question, R.C. 4511.39, which states, in relevant part:

No person shall turn a vehicle or trackless trolley or move right or left upon a highway ... without giving an appropriate signal

The facts in this case are directly on point—an intersection where continuing straight puts one on a different road, while the original road requires a turn to stay on it:

Appellant was traveling west on State Route 6. At a certain point, Route 6 veers to the left. As appellant approached that area of State Route 6, he chose to maintain a straight-ahead course which automatically placed him on Wahl Road. He was stopped for failing to activate his turn signal in violation of R.C. 4511.39.

The court ruled that this did not violate the law requiring the use of a turn signal:

It is undisputed that appellant’s straight-ahead entrance onto Wahl Road did not require him to turn his vehicle, nor did it require him to switch into a different lane. As such, we fail to see how appellant violated R.C. 4511.39.

Here's the intersection in question, via Google Maps:

^{Imagery ©2021 Google, Imagery ©2021 Maxar Technologies, State of Ohio / OSIP, USDA Farm Service Agency, Map data ©2021}

Answer 2

In england-and-wales there is no legal requirement per se to use an indicator when turning in the situation described (but here it will be a right, not left, turn).

Rule 179 of the Highway Code states that:

before you turn right you should ... give a right-turn signal

The Wording of the Highway Code states that the use of should makes this an advisory provision, as opposed to other rules that require certain legally required actions must be performed.

Although failure to use an indicator may not in itself be unlawful, it may be of evidential value when investigating offences such as careless or dangerous driving.

Answer 3

I believe in Texas uses a terminology of signal or indication device in a courtroom.

Texas Transportation Code § 545.104

(a) An operator shall use the signal authorized by Section 545.106 to indicate an intention to turn, change lanes, or start from a parked position. (b) An operator intending to turn a vehicle right or left shall signal continuously for not less than the last 100 feet of movement of the vehicle before the turn.

An officer explained it to me, while giving a verbal warning, using an intention device or signal is required to warn other motorists of your intentions. Even though i was in a designated lane to follow an exit. He stated "I'm not saying you didn't use one to get into the right hand exit lane but, it's required use is to warn other motorists A) you're continuing on the exit B) you have NO intention of moving to the left." Whereas, your main route continues to the right and mine to the left.

I-10 & Texas 73 just west of Baytown , TX ;Texas 73 heading to Port Author, TX. Whereas my route was an interstate I'm assuming yours was a secondary or county road. Where I had no issues with oncoming traffic, your signal would; signal your intent to cross oncoming traffic lanes to continue straight.

Answer 4

That is not legal

Does it look like this (only with traffic lights and not quite so sharp on the right)?

If so, the green car is turning left even if it is physically travelling straight.