In Pennsylvania, how far in advance should you signal before changing lanes?

In Pennsylvania, signaling is crucial for safe lane changes, and the requirement to signal 100 feet in advance provides both drivers and pedestrians with adequate notice of your intended maneuver. This distance strikes a balance between allowing enough time for others to react and ensuring that you have enough time to assess the roadway conditions before completing the lane change.

Signaling 100 feet in advance helps to promote safety by allowing other drivers to anticipate your actions, which can mitigate the risk of collisions. Additionally, this practice aligns with the general principles of defensive driving, ensuring that you are communicating your intentions clearly and timely.

Other distances, while they may seem reasonable, do not offer the same level of safety and clarity. For instance, shorter distances might not give enough time for other drivers to react appropriately, especially in higher speed conditions, and longer distances might be unnecessary and could lead drivers to overestimate their ability to make the maneuver safely. Therefore, the practice of signaling 100 feet before changing lanes is essential for effective communication on the road.