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While driving in Pennsylvania, specifically in Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, I was merging from a side-street to a main road, as seen in the picture below. I had stopped at the stop-sign, checked for traffic, then proceeded on, whereupon a police officer started flashing his lights at me. He asked where I was coming from, and whether I'd had my turn signal on, stating that he hadn't seen one. I answered him honestly that I was coming from karaoke in Oakland, and that I had had it on, the left turn signal specifically. He did some checks on his laptop and then sent me on my way. In retrospect, since it was a little after 2 AM, he was probably randomly pulling people over, knowing that the odds were that he could find someone who was driving inebriated after leaving the closing bar, the turn signal being a flimsy excuse for probable cause. That said, it made me wonder, which turn signal should be on in this sort of situation?

Merging onto Panther Hollow Rd

One option is to have the left turn signal on, since you are merging left into traffic. On the other hand, I'd come to a complete stop, and a left turn signal might confuse people into thinking that I planned on a left turn (not feasible here, but possible in some other merging situations) and one does sort of have to turn right from the side street to get onto the main street. Reading through the PA traffic manual didn't help. Poking through the Kentucky and Ohio ones (they were convenient) didn't bring up any helpful laws for how to properly signal a merge. Is there a standard rule in Pittsburgh, in Allegheny County, in Pennsylvania, or in the United States in general, that I can rely on?

Sean Duggan
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5 Answers5

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Based on Florida Drivers License Handbook

Signal your intent to merge onto the expressway

enter image description here

In this case, you'd switch between signals when merging -

enter image description here

So right signal when exiting until the stop sign, then left signal while merging.

Pennsylvania DOT agrees, but without pictures -

enter image description here

Raystafarian
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There is a stop sign at this intersection.
enter image description here

Your right hand signal would be appropriate while stopped at the sign, to signal your intent to cars behind you. As soon as you've decided to proceed, you should switch to left signal to indicate your intention to oncoming traffic in the lane you're merging to.

Scott Baker
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This is the oakland zoo, just go. He was fishing for a DUI nothing more. You would use your right turn signal at the stop sign. Even though it's your only option. If there were an actual merge lane you would use your left signal to indicate a right lane to left lane merge, but there isn't. I was born and raised here in the Steelcity and work in Oakland.

TechnologicallyDeclined
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In this particular case you should be using the RIGHT TURN Signal

You use the left turn signal only in the case where you merge or change from an acceleration lane such as the situation here: enter image description here

In your particular case you where actually making a shallow right turn.

There are no actual rules printed as far as I can remember but you can check the driver's manual from various states it may be there.

Karlson
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The answer is simple you use your turn signals to indicate to other drivers what your intentions are. You were correct to indicate left as your vehicle must turn slightly/merge to enter the main road from the access road on the right hand side of road.

As a fellow Pittsburgher driving the very same roads I use my left signal at this entrance onto the Boulevard.

Jan
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Flawless You
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