Failure to Signal When Changing Lanes Due to No Vehicle Behind – Is There a Penalty?

Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 13 of the 2008 Road Traffic Law, the regulation on lane changing is as follows:

On roads with multiple lanes for vehicles traveling in the same direction, distinguished by lane markers, the driver must drive the vehicle within one lane and is only allowed to change lanes at permitted locations; when changing lanes, the driver must signal in advance and ensure safety.

According to the aforementioned regulation, when changing lanes, you must signal in advance and ensure safety. The use of turn signals is not dependent on whether there are moving vehicles behind you or not.

Therefore, when you change lanes even if there are no vehicles moving behind, you still need to signal.

Pursuant to Point i, Clause 1, Article 6 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP, the penalty level for the offense of not signaling by motorcycle drivers when participating in traffic is stipulated as follows:

A fine of 100,000 - 200,000 VND for changing lanes improperly or without signaling in advance.

Thus, if you change lanes on a motorcycle without using turn signals, you will be fined between 100,000 - 200,000 VND.

Sincerely!