Signaling — Illinois Permit Test

In a business or residential area a driver must give a continuous turn signal for at least 100 feet before turning.

A hundred feet is roughly four car lengths, which is enough for the driver behind to lift off. Signaling as you turn tells them nothing they can use.

In a business or residential area, you must give a continuous turn signal for at least 100 feet before turning.

Outside business or residential areas a turn signal must be given at least 200 feet before turning.

Traffic moves faster where there are no buildings, so the warning has to start further back. Two hundred feet is the same few seconds at a higher speed.

In other areas, the signal must be given at least 200 feet before turning.

Hand and arm signals are given with the left arm: straight up for a right turn, straight out to the left for a left turn, and down to slow or stop.

Hand signals are what is left when the lights fail, and everybody watching expects the left arm. Up means right, which is the part people get backward.

Hand and arm signals - Should give the signal using the left arm. For a right turn, the hand and arm are extended straight up. For a left turn, the hand and arm are extended straight out to the left. To slow down or stop, the hand and arm are extended down.

A driver must give a turn signal when changing lanes.

A lane change is a turn as far as everybody around you is concerned. The signal is what stops two cars choosing the same gap.

If the area is clear, give the left-turn signal and carefully move into the left lane.

How far before turning must an Illinois driver signal in a business or residential area?

At least 100 feet. A hundred feet is roughly four car lengths, which is enough for the driver behind to lift off. Signaling as you turn tells them nothing they can use. Illinois Rules of the Road 2026, p.30: “In a business or residential area, you must give a continuous turn signal for at least 100 feet before turning.”