Final answer:
You should give the proper turning signal within 100 feet of the turn. This is crucial for safety, allowing other road users sufficient time to respond to your intent to turn, especially considering varying stopping distances based on speed and road conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When turning, it is typically required by law to give the proper signal within 100 feet of the turn to alert other drivers and pedestrians of your intention to change direction. This distance allows other road users to anticipate your actions and react accordingly, ensuring safety on the roads. The exact distance can vary depending on local road laws.
To understand why signaling at an appropriate distance is important, consider the stopping distances for vehicles. For a car traveling at a speed of 30.0 m/s on dry pavement, the total distance needed to come to a stop, including driver reaction time, can be significant. If conditions are wet, the stopping distance will be even longer. Judging when it is safe to cross the road involves assessing not just the distance of an oncoming car but also its speed and the road conditions. For example, if a car is 28 meters away—roughly the length of 8 cars—it may not be safe to cross if the car is moving quickly and the conditions are poor.