Dear Car Talk:

My husband insists that he does NOT have to use turn signals if he is in a designated turn lane. I disagree, and we argue about this whenever it happens. Under other circumstances, he gets mad when other drivers don't use their directionals, and he is vocal about it. What do you say?

-- Barb

I say you're 100 percent right, Barb. So I guess I should also say goodbye to your husband, since I doubt he'll ever read my column again.

He definitely should use his turn signals. It's required by law in most states, even in turn lanes.

While the person behind him in the "Left Turn Only" lane probably can guess that your husband is planning to turn left (and isn't just some moron who accidentally pulled into a left-turn lane), people coming from the other direction need to know your husband's intentions, too.

Think about this scenario: Hubby is first in line in a Left Turn Only lane. He knows it's a Left Turn Only lane because he's seen the signs or the arrows painted on the roadway.

But the guy coming the other way, on the other side of the street, has no idea it's a Left Turn Only lane; he can't see the arrows or signs.

The only way he knows your husband intends to cut across traffic in front of him is by seeing your husband's turn signal. So for that reason alone, we'd side with you.

Plus, it's just a good habit to have. Like not disagreeing -- vehemently -- with your wife about something you're ignorant about. I'm still working on that one myself.