diff --git a/selfdrive/controls/lib/ldw.py b/selfdrive/controls/lib/ldw.py
index 78a6d6cf6eee49..473418c25d712e 100644
--- a/selfdrive/controls/lib/ldw.py
+++ b/selfdrive/controls/lib/ldw.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from cereal import log
-from openpilot.common.realtime import DT_CTRL
+from openpilot.common.realtime import DT_MDL
 from openpilot.common.constants import CV
 
 
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def update(self, frame, modelV2, CS, CC):
     if CS.leftBlinker or CS.rightBlinker:
       self.last_blinker_frame = frame
 
-    recent_blinker = (frame - self.last_blinker_frame) * DT_CTRL < 5.0  # 5s blinker cooldown
+    recent_blinker = (frame - self.last_blinker_frame) * DT_MDL < 5.0  # 5s blinker cooldown
     ldw_allowed = CS.vEgo > LDW_MIN_SPEED and not recent_blinker and not CC.latActive
 
     desire_prediction = modelV2.meta.desirePrediction
diff --git a/selfdrive/controls/tests/test_ldw.py b/selfdrive/controls/tests/test_ldw.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..8ba8970748489b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/selfdrive/controls/tests/test_ldw.py
@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+"""Tests for LaneDepartureWarning blinker cooldown timing.
+
+Validates that recent_blinker uses DT_MDL (model rate, 20Hz)
+instead of DT_CTRL (control rate, 100Hz), since sm.frame in
+plannerd advances at the model rate.
+"""
+import types
+
+from openpilot.common.realtime import DT_CTRL, DT_MDL
+from openpilot.selfdrive.controls.lib.ldw import LaneDepartureWarning
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Helper: build minimal mock objects that LDW.update() expects
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+def _make_cs(v_ego: float = 20.0, left_blinker: bool = False,
+             right_blinker: bool = False):
+  return types.SimpleNamespace(
+    vEgo=v_ego,
+    leftBlinker=left_blinker,
+    rightBlinker=right_blinker,
+  )
+
+
+def _make_cc(lat_active: bool = False):
+  return types.SimpleNamespace(latActive=lat_active)
+
+
+def _make_model(l_change_prob: float = 0.0, r_change_prob: float = 0.0):
+  """Build a modelV2-like mock with lane lines and desire prediction.
+
+  Desire enum indices: none=0, turnLeft=1, turnRight=2,
+  laneChangeLeft=3, laneChangeRight=4, keepLeft=5, keepRight=6.
+  """
+  desire_prediction = [0.0, 0.0, 0.0, l_change_prob, r_change_prob, 0.0, 0.0]
+
+  left_line = types.SimpleNamespace(y=[0.0])    # > -(1.08 + 0.04) => close
+  right_line = types.SimpleNamespace(y=[0.5])   # < (1.08 - 0.04) => close
+  dummy_line = types.SimpleNamespace(y=[0.0])
+
+  return types.SimpleNamespace(
+    meta=types.SimpleNamespace(desirePrediction=desire_prediction),
+    laneLineProbs=[0.0, 0.9, 0.9, 0.0],
+    laneLines=[dummy_line, left_line, right_line, dummy_line],
+  )
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Tests
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+class TestRecentBlinkerTiming:
+  """Verify that the blinker cooldown uses the correct time step (DT_MDL)."""
+
+  def test_dt_mdl_is_used_not_dt_ctrl(self):
+    """Core regression test: DT_MDL (0.05) must be the multiplier, not DT_CTRL (0.01).
+
+    With DT_MDL=0.05, 5s cooldown = 100 frames.
+    With DT_CTRL=0.01, 5s cooldown would be 500 frames.
+
+    At frame 101 after blinker:
+      DT_MDL:  101 * 0.05 = 5.05s >= 5.0 => cooldown expired => LDW triggers
+      DT_CTRL: 101 * 0.01 = 1.01s <  5.0 => cooldown active  => LDW suppressed (BUG)
+    """
+    ldw = LaneDepartureWarning()
+    cs_blinker_on = _make_cs(left_blinker=True)
+    cs_no_blinker = _make_cs()
+    cc = _make_cc()
+    model = _make_model(l_change_prob=0.5, r_change_prob=0.0)
+
+    # Frame 0: blinker is on -> records last_blinker_frame
+    ldw.update(0, model, cs_blinker_on, cc)
+    assert ldw.last_blinker_frame == 0
+
+    # At frame 101 (just past DT_MDL cooldown): blinker cooldown should have expired
+    ldw.update(101, model, cs_no_blinker, cc)
+    assert ldw.left is True, (
+      "LDW should trigger after 101 model frames (~5.05s with DT_MDL); "
+      + "if this fails, DT_CTRL is likely still in use"
+    )
+
+  def test_blinker_still_active_within_cooldown(self):
+    """Within the 5s cooldown window, LDW must be suppressed."""
+    ldw = LaneDepartureWarning()
+    cs_blinker_on = _make_cs(left_blinker=True)
+    cs_no_blinker = _make_cs()
+    cc = _make_cc()
+    model = _make_model(l_change_prob=0.5)
+
+    # Activate blinker at frame 0
+    ldw.update(0, model, cs_blinker_on, cc)
+
+    # At frame 50: (50 - 0) * 0.05 = 2.5s < 5.0s => still in cooldown
+    ldw.update(50, model, cs_no_blinker, cc)
+    assert ldw.left is False, "LDW should be suppressed during blinker cooldown"
+
+  def test_blinker_cooldown_expires_at_boundary(self):
+    """At exactly 100 frames (5.0s with DT_MDL), the < comparison means cooldown is over."""
+    ldw = LaneDepartureWarning()
+    cs_blinker_on = _make_cs(left_blinker=True)
+    cs_no_blinker = _make_cs()
+    cc = _make_cc()
+    model = _make_model(l_change_prob=0.5)
+
+    # Blinker at frame 0
+    ldw.update(0, model, cs_blinker_on, cc)
+
+    # Frame 99: 99 * 0.05 = 4.95s < 5.0 => still cooling down
+    ldw.update(99, model, cs_no_blinker, cc)
+    assert ldw.left is False, "At 4.95s, cooldown should still be active"
+
+    # Frame 100: 100 * 0.05 = 5.0s, NOT < 5.0 => cooldown expired
+    ldw.update(100, model, cs_no_blinker, cc)
+    assert ldw.left is True, "At exactly 5.0s, cooldown should have expired"
+
+  def test_blinker_cooldown_math_dt_ctrl_vs_dt_mdl(self):
+    """Numerical demonstration: DT_CTRL produces incorrect elapsed time at model frame rate."""
+    elapsed_with_ctrl = 101 * DT_CTRL  # 1.01s
+    elapsed_with_mdl = 101 * DT_MDL    # 5.05s
+
+    assert elapsed_with_ctrl < 5.0, "DT_CTRL gives 1.01s at 101 frames - cooldown incorrectly active"
+    assert elapsed_with_mdl >= 5.0, "DT_MDL gives 5.05s at 101 frames - cooldown correctly expired"
+
+  def test_right_blinker_cooldown(self):
+    """Right blinker should also respect the DT_MDL-based cooldown."""
+    ldw = LaneDepartureWarning()
+    cs_blinker_on = _make_cs(right_blinker=True)
+    cs_no_blinker = _make_cs()
+    cc = _make_cc()
+    model = _make_model(r_change_prob=0.5)
+
+    ldw.update(0, model, cs_blinker_on, cc)
+
+    # Within cooldown: 50 * 0.05 = 2.5s < 5.0
+    ldw.update(50, model, cs_no_blinker, cc)
+    assert ldw.right is False
+
+    # After cooldown: 101 * 0.05 = 5.05s >= 5.0
+    ldw.update(101, model, cs_no_blinker, cc)
+    assert ldw.right is True
+
+  def test_no_ldw_when_speed_too_low(self):
+    """LDW should not trigger when vehicle speed is below minimum (~13.86 m/s)."""
+    ldw = LaneDepartureWarning()
+    cs_slow = _make_cs(v_ego=5.0)
+    cc = _make_cc()
+    model = _make_model(l_change_prob=0.5)
+
+    ldw.update(200, model, cs_slow, cc)
+    assert ldw.left is False
+    assert ldw.right is False
+
+  def test_no_ldw_when_lat_active(self):
+    """LDW should not trigger when lateral control is active."""
+    ldw = LaneDepartureWarning()
+    cs = _make_cs()
+    cc = _make_cc(lat_active=True)
+    model = _make_model(l_change_prob=0.5)
+
+    ldw.update(200, model, cs, cc)
+    assert ldw.left is False
+    assert ldw.right is False