Where I live, hardly any drivers use their directional signals when making turns, which annoys the carp out of me.

Quite the tell wrote:

Here's what it comes down to: if you have to signal, 90% of the time that means you messed up and were out of position. It is of no surprise to me that mostly old people use their signals, as they are often poor drivers.

What? 90% of the time I messed up? So if I am making a right turn somehow I messed up?

If I am passing a car on the interstate then I messed up? If I am moving back into my lane after passing, I messed up?

At one of my job sites in Alabama I was informed that using your turn signals is a sign of weakness.

It's common in Tennessee for drivers not to use their turn signals as well. Drives me nuts.

Turneddownforwhat wrote:

At one of my job sites in Alabama I was informed that using your turn signals is a sign of weakness.

Southerners are funny. No qualms about taking more per capita government handouts than any other region of the country, but you are "weak" if you use a turn signal.

try riding a bike and never knowing if a car is going to make a right turn in front of you while you are going straight. it's a big reason for people being hit by cars while riding a bike.

how hard is it to push that little lever?

When and WHY did driver education become so half-assed-- at best?

I know this disregards the high # of unlicensed drivers...

And where are all our big Law & Order types-- and enforecement happy cops-- when it comes to rules of the road?

Here in the UK, I've observed that drivers hardly ever feel they need to let pedestrians know their intentions.

luv2run wrote:

What? 90% of the time I messed up? So if I am making a right turn somehow I messed up?

If I am passing a car on the interstate then I messed up? If I am moving back into my lane after passing, I messed up?

The actions you described don't require a turn signal. Think about it for a second, turning right from the right lane can be accomplished by just slowing down and turning. Who needs the turn signal? The guy behind you? No, he should be braking as you brake. Oncoming traffic? No, anyone turning left would yield to your right of way to go straight.

On the other hand, when is a turn signal needed? When you have to ask others to make room for you. You could have gotten over sooner, in which case you don't have to ask, but if you wait too long you messed up and need to turn on the old blinker.

Fjkds wrote:

The actions you described don't require a turn signal. Think about it for a second, turning right from the right lane can be accomplished by just slowing down and turning. Who needs the turn signal? The guy behind you? No, he should be braking as you brake. Oncoming traffic? No, anyone turning left would yield to your right of way to go straight.

On the other hand, when is a turn signal needed? When you have to ask others to make room for you. You could have gotten over sooner, in which case you don't have to ask, but if you wait too long you messed up and need to turn on the old blinker.

______________________________________________________________

I don't know if you're stupid, arrogant or inconsiderate. My guess is that you're stupid.

You're are one stoopid muhthuhf**ck*r & I hope you don't actualyl drive.

Tell us how smart phones are safe to operate while driving too schmuck.

old guy 71 wrote:

Fjkds wrote:

The actions you described don't require a turn signal. Think about it for a second, turning right from the right lane can be accomplished by just slowing down and turning. Who needs the turn signal? The guy behind you? No, he should be braking as you brake. Oncoming traffic? No, anyone turning left would yield to your right of way to go straight.

On the other hand, when is a turn signal needed? When you have to ask others to make room for you. You could have gotten over sooner, in which case you don't have to ask, but if you wait too long you messed up and need to turn on the old blinker.

______________________________________________________________

I don't know if you're stupid, arrogant or inconsiderate. My guess is that you're stupid.

I believe the technical term is fuckstick.

old guy 71 wrote:

I don't know if you're stupid, arrogant or inconsiderate. My guess is that you're stupid.

Blowing the Chauffeur wrote:

You're are one stoopid muhthuhf**ck*r & I hope you don't actualyl drive.

Tell us how smart phones are safe to operate while driving too schmuck.

takk for the moose wrote:

I believe the technical term is fuckstick.

Is this really your style of debate guys? No response to the content of the post, just: you're fucking stuuupid OMG you suck donkey balls OMGWTFBBQ!!1!

Very compelling stuff.

One hand on the wheel, one hand on my iPhone. I don't have a 3rd hand for the turn signal indicator.

Turneddownforwhat wrote:

At one of my job sites in Alabama I was informed that using your turn signals is a sign of weakness.

My sister says that about driving on the 405 in CA.

Thanks for doing the dirtywork of the explanation.

Listen, this is something a lot of us will simply have to agree to disagree on. I've been driving for 21 years and have about 900,000 miles "in the saddle" with zero accidents and one "speeding" ticket for going 70 in a 65 on a deserted road in Wyoming where the speed limit is now 80. The only time I use my signal is when I messed up by not getting into the appropriate lane soon enough and then am at the mercy of those in the lane next to me.

For reference, I live in Southern California, so maybe I'm just a prick.

eaten alive is the only answer wrote:

OP lives in the South.

I came to expect a certain laziness when living in the PNW, but New Orleans has taken it to another level. My informal observations put turn signal use at 1 in 10 drivers. Maybe less.

Oh boy the I-10 and I-610 in New Orleans is the worst!

Proper etiquette is to use your turn signal when making a turn. This is what everyone is taught in driver's education. Not using it is sorta like not saying "excuse me" as a courtesy when you may momentarily interrupt others around you. It's rude in my book.

It's like not holding the door for the person coming through behind you. Yeah, it's not really that big a deal, but it's just inconsiderate.

Just wow... wrote:

Proper etiquette is to use your turn signal when making a turn. This is what everyone is taught in driver's education. Not using it is sorta like not saying "excuse me" as a courtesy when you may momentarily interrupt others around you. It's rude in my book.

You're missing the point. If you don't mess up you won't interrupt others around you. I agree, it's rude if you just barge in without signaling, but the point is you get in the lane when the space is open, therefore not interrupting anyone.

Let me put it this way: do you signal when you're the only person on the road? Probably not, unless it's a force of habit because there is nobody you need to signal to, right? So if you're driving with the proper amount of forethought there is no need to signal 90% of the time you are taught to in driving school.