Please Use Your Turn Signals

[Printer Bandit]

in third world countries, the car horn is considered equivalent to the turn signal.

 

[purbeast0]

anyone who doesn't use their turn signal i just chalk up to being a lazy piece of shit, and i hate lazy people. it literally takes about half of a second to flip your turn signal on, and if you are too lazy to do that shit, then fuck you you lazy piece of shit.

 

[Lean L]

anyone who doesn't use their turn signal i just chalk up to being a lazy piece of shit, and i hate lazy people. it literally takes about half of a second to flip your turn signal on, and if you are too lazy to do that shit, then fuck you you lazy piece of shit.

I swear this forum has some sort of weird all or nothing mentality.

I've had cases of not signaling simply because there was not enough time to move my hand from its current position or it would have been dangerous to. Driving in Philly some of the streets are filled with stopped taxis, bikers, jaywalkers, potholes, and random light runners that I don't signal while changing lanes quickly. Just know your surrounding in that case. Taxis don't care if you signal anyways, they're pretty busy talking on the phone.

 

[purbeast0]

I swear this forum has some sort of weird all or nothing mentality.

I've had cases of not signaling simply because there was not enough time to move my hand from its current position or it would have been dangerous to. Driving in Philly some of the streets are filled with stopped taxis, bikers, jaywalkers, potholes, and random light runners that I don't signal while changing lanes quickly. Just know your surrounding in that case. Taxis don't care if you signal anyways, they're pretty busy talking on the phone.

so you didn't have enough time for 1/2 a second? if that is the case then you are just a terrible driver not giving yourself enough time to hit the signal. people who don't signal and change lanes "quickly" are the worst too, because the person you are cutting off has no clue that you are about to do it.

so you're either a terrible driver or a lazy sack ... you pick.

i drive in the DMV area so i encounter terrible drivers on a daily basis, as well as cluttered city streets like you are talking about in philly. i'd even say it's easier to hit the turn signal in those areas because you have to be even more alert with everything going on around you. but then again, i don't even think about turning my turn signal on, it is just something i do without thinking, like changing gears.

 

[Aikouka]

That's why I like the British term for them: indicators. They indicate what I'm trying to do whether it's turn, change lanes, parking (turning into a spot), etc.

Had some dingleberry in a 7-series almost smash into my fender yesterday as the person decided they wanted to move over and was too lazy to check the lane (that I was in) or signal. Although, even if you use your signal, it doesn't matter if you still don't look. Had some idiot this morning pretty much do what the 7-series did, but at least she used her turn signal before completely ignoring the fact that I was in the lane. :|

 

[02ranger]

For the safety of all of us, please do so. It's common sense.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_lighting

Holy lurker, Batman!! And I thought I had a low post count. lol

I try to, but around here this is the exact problem.... As soon as I try to everyone drives like you are out to steal THEIR spot on the road and hell will freeze before they let you in.

I've seen this too, and it's so aggravating. I'll do the exact opposite. If you signal that you need to merge, I will do everything in my power to let you in, but if you don't signal then I'll do everything in my power to make sure you stay right where you are.

There's a spot on my daily commute home from work where the road is four lanes (two each direction), and just after a particular stoplight the lanes merge together to two (one each direction). It's a very short distance to merge, too. People are constantly waiting until right when the light turns green, and then shooting off like a rocket to try and squeeze ahead of you before the lane ends. If I'm at the front of the inside lane at the light and there's a ton of traffic behind me, I'll usually go slow to let the person merge, but if there's nobody behind me it's kind of annoying for the person to try to get ahead of me like that, as if that one car position is going to get them home any sooner. lol But if they will signal I'll still let them in........

 

[xanis]

so you didn't have enough time for 1/2 a second? if that is the case then you are just a terrible driver not giving yourself enough time to hit the signal. people who don't signal and change lanes "quickly" are the worst too, because the person you are cutting off has no clue that you are about to do it.

i drive in the DMV area so i encounter terrible drivers on a daily basis, as well as cluttered city streets like you are talking about in philly. i'd even say it's easier to hit the turn signal in those areas because you have to be even more alert with everything going on around you. but then again, i don't even think about turning my turn signal on, it is just something i do without thinking, like changing gears.

Not sure if trolling. Are you trying to say that in all of your years of driving you've never once forgotten to hit your turn signal or not used it on purpose? Not even one time? If you say yes, you're mostly likely a gigantic liar. If you say no, you're "being a lazy piece of shit". Which is it?

I always aim for 100% when it comes to signaling, but sometimes shit just happens and you can't do it. Has nothing to do with being lazy.

 

[purbeast0]

Not sure if trolling. Are you trying to say that in all of your years of driving you've never once forgotten to hit your turn signal or not used it on purpose? Not even one time? If you say yes, you're mostly likely a gigantic liar. If you say no, you're "being a lazy piece of shit". Which is it?

I always aim for 100% when it comes to signaling, but sometimes shit just happens and you can't do it. Has nothing to do with being lazy.

of course there are times when i didn't do it. it was one of the following scenarios.

1. i was being a lazy piece of shit and just didnt feel like it.
2. i was being a bad driver and not paying attention, and due to that i had to change lanes quickly for an unexpected reason.
3. someone almost swerved into me so i had to change lanes quickly.

so yeah, 2 out of 3 of those was me being a dickhead driver.

 

[Lean L]

of course there are times when i didn't do it. it was one of the following scenarios.

1. i was being a lazy piece of shit and just didnt feel like it.
2. i was being a bad driver and not paying attention, and due to that i had to change lanes quickly for an unexpected reason.
3. someone almost swerved into me so i had to change lanes quickly.

so yeah, 2 out of 3 of those was me being a dickhead driver.

Seems like your first post is rather pointless then. But hey... I find golum to be an interesting character.

 

[purbeast0]

Seems like your first post is rather pointless then. But hey... I find golum to be an interesting character.

considering 99.999% of the time i use my turn signal, it's still valid.

it's not like i'm intentionally doing it on the regular basis or anything.

 

[MrPickins]

Generally around me, signal to who? If there are no cars around, I don't bother. If I'm in traffic, I always signal.

I used to do this, but it lead to me forgetting to use signals in traffic. Now I use them all the time.

 

[Aikouka]

There's one thing that annoys me to high heaven on my Ford: the quick lane change feature. The feature is an intermediary option on the turn signal where you push it down/up a little bit and it will flash three times and turn off. If you push it up and down all the way, it acts like a normal turn signal. I've got two issues with it. The first is that I don't think it stays on long enough to be effective. It will flash three times, and then just turn off; however, I want about five flashes. I prefer to signal before I start changing lanes to indicate my intention to the other drivers, and I like to keep it on through at least halfway of the maneuver (I usually just leave it on until I'm comfortably in that lane). So, it really just ends up being worthless for me because it doesn't last long enough.

The other problem is that by adding a new phase to the signal, it really makes it awkward to use at times. The transition to go from quick lane change to the normal turn signal takes far more force than I'm accustomed to. Because of that, there are times where I thought I went into the normal signal mode, but I'm actually in quick lane change. In previous cars, the lever would stay in the position while blinking until you move it down. This car does not do that as the lever always returns to the resting position. In normal mode, flicking it in the opposite direction (quick lane change) will turn it off; however, if you were already in quick lane change mode, you will actually just start signaling in the opposite direction. Good god, I can't tell you how many times I've started signaling in a million different directions like some indecisive madman!

Honestly, I would rather just have the normal style turn signal. Of course, I'm also the type of person that doesn't care for automatic headlights.

EDIT:

I used to do this, but it lead to me forgetting to use signals in traffic. Now I use them all the time.

Yeah, that's the same reasoning that I have for cleaning up a few naughty things that I do. I'm worried that it'll start making me a bit too complacent in my driving. Next thing I know, and I'll be like the idiot from yesterday that pulled through a parking space and then went the wrong way (one-way aisles) while I was trying to go the right way.

 

[nageov3t]

it just seems weird to put any thought into it.

I use my turn signals without even thinking. generally speaking, my left middle or ring finger is resting on the dial. I'm sure I've forgotten a few times or had a last minute change of mind where I decided to go right instead of straight, but it's pretty rare.

I can't put myself in the mindset of stopping and thinking "whelp, there are no cars around or I'm in a turning lane, may as well save myself that .000001 calorie's worth of energy and not use my turn signal."

 

[Exterous]

Damn...you must have learned to drive in the SF Bay area...

Mostly in Michigan where its every car for itself and there are no cops to enforce things like the posted speed limit guidelines on the highway

 

[MongGrel]

Try Florida for non use, and I actually use mine

 

[Gillbot]

Holy lurker, Batman!! And I thought I had a low post count. lol



I've seen this too, and it's so aggravating. I'll do the exact opposite. If you signal that you need to merge, I will do everything in my power to let you in, but if you don't signal then I'll do everything in my power to make sure you stay right where you are.

There's a spot on my daily commute home from work where the road is four lanes (two each direction), and just after a particular stoplight the lanes merge together to two (one each direction). It's a very short distance to merge, too. People are constantly waiting until right when the light turns green, and then shooting off like a rocket to try and squeeze ahead of you before the lane ends. If I'm at the front of the inside lane at the light and there's a ton of traffic behind me, I'll usually go slow to let the person merge, but if there's nobody behind me it's kind of annoying for the person to try to get ahead of me like that, as if that one car position is going to get them home any sooner. lol But if they will signal I'll still let them in........

I'm the same way but you seem to get punished for doing the right thing.

 

[Fire&Blood]

On my way home from work, I was about to turn right onto a semi busy road, 4 cars in a row (a mini van and 3 sedans, all in terrible conditions) had their right turn signals yet each car kept going straight!

There were no quick succession turns prior to the intersection to give them an excuse. Once I got on the highway, an STI Impreza, of all cars, was going so slow in the right lane, barely the minimum highway speed I was actually considering passing him via shoulder. A minute later he sped up to a somewhat acceptable ~50 mph. Had tinted windows so I didn't see the reaction to the look I gave him when I finally got to pass him.

 

[who?]

I hold my food or drink with my right hand so I can steer and signal with my left. When I had a manual holding the food and wheel with my left whenever I had to shift with my right was a hassle but now I'm back to an automatic so it's all good. I don't know if being left handed makes this easier.

 

[Muse]

Joe Rut's "Turn Signal" on Spotify

 

[JamesV]

I've driven with people that NEVER use their turn signals, and I've always got this nagging thought in the back of my head we are about to be rear ended.

I think some people don't use them as a sort of lottery. If you get hit from behind, the other driver is automatically at fault, so why not try your luck at getting some money?

 

[Imaginer]

<-- Retired Truck Driver, teaching niece how to drive and how your lights are your only communication between each driver..... yadda yadda. Am i wrong?

No, not at all. It is far more conducive to your conveyed intentions than an angry horn honk would (unless someone is drifting into your lane from your blind spot without looking ahead in the lane over).

 

[Slick Mcflicken]

Thx everyone for the input, the bottom line is.... Use your common sense and use your turn signals, even in a parking lot. If not this is coming from a Truck Driver, fucking wake the fuck up and use your common sense. You're putting yourself in danger and everyone around you!

 

[krose]

How about the ones that jam on the brakes then put on the turn signal? Why do they bother?

 

[Slick Mcflicken]

Because they're in their own little world. Like I said please wake the fuck up people.

 

[HeXen]

As drivers start seeing it more and more, they take it out on others by start doing the same thing, eventually it becomes quite the trend. Around my area, it's so common to not see sigs that I don't think anyone even notices or cares anymore.

I think it's comical that people can be so nice in person and turn into such a jerk when behind the wheel. There is some kind of human psychology to it, my theory is that drivers in general, after years of fighting traffic, near misses, no signals, sudden maneuvers...etc, it plants a seed....the jerk seed.
It's as if they have to get back at others some how. Speaking of truck drivers...some of you guys are serious fucking jerks. Yeah I didn't forget about the guy that would not get over to let me in from the onramp despite we were the only 2 vehicles on a 4 lane highway nor the truck driver that literally came into my lane forcing me over and almost off the edge of a bridge. Jerks, theres one behind every wheel at some point.

I'll bet anything that everyone in here has at least once in their driving career pissed off another driver, either you cut them off or you thought they were too slow or maybe you misjudged and went beyond the point of no return...etc....Just ask yourself, what was your reason for doing what you did? If you can answer that, I'll say it's likely that almost everyone else has a similar self justification for what they did as well.