Why do people stop using their indicators/turn signals?

[Bob_Ross]

I use my turn signals when I want to communicate with other drivers

Would you ever not want to communicate your intentions to another driver?

As I often have to remind my students (I teach a 12-week Cooperative Group Cycling Skills class every year), signals are a form of communication

...which means the communicator must convey information to the communicatee or else no communication actually took place. If nobody sees your turn signal -- because it wasn't engaged (sic) long enough, because it wasn't explicitly clear, because you neglected to use it...or because they weren't paying attention -- it doesn't really matter that you signaled; you failed to communicate. If a tree falls in the forest yadda-yadda-yadda...

But more importantly, I remind them that signals are to communicate what you intend to do, not what you are currently doing. They need to be used with foresight, in advance of any action. Way too many drivers don't seem to have received that memo.

I feel that driving licenses shouldn't be renewable online like they are now unless it's due to a change of address or name change. I would rather have everyone retake the driving test every few years.

Oh god, yes, please, ^^^THIS! A million times, ^^^THIS!!!

 

[rtslinger]

What have you ever heard of mind reading? If you lived in NJ you would know it is valuable tool to help avoid road rage

 

[Tom Lane]

Would you ever not want to communicate your intentions to another driver?

Interesting that you excerpted and edited my post but excluded the answer to your question. In the future, Bob, please don't put words in my mouth; it's dishonest.

I find anymore that I use my turn signals when I want to communicate with other drivers, usually because I'm slowing down to make a turn and I want to warn the driver behind me that that's why I'm slowing down. On the freeways, too frequently, signaling my intention to change lanes is met by the driver in the next lane over speeding up to prevent my lane change, so I don't do that very often. If there's no one near me that and so no need to communicate, no signal.

 

[Chebass88]

Everyone who is driving must have used their indicators at some point, because presumably you have to use them to pass your driving test. So at some point in the intervening years, some people stop using them. Why is this? Do you use your turn signals? If not, why not?

Simple. People stopped using them when there were no longer traffic tickets issued for not using them.

 

[two fingers]

Cars still have those things?


I'm way too busy beating my kids to stop and flip the turn thingy.

 

[line6man]

In my book, there is no excuse for not signaling. At least half of all drivers here don't signal at all, and it drives me nuts. If you desire for your car to move in any direction other than straight, signal the direction before you turn the steering wheel! It takes zero effort to signal, and it helps ensure your own safety on the road.

Someone mentioned running stops signs, and that's another pet peeve of mine, but it's not as frequent. People constantly turn/change lanes without signalling, but running stop signs is a less frequent offense, in my observation. When I see it, though, there are generally two scenarios. There are the kind of drivers that speed right through the stop sign without slowing, and there are the kind of drivers that slow briefly and then keep going. I can understand going straight through, due to inattention or disregard for safety, but what does it accomplish to tap your brakes and keep going?

 

[Pilgrim]

Let's face it, most people drive in their own little world and never think about the traffic around them. They also never look more than a few yards down the road, and they never think more than 3-4 seconds ahead. It's amazing how people will drive right up to a traffic jam or obstruction, then jam on their brakes and slide into the pile. I've watched it happen. Meanwhile, those rare drivers who actually look ahead and think ahead took a side exit a few hundred yards back and are making their way to their destination.

US drivers are amazingly incompetent and inattentive.

 

[GIBrat51]

I use them when I need to use them - like Tom Lane posted - and when I don't need to use them, I don't. Like when there's nobody to see them, for instance. Also not a big believer in stopping at stop signs in the middle of nowhere (and we have a LOT of nowhere here in Nevada), just because it's there, when I can see nobody at all for 5 miles in any direction. Just depends on the situation. (and, Slobake; was that you I was following down The Strip last week, signalling for a right turn for 3 miles - until you suddenly turned left into Treasure Island?)

 

[fjadams]

I used to work with a guy we called "World Book" because all the combined knowledge of man resided in his head.
He told us this, in absolute seriousness.
If you're sitting at an intersection and somebody is driving with their turn signal on, you can turn into the intersection right in front of them. If they hit you it's their fault because it's the law that you have to turn if your signal is flashing.
All you can do is shake your head and walk away.

My personal annoyance is people who don't, and probably don't know, that you should signal your turn out of a round-about. But then again here in Lincoln I think it's about 12% of the drivers even have the skill to navigate one. Most here still think the 4 Way Stop is one of the newest experiments in traffic control.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Interesting that you excerpted and edited my post but excluded the answer to your question. In the future, Bob, please don't put words in my mouth; it's dishonest.

Gosh Tom, I'm really sorry if you somehow thought I was "putting words in [your] mouth" when I quoted words you had actually written and then used that quote as a springboard for further input that struck me as germane to the subject matter, without judgement, criticism, or disagreement. Your words simply inspired further reflection and triggered my thoughts on the topic.

 

[Immigrant]

I've seen a couple of posts that suggest testing for renewel and tighter regulations or better policing. That won't happen. It completely goes against the current direction of things.

Cars still have those things?


I'm way too busy beating my kids to stop and flip the turn thingy.

If that's an attempt at humor, it's a swing and a miss. Awful stuff, Thurston.

 

[96tbird]

So I'm driving along in the left lane in town toward a two lane bridge. The rugjt lane has to turn right or get over. Lady in the right lane is positioned just behind the nose of my NEW car so I can JUST see her taillights. On goes her left signal and over she comes. I have to brake to prevent the fender bender. I pull up beside her at the red light over the bridge and through the open window ask her ***?

She said "I had my signal on." As if that act alone gave her the right to enter the busy left lane at her convenience.

Using your signals doesn't make you a hero if you're a moron.

I signal always but more importantly, am scanning traffic at all times so I don't ge into trouble with the morons. I used to drive semis so it's ingrained to constantly observe. If people would simply observe and follow the simple rules, driving would be so much more fun.

 

[ChrisB2]

Cars still have those things?


I'm way too busy beating my kids to stop and flip the turn thingy.

Do you want your demerit awarded for not using the sarcasm font, or for admitting you beat your kids??

 

[ChrisB2]

So I'm driving along in the left lane in town toward a two lane bridge. The rugjt lane has to turn right or get over. Lady in the right lane is positioned just behind the nose of my NEW car so I can JUST see her taillights. On goes her left signal and over she comes. I have to brake to prevent the fender bender. I pull up beside her at the red light over the bridge and through the open window ask her ***?

She said "I had my signal on." As if that act alone gave her the right to enter the busy left lane at her convenience.

Using your signals doesn't make you a hero if you're a moron.

I signal always but more importantly, am scanning traffic at all times so I don't ge into trouble with the morons. I used to drive semis so it's ingrained to constantly observe. If people would simply observe and follow the simple rules, driving would be so much more fun.

Hmm, no offense but a little bit of a gray area IMO. She was forward of you which gives her the right of way, except for the fact that she must merge into your lane. She has to do it safely but using the signal and moving over is her only option, except rapidly accelerating or slowing to let you go first. "Merge" is not the same as "yield." If she can safely enter your lane ahead of you, you're supposed to let her.

I let people in all the time in that scenario. It's just a live and let live driving attitude. Literally.

I'm not excusing her for cutting you off, but at the same time if a collision had resulted you would probably be found partially liable.

A lot of people (not you, necessarily) feel they own their lane, and no one else should have the right to use it until they're done with it. If you built the road on your property, sure, but public roads are for everyone. Now GANGWAY!!

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

I think a lot of drivers here in Orange County, Calif., feel that using turn signals while driving will put them at a competitive disadvantage.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Judging by what I see on the road, my guess is, minivans aren't equipped with blinkers?

Pickup trucks aren't, either.

 

[AlembicPlayer]

I think a lot of drivers here in Orange County, Calif., feel that using turn signals while driving will put them at a competitive disadvantage.

no doubt...it distracts from texting

 

[two fingers]

Do you want your demerit awarded for not using the sarcasm font, or for admitting you beat your kids??

Wait. There's a sarcasm font? I need a sarcasm lock key on my keyboard like a caps lock or number lock. All sarcasm all the time.

Besides, when they gang up on me my kids are plenty able to get me back.

 

[two fingers]

If that's an attempt at humor, it's a swing and a miss. Awful stuff, Thurston.

My kids thought it was halrious.

 

[Pilgrim]

So I'm driving along in the left lane in town toward a two lane bridge. The rugjt lane has to turn right or get over. Lady in the right lane is positioned just behind the nose of my NEW car so I can JUST see her taillights. On goes her left signal and over she comes. I have to brake to prevent the fender bender. I pull up beside her at the red light over the bridge and through the open window ask her ***?

She said "I had my signal on." As if that act alone gave her the right to enter the busy left lane at her convenience.

Using your signals doesn't make you a hero if you're a moron.

I signal always but more importantly, am scanning traffic at all times so I don't ge into trouble with the morons. I used to drive semis so it's ingrained to constantly observe. If people would simply observe and follow the simple rules, driving would be so much more fun.

When many people do actually use a turn signal, they only turn it on after they have started moving into the other lane. The idea of signaling BEFORE the turn or lane change hasn't registered.

Do you want your demerit awarded for not using the sarcasm font, or for admitting you beat your kids??

Somebody's hot button is showing here. Unlax.