Do you signal when in the left turn only lane?

[lifeobry]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
I signal every time, for every turn. It reassures other drivers of your intentions, and when you do it all the time, it becomes part of the routine, and you don't forget.

I wish everyone in the world was like this. The world would be a much better place.

 

[OverVolt]

How else will my signal develop the same timing as the other signals and I get happy. Only to have them go askew, and then I get sad.

 

[mxyzptlk]

Originally posted by: rh71
umm, you were supposed to signal as you got into the left turn lane, weren't you? Then it stays on.

++

I can't believe it took 2 and a half pages for someone to mention this.

Originally posted by: OverVolt
How else will my signal develop the same timing as the other signals and I get happy. Only to have them go askew, and then I get sad.

lol, me too

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: rh71
umm, you were supposed to signal as you got into the left turn lane, weren't you? Then it stays on.

I signal to get in, but if there's an entrance off to the left (say, a plaza) that I can access in the left-turn lane, I momentarily turn off my light until the point where it's obvious I can't make the early turn anymore.

 

[TheVrolok]

Yeah, I signal for every turn. Regardless of "turn only" lanes.

 

[meltdown75]

i do whatever needs to be done to drive perfect, and i do it naturally.

TALK TO ME

 

[LS21]

nein

 

[Siddhartha]

Originally posted by: gorcorps
Just a quick Q to see trends in ATers. When you're in a left turn only lane, do you still signal or not? I usually don't, as the signal is to warn people of where you're going which being in the turn only lane does.

I pretty much automatically use my turn signals when I am about to make a turn. Sometimes when I am in the left turn lane I will turn of the signal because the sound is annoying.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: rh71
umm, you were supposed to signal as you got into the left turn lane, weren't you? Then it stays on.

I signal to get in, but if there's an entrance off to the left (say, a plaza) that I can access in the left-turn lane, I momentarily turn off my light until the point where it's obvious I can't make the early turn anymore.

This brings up an interesting situation I was faced with one time. On the right there was a side street and immediately after it (about 3 car lengths) was the entrance to the highway - a turn lane that leads into it. I signalled right just before the side street given my current speed (long straightaway) and distance to the highway turn lane (my target)... a car coming out of the side street thought I was going to turn into his street so he'd be free to go before I got there - he started coming out then stopped short. I knew it. He gave me a look and I gave him one. My point?

People just need to learn to judge vehicle speed.

In your situation, I don't know why you don't just keep the signal on. The person behind you at that point would be on his brakes anyway.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: rh71

This brings up an interesting situation I was faced with one time. On the right there was a side street and immediately after it (about 3 car lengths) was the entrance to the highway. I signalled right just before the side street given the distance to the highway onramp and my current speed (long straightaway)... a car coming out of the side street thought I was going to turn into his street so he'd be free to go before I got there - he started coming out then stopped short. I knew it. He gave me a look and I gave him one. My point?

People just need to learn to judge vehicle speed.

Stuff like that requires some judgment. On one of my routine paths there's a right turn lane that goes to a major road, and a shopping center entrance off of that lane. I put my blinker on a little later than usual, and I split the lanes a little longer than usual if I'm going to the road. If I'm going to the shopping center I get fully in the turn lane early, and use my blinker earlier.

 

[Beanie46]

Always signal for any movement from moving straight ahead. It's a driving law in EVERY state in the U.S.

Unfortunately, you have these comments which are an indication of how poorly trained our point-and-hope steering chumps are......

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: vonmises
I asked my sister and brother in law, both are police officers and they said that at least in Mass you don't have to when you are in a marked turn only lane. They may be wrong, but were in Mass so its not like anyone actually uses the turn signal anyway.

Here in colorado I don't believe it's illegal either, which is why I never got into the habit. I always signal when switching lanes and turning when not in a dedicated turn lane.

In both cases, the poster is woefully misinformed or just never really read his/her driver's manual, which covers the driving laws of his/her particular state.


Take the Mass comment......officers not knowing the law.

Here's what the Mass driver's manual states about it:

When you are traveling on a roadway, other people expect you to continue straight ahead, unless you indicate otherwise. This is why you must use signals whenever you make any move in traffic. Your signals notify pedestrians and other motorists of your intended moves and give them time to react.

Regardless of the kind of vehicle you are driving, you must use signals. If the electronic signals on your vehicle are not working, you must use the three hand signals shown in the margin. Signals should be made through the driver?s side window.

Mass. Driver's Manual, Ch. 4, pp. 89-90





Colorado is the same.

In urban or metropolitan areas, you must signal continuously for 100 ft. before making a turn or lane change. On four-lane highways where the posted speed limit is more than 40 m.p.h. you must signal for 200 ft.

Failing to signal is a traffic violation.

If your vehicle's turn signals do not work, you must use hand signals. If using hand signals, end your signal before starting to make your turn, and place both hands on the wheel while making your turn.

Colorado Driver's Manual, Ch. 10, p. 18




It's the law in every state and I doubt anyone can document differently.

Personally, I use them any time I move.....and after 39 years of driving, and having seen idiots that just swoop, zoom, and dart through traffic without using turn signals, I have no pity on them when they either get in an accident or are ticketed.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

It's the law, yes. And seeing out of towners that don't know that they might be i na left turn only lane really reiterates the reasoning. people should signal because others will take note if you don't.

 

[Itchrelief]

Originally posted by: Beanie46
Always signal for any movement from moving straight ahead. It's a driving law in EVERY state in the U.S.

Every now and then I find myself signalling when the road bends 90 degrees, despite there being no intersection. Mildly embarassing. Also could make people think I might be wanting to parallel park when I am not.

 

[ViviTheMage]

my audi lets you hit the blinker and it clicks 3 times , but you don't actually have to move it into the groove so it sticks there like if you were actually turning...very nice and easy .

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
my audi lets you hit the blinker and it clicks 3 times , but you don't actually have to move it into the groove so it sticks there like if you were actually turning...very nice and easy .

Triple-turn signal... not sure if all BMWs have it but my X5 does... I really miss it when I'm in my Rodeo off and on. But while sitting in a turning lane, you should click it.

 

[speg]

I do, but I've always wondered if I should. If there were two turning lanes, how do you differentiate between someone who is waiting in the lane to turn, and someone who is trying to move over to the next lane?

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
i do whatever needs to be done to drive perfect, and i do it naturally.

TALK TO ME

Do you know why I pulled you over?
Littering and... littering and... littering and...

 

[xSauronx]

never at an intersection with lights, almost always at an intersection with signs, unless im alone at the intersection

 

[zebano]

Originally posted by: ViperVin2
Yes, it is required by law.

this.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: gorcorps
Just a quick Q to see trends in ATers. When you're in a left turn only lane, do you still signal or not? I usually don't, as the signal is to warn people of where you're going which being in the turn only lane does.

I guess with everyone's powers of Karnac the Great they know that the lane you are in is a left-turn only from all other directions.

I love being a mind-reader.

*pew pew pew*

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
I signal every time, for every turn. It reassures other drivers of your intentions, and when you do it all the time, it becomes part of the routine, and you don't forget.

I was behind this car out in the country one time when the road made a sharp 90 degree turn and the car signaled. The only other options were to drive into a tree or a ditch. I found that to be somewhat funny.

Edit: I sometimes signal in left turn lanes, but not always. Seems a little redundant. I always figured a turn lane was like one of those bends in the road. You don't have an option to go anywhere else.

 

[Rock Hydra]

Originally posted by: rh71
umm, you were supposed to signal as you got into the left turn lane, weren't you? Then it stays on.

But the lane I was driving in became the left turn lane! What do i do?!

 

[BW86]

most of the time

 

[Zeeky Boogy Doog]

Yes, almost always, only exception is for waiting at a red light when no one is around, I get tired of hearing it, but I typically do flip it back on before I execute.

On a related note, turn lanes are usually long, not just for multiple cars waiting to make the turn, but so that you can get into the turn lane, and then slow down... PLEASE stop slowing down in the main lane until 10 ft before the turn before moving into the turn lane, it slows down everyone behind you, we do not appreciate it.

 

[olds]

I signal to get into the lane and as soon as someone pulls in behind me I turn it off.