If you use your turn signals, why do you do it?

[slikmunks]

common courtesy

 

[B00ne]

to let the other traffic participant know what I am up to? I hate these idiots who think its cool to not use them Not to speak of theenormous danger such idiots pose on the Autobahn. I think the fines for not using them are wayway to low as well as the fines for left lane hugging

 

[AznMaverick]

it's like a natural reaction for me when i turn. sometimes i even turn it on when i'm turning in the PARKING LOT!

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
I use mine everywhere and for everything. I use them when I change lanes, when I park, when I'm exiting, and I'll even use them when I'm on an empty road, all by myself. It's just habit

BTW - people who don't use their blinkers are #1 on my list to get ran over (if I have the opportunity), and I'll even use my blinkers at the same time if I have to.

Same sentiments from me. If I'm going down an interstate and traffic is all around me and people are coming up a merge lane with NO turn signal, well, sorry, you're not getting in front of me.

And I HATE when people in front of me slow down suddenly and turn late onto an offramp with no turn signals as I'm already into the offramp lane and have used my signals. I can't read minds. Oh, and when I'm turning out of my subdivision and a car is coming from my left and turns right into but doesn't signal. Geez...common courtesy!

 

[Analog]

law

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: nitsuj3580
Well I've always been under the belief that it's a good thing to let other people on the road know what you're doing when you want to turn, change lanes, etc. so I use it.

Yes, that's true, but it doesn't benefit you any now does it?

Sure it does... if you don't want any uninvited rear-end action. You can see how much it pisses people off.

I'm a really aggressive driver and I dart in and out of lanes, but I do it with turn signals and plenty of warning. I respect others who drive aggressively but WITH turn signals.

 

[SnapIT]

Originally posted by: thawolfman
common courtesy

 

[BooneRebel]

To *SIGNAL*. The same reason you have brake lights on your car, so that other people around you know where you're going to aim that ~4000lb rolling deathtrap. It's not just a courtesy, it's a safety issue. I hate to be headed down a 2-lane blacktop road following someone as they slam on the brakes, coming to complete stop, and then turn on the signal to indicate they're crossing the road into a driveway. The whole point of *signalling* is to let people know what you are going to do *before you do it*, not during/after.

 

[skace]

Two things that annoy me...

People who forget about there blinker and drive 3 miles with 1 blinker on. Especially when their left blinker is on and they are doing right lane changes -- so incredibly dangerous and stupid.

People who never use their blinker and never look behind them, they just turn and *time after time* have to swerve back into their own lane after almost hitting someone.

 

[Nemesis77]

Common courtesy, it's safe and it's the law. For some crazy reason, I feel safer if I know that the other road-users have at least general idea what I'm about to do.

 

[Ylen13]

couple of u say its the law.When is the last time u ever seen,hear anyone being pulled over (ticketed) for not showing their signal???

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: dahunan
I use mine as a courtesy and to protect myself from geting rear-ended by idiots. I start my blinker about 1/2 block before my turn-sometimes even more distance when there is a lot of traffic.

yup.. same here.

 

[prodigy]

Common courtesy.

 

[Jzero]

Using your turn signals is NOT "giving information to the enemy."

I always use them I hate people who don't. I hate even more people who don't use them and then act pissed off when you almost hit them when they know damn well that if they had a turn signal on you would have known they were going to change lanes.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: BooneRebel
To *SIGNAL*. The same reason you have brake lights on your car, so that other people around you know where you're going to aim that ~4000lb rolling deathtrap. It's not just a courtesy, it's a safety issue. I hate to be headed down a 2-lane blacktop road following someone as they slam on the brakes, coming to complete stop, and then turn on the signal to indicate they're crossing the road into a driveway. The whole point of *signalling* is to let people know what you are going to do *before you do it*, not during/after.

I hate those people too. Turn signal FIRST, brakes second.

ZV

 

[crypticlogin]

Some people forget that pedestrians and cyclers look for turn signals as well. "Gee, no other cars on the road means I'm safe to make those sudden turns without flashing!"
:|

 

[CraigRT]

I don't feel safer when i use 'em.... but it is common courtesy for sure.

 

[dman]

I always use them when I have to obstruct traffic to make a turn, for example, turning off a major road onto a side road with no turn lane.

I almost never use them when I need to get into another lane and it's crazy-traffic. It just motivates the person you are trying to squeeze between to block you.

I try and do left-right-left-right when I get in front of someone who has left their signal on for a while. However, in all my years it's only worked once to get someone to turn it off. And that was a semi-truck driver who thanked me by cycling his lights. All the car drivers who have left theirs on are just oblivious to my 'you are oblivous' signal. I wonder why.

 

[Jzero]

I try and do left-right-left-right when I get in front of someone who has left their signal on for a while. However, in all my years it's only worked once to get someone to turn it off. And that was a semi-truck driver who thanked me by cycling his lights. All the car drivers who have left theirs on are just oblivious to my 'you are oblivous' signal. I wonder why.

I don't know if this "left-right-left-right" is well-known. I don't leave my signals on (Doesn't the click-click drive you bonkers?), but if I saw you doing that I'd just think you were nuts....

As for "Crazy-Traffic" that's where it's most freaking important. I rarely get into incursions when there's 2 cars on the road, it's when it's heavy traffic and I'm trying to get from the right lane to the middle to get away from entering/exiting traffic and some asshat in the left lane decides he wants to use the middle lane as a passing lane and that he doesn't need to use a turn signal.

 

[thebestMAX]

I use them because:

It confuses the hell out of the drivers in Floriduh! Fun to hide and watch.

I never trust their turn signals. They cant see or hear so who knows how long the sigs have been on.

 

[ROTC1983]

Originally posted by: thawolfman
common courtesy

 

[Supermercado]

Common courtesy. Nor do I really have any desire to get rear-ended by someone who doesn't realize I'm slowing to turn.

 

[Rob9874]

Hardly anyone uses turn signals in AZ, and it's very frustrating. For example, when I'm waiting on an oncoming car before I turn into his lane, and then the guy turns onto my road without a turn signal. I could have gone if I knew he was turning! Or sometimes there will be a car across the intersection from me, and without a turn signal, I assume they're going straight, so I'll make my right turn. When all the while they were turning my direction, and I barely avoid an accident.

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: Jzero

I try and do left-right-left-right when I get in front of someone who has left their signal on for a while. However, in all my years it's only worked once to get someone to turn it off. And that was a semi-truck driver who thanked me by cycling his lights. All the car drivers who have left theirs on are just oblivious to my 'you are oblivous' signal. I wonder why.

I don't know if this "left-right-left-right" is well-known. I don't leave my signals on (Doesn't the click-click drive you bonkers?), but if I saw you doing that I'd just think you were nuts....

It probably isn't, but, I'd hope the thought process would think 'that guys and idiot, who does stupid crap like that with their blinkers...' then pause... check dash lights... 'd'oh!'.

But, mostly it doesn't work.

In FL, you use the blinker to indicate you intend to switch lanes and it almost guarantees the car you are trying to get in front of will speed up and attempt to block you off. In normal traffic it's not a problem because there's enough room that you can plan it and do it without them succeeding, but, during rush hour it's so crowded you only have room to cut people off and signaling just means they know sooner you are going to cut them off.

Sucks, but, that's how it works. If people would just be nice and let you over when you signal I'd signal more often, and fwiw, I still test my theory every now and then when I can afford to be wrong.


This is S.FL as hinted at in the post above about confusing people.

 

[FenrisUlf]

Originally posted by: Tripleshot
Here is a safety tip.

When you overtake an 18 wheeler, make sure he sees you and you see him seeing you in his big mirror, and when you move back in front of him, use plenty of turn signal fluid and do not make the move in front of him until you can see his windshield in your rear view mirror.

I ALWAYS use plenty of turn signal fluid too!