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Turn signals - why do so many people don't use them?

S

squarecut1

Platinum Member
Does it really take a huge amount of effort to use a turn signal? It is not just laziness and indifference, which it is. It is also dangerous.

I remember a time when it was relatively rare to come across someone like that. Now it is so commonplace :-(

These are not the kind of things that can be enforced. One of those things that people should just do on their own. Really, it should be part of the driving habit, I would think. But clearly, it is not for too many people these days.
 
i don't get it either, there was a thread about this not too long ago as well. takes such little effort to use a turn signal. for the most part, i chalk it up to people being lazy and selfish on the road, which is the majority of people off of the road as well.
 
Not that I do this: But I've noticed something when I drive through the city. If I turn on my signal, people will speed up, etc, to cut me off as if they didn't give me permission to enter their lane. So I can guess that some people have been trained not to use their signal if they want to change lanes.

So rude behavior breeds rude behavior.

Look at that when you signal, and you may notice the same behavior.
 
brandonb said:
Not that I do this: But I've noticed something when I drive through the city. If I turn on my signal, people will speed up, etc, to cut me off as if they didn't give me permission to enter their lane. So I can guess that some people have been trained not to use their signal if they want to change lanes.

So rude behavior breeds rude behavior.

Look at that when you signal, and you may notice the same behavior.
Click to expand...

Was gonna post a semi joke reply stating the above, but it actually is true.

I use the turn signals on my car, but I won't if there's no other cars around me.
 
I thought it was a California thing. But it seems, it's everywhere now. I questioned a couple people who don't used them, and they laughed at me for being old-fashioned.

i guess the new trend is running Stop signs now.
 
Think about the amount of energy saved by not needlessly flashing lights on the back of your car :awe:

Why do you hate the earth OP? 🙁
 
This is a huge pet-peeve of mine. Along with people who put on their signal literally right as they're turning.

Basically it's caused by being a self-centered asshole.
 
Worse than no turn signal is the 'magic turn signal' where people think turning it on automatically makes it OK for them to make the move no matter what the circumstances.

If you are going to totally cut me off with 1 inch of space... don't even bother with the signal.
 
brandonb said:
Not that I do this: But I've noticed something when I drive through the city. If I turn on my signal, people will speed up, etc, to cut me off as if they didn't give me permission to enter their lane. So I can guess that some people have been trained not to use their signal if they want to change lanes.

So rude behavior breeds rude behavior.

Look at that when you signal, and you may notice the same behavior.
Click to expand...

I've definitely noticed the behavior that you described. As a result, most of the time when I signal I've actually already checked that it's safe to make the lane change, and I'm making the lane change very shortly after the signal is made.
 
brandonb said:
Not that I do this: But I've noticed something when I drive through the city. If I turn on my signal, people will speed up, etc, to cut me off as if they didn't give me permission to enter their lane. .
Click to expand...

If there's already enough room, I turn on my signal and move over. Anybody who speeds up is going to either have to move over or slow down to keep from hitting me, their choice. I have good insurance who will back me up, do you?
 
i stopped using those years ago. it takes away from my badass-ness. people would mistake my courtesy as a sign of weakness if i used turn signals.
 
brandonb said:
Not that I do this: But I've noticed something when I drive through the city. If I turn on my signal, people will speed up, etc, to cut me off as if they didn't give me permission to enter their lane. So I can guess that some people have been trained not to use their signal if they want to change lanes.

So rude behavior breeds rude behavior.

Look at that when you signal, and you may notice the same behavior.
Click to expand...

Thinking about it more. People do what you described because there are idiots out there that make a turn signal, but don't make the lane change anyway even if someone actually slows down to let them in. When that happens in the city, the person who slowed down will get horned to crap.

If you don't change your speed, it creates ambiguity about whether you're letting the person in.

Everything happens for a reason.
 
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How am I supposed to use the stupid turn signal? If I reach for it with my left hand I inevitably get ketchup on the steering wheel and if I try to reach across with my right hand then I spill my coke. I can't win. People just need to learn to drive defensively if they insist on being on the road with me.
 
I think BMW and Lexus must have removed turn signals as a weight saving measure to get those fuel economy figures up to EPA standards. I can't remember the last time I've seen one of their vehicles equipped with them. :sneaky:

It certainly is dangerous. You can't just assume that other drivers can read your mind. People are just so inconsiderate these days. Just another symptom of the hyper-narcism problem in western society.

The worst people though are the ones who signal but have a habit of changing their minds at the last second. I almost got creamed shortly after getting my learners' permit by some jerk that had done that. Had his left blinker on, pulled into the turn lane, then blew straight throughout the intersection missing me by a foot. I was turning left as well coming the other way. Freaked me the hell out.
 
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I think it has more to do with people multi-tasking. One hand is for driving and the other hand is for eating/texting/calling/radio tuning/makeup application/masturbating/finger banging/asshole popping/tampon insertion and whatever else they fucking do while drive.

Seriously though. They aren't used because most people don't drive with two hands on the wheel.
 
I'm sure it also has to do with the fact that people think they are anonymous when driving. Like "I can be a douche, and you'll never know who I am nor will you follow me to beat me up for being a jerk, so I will just be a jerk."
 
brandonb said:
I'm sure it also has to do with the fact that people think they are anonymous when driving. Like "I can be a douche, and you'll never know who I am nor will you follow me to beat me up for being a jerk, so I will just be a jerk."
Click to expand...
No, it's a competition thing.
 
brandonb said:
Not that I do this: But I've noticed something when I drive through the city. If I turn on my signal, people will speed up, etc, to cut me off as if they didn't give me permission to enter their lane. So I can guess that some people have been trained not to use their signal if they want to change lanes.
Click to expand...

I see what you are saying, but still, one should use them.

And I am not talking just changing lane. You are going 50-55 mph on a highway and the vehicle in front of you all of a sudden starts pulling into a shopping center ...just like that...no turn signal, nothing...and that too, when there is no turn lane!

It is so bad now that even on a four way stop sign (which is a bundle of confusion to begin with anyway), there are people who don't bother with something as simple as a turn signal.
 
Cause you should be reading their minds, duh.

And it's their right to turn or change lanes when they feel like.
 
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