How hard is it to use your turn signal

[blueamy66]

when, um, making a turn?

Or how about when changing lanes on the freeway?

And can people learn how to merge onto a freeway. I'm pretty sure that merge doesn't mean to stop at the end of the on ramp and wait for nice kind soul to open up some space for you.

[av8rdave]

1. Well, it can be more difficult than you think...

When you're using your knees to steer, and your hands are occupied with a cell phone and a cocktail.

It's a multitasking world, dontchaknow?

(On a more serious note, I wish automakers would do a better job of reminding people that their products actually come equipped with mirrors, turn signals and dimmer switches. Oh, yeah, and speedometers.)

:hi:

[Kali]

37. sure, but all those things eventually fall off

then what?

[Tripper11]

2. Agreed!

I truly believe the higher end car people tend to buy, they choose to NOT get the signal light option installed. Brutal!

[kentauros]

3. I've noticed, too, that some will use it for lane-changing

but not turns, or for turns but not lane-changing. If you can use it for one, why not the other?

Now what really bugs me are the ones that do use their signal, but only because as slower-moving traffic they want to occupy the passing lane at 40mph. I have to wonder if there's some dyslexic thing going on in their brains that interprets "Slower Traffic Keep Right" as "Slower Traffic Keep Left" :eyes:

[JBoy]

4. Here's what drives me nuts:

[kentauros]

5. However,

That's preferable to the asshole that has either forgotten their signal is on, has turned it on half a mile before their intended turn, or is turning at the driveway just to your right.

[blueamy66]

14. AMEN!!

I hate that too!!!

[raccoon]

47. With the Caveat, in this case, don't trust if they did signal.

If they had been signaling left, and you went ahead and turned, and they DIDN'T turn, because maybe they didn't realize their signal indicator was on......uh-oh.

In this case, you'd do better to wait whether they were signaling or not, until they start to make their turn.

[Mad_Dem_X]

50. Oh, I hate that, too! nt

[Orsino]

54. I enjoy the fuckers who change lanes, or turn...

...and then give us the signal to let us know they did it. :nuke:

[rrneck]

6. Best solution I've seen lately...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhsjit5xJks

[kayakjohnny]

8. Heeeeeeeeyooooooo!!!!!!!

Loved it!

:bounce: :fistbump: :headbang: :yourock: :applause: :rofl:

[jobycom]

12. Ha! He sounds exactly like me with road rage!!

:rofl:

I've given almost that same speech before, and I've come closer than I want to admit to ramming someone for driving like that. Don't worry, I haven't done it. Yet.

[rrneck]

25. My sister in Memphis

has a pet peeve of her own. She hates the "three more get to go on a left turn through an intersection after the light changes" attitude. She hates it so much that when she sees a green light - she's going. She's on a mission. I've seen her drive straight at 'em. So, if you're ever in a turning lane in Memphis at a stop light and there is a dark blue/green Volvo 960 driven by a 100 lb. mother of two with curly dirty blond hair in the oncoming lane and you think you might like to tuck in behind the others and push on through that light - don't do it. I've seen her miss cars by inches. She'll scare the shit out of you.

[kentauros]

26. On that same note

Never get behind either a bus or one of those little box trucks. None of them stop for red lights! :o

[A HERETIC I AM]

27. Your sister is my new hero. n/t

[Awsi Dooger]

42. I share your sister's pet peeve

That tendency is incredibly dangerous in South Florida. Hispanic drivers in that area seem to think 4-6 cars are mandated to turn after the red. I've seen accidents galore, with the late turning driver furious and insisting innocence. Twice I stayed to give a statement to police.

In Las Vegas that driving fault became so problematic at the corner of Flamingo and the Strip that metro would station two motorcycle cops in front of the Flamingo Hilton. They'd nab the last two late turners. Sometimes 5 or 6 would get away with it solely because two other morons followed them. I'd stand there for entertainment purposes, watching who the lucky losers would be.

I drive at least 8000 miles on vacations every year, often twice that. On freeways the worst offenders by far are aggressive drivers, ones zig zagging with mere feet between vehicles.

Entering freeways is on the opposite extreme, drivers too tentative. It's incredible how many drivers will reach decent speed on the ramp then stagnate or slow down when the crucial moment is at hand, entering traffic.

Someone mentioned stopping at the end of the ramp. On Long Island this summer I saw stop signs ignored. You're actually supposed to stop in some areas. Two guys ran the sign when I was approaching. Luckily I knew to anticipate it.

[blueamy66]

44. In AZ, at some on ramps, we have metered traffic...

one has to stop at the middle of the on ramp and wait for the green light, which is okay...it's when one is about to merge into traffic and stops that bothers me. Just continue to drive, put on your signal and merge into an open space. DON'T STOP AND WAIT AND HOLD UP TRAFFIC TO GET AN OPEN SPACE. It's usually assholes on cell phones or chicks in SUVs. Sorry to generalize, but I drive the freeways in AZ every day and I see it every day.

I wish everyone would drive as perfectly as me. :-)

[raccoon]

48. I understand her feelings, but she's playing a dangerous game...nt

[struggle4progress]

7. Sometimes I wonder whether using my turn signals is really a good idea

Going home, I have to make a hard left off a twisting two lane road striped double yellow "do not pass." The speed limit is 45 but lots of people drive 60 and tailgate. So I usually start slowing down a bit before the intersection and then I reflexively blink left. Late evenings, with some regularity, various morans speed up as I get ready to turn, cross the double yellow, and zip past. I'd guess they're drunk, cuz I can't imagine any other explanation for reading "Look! I'm left blinking!" as "Hurry up and pass me on the left ASAP!" A few times I've actually had to brake after starting to turn, because I really don't want to be bashed on the driver's by a tailgating bozo who stomps the gas and illegally changes lanes just about when I began to crank my steering wheel counterclockwise

It's kinda weird to have to wonder Will the idiot behind me think I'm telling him to pass? whenever I make this turn

[kentauros]

10. I've noticed in the last few years that this behavior

is linked to the driver that is always thinking "I have to be in front of you!!!" You'll get car after car doing that the moment you need to move over in slow but bumper to bumper traffic. For those drivers, it's not cool to be courteous :eyes:

The only thing you can do is to move over if they're tailgating and not give them any warning, until you're already halfway into the left lane. That way, you've still used your signal, but they're shit out of luck to pass you over there ;)

[struggle4progress]

22. It's not a 4-lane road: it's a 2-lane road, one lane each way.

There's just nowhere there for me to move over to: I've got one lane to drive in, with a double-yellow stripe to my left and a deep drainage ditch to my right. There's not even a shoulder. The only way for me to follow your suggestion would be to slide over to and start driving on the wrong side of the road

"Look! I'm slowing down and blinking left! I plan to turn left now!" -- so bozo crosses the double-yellow and passes on my left

[struggle4progress]

23. Saw a great bumpersticker on a car a few days ago. Lots of bumperstickers on the car,

yoga stuff mostly

The one that caught my eye said Visualize using your turn signals

[kentauros]

24. Okay, I didn't know it was only a two-lane road.

What you might do, then, is to turn your signal on earlier. That way they can pass long before you get to your turn. Yes, it's an illegal pass for them, but better that they do it earlier than to run into you (or run you off the road) when you're turning.

The law in Texas is that if you can safely pass a left-turning vehicle on the right-hand shoulder of a 2-lane road, then it's legal to do so. Of course, that doesn't apply when there's no shoulder, so people just have to wait. If they can't wait, then that's a good time to get on your cellphone and call in their license and offense (if that kind of thing even works with the police...)

I don't know what else to suggest other than look for a different and safer route.

[Kali]

38. In Mexico the truckers do that to let you know it is OK to pass them.

takes a while to get used to, then another bit to get used to that NOT happening here when you come back.

[kayakjohnny]

9. Funny that someone can lift their whole arm and shoulder to get a cell phone to their ear,

but not lift a damn finger for the blinker.

[raccoon]

49. This is an behavior that predates the cell phone. It annoys me no end also. nt

[HopeHoops]

11. Well, when you're yacking on the phone, eating a Big Mac, putting on makeup, and texting...

You just don't have extra hands for dealing with silly shit like a turn signal lever.

[jobycom]

13. Well, you have to be smarter than the turn signal, so there are many who can't manage that.

[whistler162]

15. Don't you know it is against the law in most states to use

a turn signal when turning!<SARCASM>

[Fleshdancer]

16. biggest. pet peeve. EVER.

It's extremely rude at best, and dangerous at worst to not use your turn signals. Heaven forbid all drivers take half a second to signal instead of acting like the rest of us should all be mind readers.

The best is when some idiot decides to cut you off with no signal on the highway, but when they decide to leave your lane while NOT cutting someone off in the process, that's when they decide to actually use their turn signal.

There's a 4 way stop in my neighborhood where less than 50% of the people who are turning actually use their signals. I'm tempted to sneak up to all of the stop signs in the middle of the night and tape some sort of "use your turn signals you $#%*&@ morons!" message to them.

[kentauros]

18. Why not make a sign that looks "official"?

Something like

Drivers failing
to indicate turns
will be ticketed

Traffic Cameras
in force

:D

[Fleshdancer]

19. great idea! although I did see a really funny bumpersticker on the subject...

it's very passive aggressive, but it made me laugh: "Jesus would use his turn signal." :D

[kentauros]

20. That's a great one!

I used to have the one that said "Visualize using your turn signals" back when I still put stickers on my car. Many people commented that they agreed with it :)

[A HERETIC I AM]

30. Hows this?

Make your own at;

http://www.customroadsign.com/menu.php

Just for clarity, I made the sign, saved it to my desktop and then saved it to photobucket.

[kentauros]

36. Works for me!

:D

Now, find one of those powered signs that's been there for months without being taken back to wherever they store them, and type that into its memory. From what I've read, the password is often written on the back of the sign :P

One such hack I remember said simply "KLAATU BARADA NIKTO".
And people thought it was broken :rofl:

[A HERETIC I AM]

40. Then you will LOVE this;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32JgSJYpL8o&p=3AD31FDC4D66B779&playnext=1&index=36

Found that on YouTube while I was searching for a vid I had seen similar to what you describe. Screwing with road signs in a harmless way is funny as hell, in my opinion. As long as it doesn't endanger the workers, I say go for it!

[TorchTheWitch]

61. ticketed? noooo - "will be shot"

Nobody gives a crap about getting tickets. Regardless of the offense, they'll commit it anyway and piss and moan that the cop was just being a jerk trying to make a quota when they get a ticket.

[Deep13]

17. Really, really hard.

That little switch needs hundreds of pounds of pressure to move. I have a block and tackle attached to mine.

[MilesColtrane]

21. That doesn't even bother me anymore.

These days I'm just hoping the bastards cans stay in their own lane.

Seriously, I've seen so much lane drifting in the past year, it's really starting to scare me. I go out of my way to slow down or speed up so that I'm not right next to someone.

Sometimes they're on the phone, and I'm sure some of them are drunk or high, but I'm convinced that most of them are just really bad drivers. (And their numbers seem to be growing.)

[bikebloke]

28. I think I'm the only one in my neighbourhood.

I give turn signals and even stop at lights and stop signs. And I'm on a bicycle. Motor vehicles do what they want. Including straddling the yellow dividing line in the middle of the road. They must be using the dividing stripe as a moron line.

I bet the cops are keeping an eye on me. ;)

[woo me with science]

29. Are you kidding? And clue them in on what I'm going to do?

When I signal, people speed up to cut me off.
Surprise is a necessary tool in the arsenal when you are on the highway.


(Yes, I'm kidding. Sort of.)

[madinmaryland]

31. Any idea where the "turn signal relay assembly" is on a 2001 Nissan Altima??

Thanks!

[blueamy66]

39. You funny.

:-)

[LibertyLover]

32. I saw a great bumper sticker the other day on this very topic

Using your turn signal is not giving information away to the enemy.

[zipplewrath]

33. I'm pretty good about turns

I'll only use it for lane changes if you have a "need to know", which basically means that you might have to react. I generally don't like to change lanes when I think you might have to react. I'll tend to use it mostly if I'm approaching you from behind and I want you to know I'm going to pass you. Alternately, I'll use it if I think you want to pass me. But if I'm just changing lanes, I'm not going to turn on a signal just so you can speed up and try to block me.

[TrogL]

34. It tends to turn off my headlights. Also, people find my YEEEEHAAAAAAA merges a bit alarming

[hippywife]

35. Well, for me sometimes it's really difficult.

Mine work sometimes and don't work at others. There's no rhyme nor reason for when they will or won't. They will work fine for months and all of a sudden, I'm half way to work and they won't work. :shrug:

I don't think it's really fair to always assume someone is being an asshole, ya know?

[blueamy66]

45. get it fixed?

I don't know.....Would you feel the same about your brake lights?

[hippywife]

46. You going to lend me the money? n/t

[blueamy66]

51. So use hand signals.

It's real easy.

[hippywife]

52. Did I say I didn't?

I do. I'm not a total moron that you seem to assume everyone in the world is. You might feel a whole lot better and not need these stupid rants if you just minded your own business and didn't try minding everyone else's.

[blueamy66]

56. OOOh, that was hurtful.

Take a Xanax.

Other CARS on the road with me ARE MY BUSINESS. Follow the rules of the road so I don't get plowed over, k?

[hippywife]

57. You started the rant.

So I doubt I'm the one who needs the Xanax. I knew I shouldn't have cleaned out my ignore list. :eyes:

[MiddleFingerMom]

41. It IS against the law in Tucson to use your turn signal ...

.
.
.
.
.
...in fact, it is such a well-followed law that our Border Patrol KNOWS that
anyone using a turn signal here just HAS to be an illegal immigrant.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Y'see... ... ... ... ... we have this governor out here...
.
.
.

[MajorChode]

43. The people who deserve to be beaten to death with hammers...

are those who speed up when you put on your turn signal.

You really don't get a sense about how badly Americans drive until you spend a little time in Germany.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

53. Something I have done --

If I have been cut off by a jackass who did not signal and I have the chance to pull up next to them later at a light, I always make a point of rolling down my window and telling them they have a nice ride. If they can hear me and I get a response from them, I then go on to ask them if that nice ride has turn sigals. :D That usually stops them dead.

I was just driving down to Palo Alto yesterday and had my attention drawn by a local phenomenon -- Beamer/Mercedes lane jockey drivers who think 101 is the autobahn and that signals are completely unnecessary, even in heavier traffic. What I wouldn't give for a SAM in those situations.

[AngryOldDem]

55. What? You're not a mind reader? n/t

[old mark]

58. Way too hard for some, especially if they are talking on the phone....

Just heard about a bus driver who was fired - for reading a Kindle while driving...


mark

[Odin2005]

59. TURN OFF YOUR DAMN PHONE AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD.

I've almost gotten into several accidents because a moron was on his/her cell.

[soleiri]

60. Yes it is.

Mostly because I don't have a car.
I occasionally use a hand signal when I'm walking.

[RandomThoughts]

62. I use to do that.

They said that they owned the entire road, they even said I had to pay them respect they never earned to be on the road, I am not paying that toll. I am not worried about it.


C.W. McCall - Convoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWO_AIh8drk



And no it is not about taxes in money. LOL





Thunderstruck
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/314720/thunderstruck/