Automobile turn signals

[miko]

Having moved from LI, NY 2 years ago to Northern Va, I used to think NY drivers were rather pushy and maybe just "stretched" the law a bit. Having spent a 2 years in Northern Va, I have a whole new outlook. Speed limits (when traffic allows it) have little meaning in and around the DC area. Even more irratating is the lack of using turn signals. I recently read a AAA article (can't find it right now) that estimated 55% of US drivers use turn signals. The same article said mid-atlantic states turn signal use was about 30% and I think that was generous.
I can't figure it out, the amount of calories burnt to use the signal is negligable, the location of the switch is pretty logically placed, and the bulbs exert minimal drain on the cars systems. I think it is required by law and just seems to make good sense to use them. Anyone have ideas why this is so hard?

 

[HockeyDadof2]

Well if you are driving in the Dallas area turn signals apparently have a different meaning. Here they are a way of telling the people in the lane you are trying to get into to speed up and block your safe lane change.

 

[rajak73]

Don't think I can answer you question, but, followed a Cadillac Seville the other day and I would have thought that for what they spent for the car, they could have at least had turn signals installed on it! Obviously that wasn't one of the options!

 

[floridaminnie]

What about those that think that turn signals give them the ok to do other illegal manuavers? This past Friday, a person from the far right lane went through a red light, the green arrow to turn left came on, he went through the opposite traffice to go straight, decided to turn left, cut back through theopposite traffice and then cut through the people that were making a left from our side. Everyone in my car couldn't say anything...our mouths just hung open. Welcome to Florida drivers.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Miko,
There are bad drivers everywhere and each area of the country, IMHO, have there little quirks. CT has tailgaters big time, NY has people who are stuck in one lane regardless of the fact that it is a passing lane. MA has people who wait until you are within striking distance before they pull out. I left Northern VA about 22 years ago, traffic was horrible then, but, they did use turn signals. Perhaps it is so busy that they simply cannot add another thing to think about. The one thing I learned there, leave plenty of room and anticipate.

 

[The Hunt]

I think most people just don't care, but some older drivers (like my parents) don't automatically use turn signals--they decide if anybody "needs" to see the turn signal. As a result, they often forget to use the signal when they really should. For me, it's so automatic I don't even think about it, and signal even if I'm on deserted streets in the middle of the night.

 

[miko]

For me, it's so automatic I don't even think about it, and signal even if I'm on deserted streets in the middle of the night.

I am the same way. It is easier to do it all the time than to try and think which situations might require it.

Don't think I can answer you question, but, followed a Cadillac Seville the other day and I would have thought that for what they spent for the car, they could have at least had turn signals installed on it! Obviously that wasn't one of the options!

It is incredible that some of the highest priced cars don't have functional turn signals!

Well if you are driving in the Dallas area turn signals apparently have a different meaning. Here they are a way of telling the people in the lane you are trying to get into to speed up and block your safe lane change.

Too funny but sadly it is a fact.

 

[Disney Debbie]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
Miko,
There are bad drivers everywhere and each area of the country, IMHO, have there little quirks. CT has tailgaters big time, NY has people who are stuck in one lane regardless of the fact that it is a passing lane. MA has people who wait until you are within striking distance before they pull out.

We've got all these people, plus the no turn signals and one of my personal favorites - the people that see you're about to pass them so they speed up . ARGHHH!

 

[TeensMom]

I think one of the reasons there are so many bad drivers (in MANY ways) in the DC area (i.e. northern VA, MD suburbs) is that there are so many people tied to the embassys who have no reason to learn and obey our laws as they are exempt from all of them.

 

[Cindyluwho]

hahaha we have just the opposite problem in our little area of Ballard Washington. It's populated with old folks of Norwegian descent and once they turn on that turn signal, it's on for good. You'll see them tooling along with that left turn signal bleep, bleep, bleeping. It's so funny and irritating to be behind them. And all those things you've heard are true, all you see is the top of the hat and a pair of hands on the steering wheel! Do you think he'll turn here? Maybe here? AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH

 

[Cruelladeville]

In our town the elderly leave their turn signals on all the time, and then stop at every corner, just to get my hopes up that they might FINALLY be turning a corner! On top of that, they speed thru town at the unheard of speed of 15 miles per hour on all two lane roads, and when they finally do find the corner they want, they drive their cars as if they were bumper cars, hitting the opposite curbs, nearly making a complete circle before straightening their cars out and driving straight ahead--stop-start-stop-start-accelerate-stop--go. When they actually make the long drive out to Walmart(two miles away) they stay in the left lane, riding the brakes the whole way because 15 mph is too fast for them, they might actually miss one of the 5 driveways to turn into Walmart!

 

[emmagata]

Saw a man yesterday that used his left turn signal to make a right turn. At least he used it!

IMO, it all boils down to people don't give a sh*t. Since they have no desire to follow the law by using signals all the time, there's no reason to use them to be considerate of other drivers when it would really make a difference.

On top of that, a lot of people are too preoccupied with other things while driving like eating, reading, talking on the phone, listening to the radio, playing with their GPS, watching a movie (I actually saw this happen!), putting on make up, etc.

We've turned the once idle time (which was idle for a good reason so you could pay attention!!!) into productive time because of the lack of time throughout the day.

Driving to work during commute time is YOUR time, NOT your works time!!! Don't be making business calls, doing paper work, etc.

In addition to not using turn signals, my other MAJOR pet peeves are those that tailgate, speed (WAY faster than others around them) and people who don't stop at stop signs/red lights.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

In addition to not using turn signals, my other MAJOR pet peeves are those that tailgate, speed (WAY faster than others around them) and people who don't stop at stop signs/red lights.

I am with you on almost all of the above, except speeding. Cannot figure out why that should bother anyone as long as they are not putting others in harm's way, which if they are out of your way, no harm should come to you. I would rather a speeder than someone who is in the passing lane talking on the phone and go WAY under the speed limit. I don't like someone coming up on me going a million miles an hour, then riding my bumper, flashing the lights all while I am NOT in the passing lane and it is clear for the buffoon to go around me. I agree, with you John, that people simply don't give a sh*t.

 

[emmagata]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
I am with you on almost all of the above, except speeding. Cannot figure out why that should bother anyone as long as they are not putting others in harm's way, which if they are out of your way, no harm should come to you. I would rather a speeder than someone who is in the passing lane talking on the phone and go WAY under the speed limit. I don't like someone coming up on me going a million miles an hour, then riding my bumper, flashing the lights all while I am NOT in the passing lane and it is clear for the buffoon to go around me. I agree, with you John, that people simply don't give a sh*t.

Gail, the problem with speeding (especially when they're going MUCH faster than most everyone else) is that most people who are doing 60-70 don't (and shouldn't) expect to have someone blast by them doing 80 or 90. They seem to come from nowhere and could startle an older person with the possibility of causing an accident. In addition, the people who don't use turn signals will pull over into the hammer lane in front of the excessive speeder because they didn't (or couldn't) properly judge the other cars excessive speed.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

DH and I have a running joke that new cars are NOT installed with turn signals. I live in central VA and people don't use them here either. I always use my signal, it's a habit I never got out of. It drives me crazy when others don't.

People are bad drivers on this section of I95 too.

 

[emmagata]

Originally posted by Pooh Girl 71
DH and I have a running joke that new cars are NOT installed with turn signals. I live in central VA and people don't use them here either. I always use my signal, it's a habit I never got out of. It drives me crazy when others don't.

People are bad drivers on this section of I95 too.

We do the same thing. We sometimes say that we won't buy "X" brand of car because it doesn't have signals or that Cadillac or MB owner forgot to get turn signals

 

[I <3 Eeyore]

You mean these things happen outside of Massachusetts, too? In NH, we call them M@ss holes.

 

[Goofyish]

Always remember the first time I saw an American car with the stop light flashing at the rear - I thought it had a faulty light; didn't realise it was the turn indicator

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Gail, the problem with speeding (especially when they're going MUCH faster than most everyone else) is that most people who are doing 60-70 don't (and shouldn't) expect to have someone blast by them doing 80 or 90. They seem to come from nowhere and could startle an older person with the possibility of causing an accident. In addition, the people who don't use turn signals will pull over into the hammer lane in front of the excessive speeder because they didn't (or couldn't) properly judge the other cars excessive speed.

I see your point, but, it is something I see every day here in sunny CT. They pull out in front of people in the hammer lane all the time, regardless of the speed of the oncoming car. I am rarely startled as I am constantly checking my mirrors and really paying attention to what I am doing. Heck, I rarely even have the radio on cause I am so focused on the road. I will admit, I do drive fast, but, rarely faster than the traffic around me (not that makes it ok.)

 

[caitycaity]

i don't know if this is true, but wheni commented on that to a friend o mine who is a native marylander, she told me that it wasn't a law in MD that you had to use your turn signal.