Do You Use Your Direction Signals When You Drive?

TravelinMan

TravelinMan

Rapscallious Curmudgeon
Location
Independence and Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
I am curious to know if you use your turn signals? Do you use them to make a turn, change lanes on the highway or to pull over to the shoulder or re-enter the roadway?

It seems to me that the majority of drivers now do not bother to signal their intentions while driving their cars. They fail to do this especially when changing lanes on the highway but also often when making a right or left hand turn.

Of course, I have also noticed that drivers are also much more aggressive and in a big hurry. Tailgating is common, passing in the right-hand lane and failing to come to a complete halt at a stop sign is common. It is so prevalent that I sarcastically remark to my wife while I am driving that using the turn signals is now "optional". The road signs are mere suggestions, not the law. And the yellow light at a traffic signal now means that one should speed up, not slow down, to hurry to get through the intersection. Since red-light cameras can no longer be used to cite infractions, anything goes. Now when two cars collide the police do not even try to determine who was at fault unless it is serious and causes great bodily harm or homicide.

I don't even want to get started discussing road rage but I am REALLY cautious trying not to make some other driver angry.

When I was taught how to drive it was stressed that I should always drive defensively and to expect and allow for the other driver to NOT follow the laws and regulations required for driving. That way I could usually avoid an accident if the other driver(s) failed to drive correctly and legally.

What's been your experience?

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I'll admit I sometimes forget to use my turn signal, and sometimes when no one else is on the road, I don't bother.
 

I, too, use my turn signals, and try to drive defensively. It seems that a large number of drivers are more interested in playing with their cell phones than paying attention to their driving. Based upon your location, I can understand your concerns. We go up to Kansas City, about once a month to visit the casinos, and its almost a relief to head back home. I can certainly agree with you on the number of "boneheads" on the roads up there. I fought that traffic for decades when I was working up there, and I now make it a point to Never be on those roads anywhere near rush hour.
 
I always use my turn signals so other drivers know my intentions. I wish other people would, it would be safer on the roads and highways, but only so many hands available when you're texting, using your cell, eating a hamburger, etc. :rolleyes:
 
When I was driving I usually used turn signals and was a very cautious and careful driver. After reading your entire post I'm glad I'm not a driver at this point in time.
 
Yes!

I too have noticed that many people don't use signal lights.

I've also noticed that many people don't pull over for emergency vehicles or wait for funeral processions to pass like they did years ago.

Another thing that amuses/annoys me is that when people want to change lanes they always seem to speed up and attempt to cut you off instead of taking their foot off of the gas and falling in behind.

It seems like many drivers today are too preoccupied to notice what is happening around them, they seem to just point the car and step on the gas especially in today's gigantic parking lots.

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Yes, I use mine all the time. I have too noticed that most drivers do not. However, I am a safe driver with a good safety record so I use mine all the time. I did a course, a few years ago, on safe driving for seniors. If you ask me, the speed & the driving habits of some drivers are terrible. They should have their licenses taken away.
 
I was stopped by a local policeman about 12 years ago for not signalling before making my turn. I apologized and I told him that the only explanation that I could give him in my defense is that I fly for a living and we don't have turn signals on a Boeing 767.

Next thing I knew, we were talking shop about flying the big jets and he left me off with a warning, otherwise, it would have been a $104.00 fine, + 3 points.

I have used my signals ever since.
 
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