Why doesn't anyone use turn signals when they change lanes?

ye_river_xiv

It is the law that turn signals must be used when changing lanes, and you are not the only one who uses them. However, three major factors have strongly contributed to the fall of legal turn signal use on freeways.

1: Highway patrol cars NEVER use their turn signals. Never, not once have I ever seen a highway patrol car use their signals. Highway patrol are recognized as expert drivers, worthy of emulation in all things, including turn signal use. Highway patrol enforces the law, and most assume that they will not ticket for laws that they do not follow. Highway patrol have no reason not to use turn signals in many instances, and therefore we see no excuse for their failure beyond the simple fact that using turn signals is considered useless.

2: Trucks almost always do use their turn signals (Thanks guys! We really do appreciate it!) unfortunately, trucks, by their nature often appear to be inexpertly driven. Due to their size and mass, they cannot safely stop, accelerate, or change lanes in what car drivers would consider to be a timely fashion. The professional, and necessary caution which good truck drivers must use when operating their vehicle is sometimes equated with incompetence by car drivers who have never operated a larger vehicle.

3: Much is made of "idiot drivers" who leave their turn signal on for long periods of time, but nothing is said of how far a car should really be in front of you for their turn to be safe. Drivers' ed teaches people to only make a lane change when the car behind them can be fully visible in the car's interior rear view mirror. This would put the car nearly four seconds ahead of us in most cases, so when we are "leaving space" for a car to get into our lane, it is often not considered to be enough space. The result is a driver attempting to change lanes, who thinks we are edging them out, and us thinking the driver attempting to change lanes is an idiot. Eventually they will get frustrated, and change lanes anyway, thus "cutting off" us, or we will get frustrated, and wizz past them, thus confirming their belief that we were trying to edge them out. The end result is a country of drivers who truely believe, in their hearts, that whenever they use their turn signals to change lanes, someone will try to edge them out unless they cut them off first. From that, it isn't a hard jump to believe that they may as well not use their signals, and cut everyone off anyway.

Are you making a big deal about nothing, heck no! This is a huge problem, and only training can change it. I suspect that turn signal use can be increased a lot, and there are a number of ways to do it.

In the Old american spirit of throwing warning labels and laws at our problems, we can require that all vehicles sold have "use turn signals when changing lanes and turning" etched onto all rear view mirrors, and the steering wheel...

We could also moan to the police, begging that they train their patrol officers to use signals when doing routine driving.

We could also ask for more legislation about hiring truckers, and maybe see about getting more trucker recruiting opportunities. There's got to be a lot of peopel coming out of high school who would love a job as a trucker.

We could also see that driver's training says a thing or two about safe distances for letting a car into your lane.

italy_coolfun

People don't use turn signals cause they are LAZY!

rex_rrracefab

First of all, I use turn signals so you assumption the no one uses turn signals is wrong, and it IS the law to HAVE to use turn signals to indicate a change of lanes or a deviation to direction.

rocknbronco

Cause folks are selfish

dinkydionline

Yep, every day ocurrance where I come from, laziness, fear of being blocked out.
Sometimes I feel that indicators brakes and steering wheel must get removed when people get their licence.

Recently I had been on a major road for sometime, peak hour and all the usual misdemeaners, when suddenly a cop car appeared, suddenly every car around me was driving perfectly, including those comming from the opposite direction.
However within minutes of the cop turning off, it was back to the same old lousy driving.

So my new motto is: Drive as if you have a cop on your tail!

Fashionista999

Not sure about anyone... I use my turn signals all the time especially after my cousing got pulled over for not using his turn signal.

Blue October

josh-
GREAT Question!!!

this is my biggest gripe! my answer is because i guess they think we can read their minds, ...or they just dont care.

thanks for asking....and by the way, by asking this question it shows that you are a great driver who anticipates everybodys moves.

good luck :)

It's a pet peeve of mine too...so much discourtesy on the roads.

I think you can be cited for improper lane change if you don't use a signal.

harry_potter_fan93

because they are really dumb people!!!

hermitofnorthdome

you are supposed to use turn signals whenever you are changing lanes. i use mine every time i change lanes so you are not alone

E.B.

I know where you are coming from. I agree that people don't use turn signals anymore. Also, what happened to "pedestrians having the right away"? It seems when walking across a parking lot, cars seem to speed up. I think people are just in a rush and need to think about what they are doing.

Zuka

Oooh. You must live in California. People don't use turn signals because they want the advantage. If cars give you advance notice, then you might speed up (as they most likely would do in the same situation).

Also, I've noticed that there are separate rules for cars that cost over $40,000.

People yell at you because the only ones with road rights are those that are inclined to do these kinds of things and they are pissed that you don't recognize their supreme rights. For shame!

It's a war zone out there. Watch out!

warren v

I use my signal even in a parking lot to let others know of my intentions. It is frustrating when you try to do what is right, either courteous or by law and others don't and those morons that cut you off with out signaling would be absolutely shocked if you plowed into them, but sadly they would most likely lie to the police, they used their signal and there was plenty of room so you must have not been paying attention.

Continue to do what you know is right and use your signal and know that the morons are just too lazy or stupid to use theirs and let it go.

blazeimurill

i feel you, so since you cannot change everyone driving; It's better that you improve your driving skills by anticipating the situation.

Here is a good book to read. This is what the British Police use:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roadcraft-Great-Britain-Home-Office/dp/0113408587

For instance, it will teach you to know when it's safe to drive 100+ mph because you know it is straight for the next 3 miles are so.

When the British cops train, they train in public roads, and they do drive fast. They know when it's safe to cross a red at 100mph.

jandmnegro@att.net

pretty much bro.the rules clearly state if you want a ticket follow the rules!!!!

rann_georgia

Maybe they're under cover cop cars? It's been my observation that police cars either don't possess these features or that the drivers choose to not use them.

Roy Jenks

Although turn signal laws are universal, they are not enfoced and consequently they are regarded with contempt or indifference, which leads to unnecessary deaths. Insurance companies should demand enforcement out of self interest. Public administrators, who do not demand enforcement do not serve the public well. Common decency is not commonplace. We are confronted with a social, legal moral and public health problem and most of the public does not care. The penalties for not using turn signals should be increased and violators should be held accountable.

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