NationStates Jolt Archive

The 57 percent of American drivers who say they don't use their turn signals for changing lanes have a variety of excuses.

In a survey commissioned by Response Insurance, these were the reasons given:
42 percent said they don't have time.
23 percent said they are too lazy.
17 percent said they don't because they forget to turn it off.
12 percent said they change lanes to frequently to bother.
11 percent said it's not important.
8 percent said they don't because others don't.
7 percent said not doing it adds to excitement.

The survey also found 62 percent of men leave the turn signal alone when changing lanes; the number was 53 percent for women. Seventy-one percent of drivers ages 18-24 don't signal, but 51 percent of those 55 to 64 do.
http://www.wgal.com/news/8063840/detail.html

I'm scared to go on the roads now...

http://www.wgal.com/news/8063840/detail.html

I'm scared to go on the roads now...

This is one of the reasons I haven't learned to drive yet.

Well, I already know how to drive; I just haven't taken the test and gotten my license yet. :p

The easiest answer is to drive a Brinks truck with a snowplow on the front. If they don't signal, it's their funeral.

In North Carolina (where the drivers are less then good) I signal like crazy because I don't want somebody messing up my rear quarter panels and bumper.

When I lived California, the flow of traffic was so fast that I never had time to signal and nobody else did either.

So, I think it depends on the area and the quality of the drivers. Although, you should have been scared to drive before this poll, with the oh so wonderful drivers out on the roads these days.

42 percent said they don't have time.
LOL.:D "Oh, I'd love to be there and use my turn signal, but I really don't think I can squeeze it in between the gym and the dry cleaners."

I got a laugh out of the article, and I lost what little remaining faith I had in humanity.

I think it's a fair trade. :D

The article failed to find the real reason, at least in California.

If you signal, you're showing weakness. The other drivers will see that you're about to try to change lanes, and will speed up/slow down accordingly so that you don't invade their personal bubble. The only way to successfully change lanes is to just do it; if you give advance warning, you lose the advantage of surprise.

"7 percent said not doing it adds to excitement."

:eek:

Yes, and to make it even more exciting, try driving with your eyes shut! And put a brick on the accelerator while you're at it.

Yes, and to make it even more exciting, try driving with your eyes shut! And put a brick on the accelerator while you're at it.

Great tips! I'll try them today!

Living in a big city, I drive on the freeway frequently, the most annoying place to not use turn signals. I especially love the people who turn on their right turn signal and then merge into the left lane, or vice versa.

Living in a big city, I drive on the freeway frequently, the most annoying place to not use turn signals. I especially love the people who turn on their right turn signal and then merge into the left lane, or vice versa.
But it was opposite day.

Living in a big city, I drive on the freeway frequently, the most annoying place to not use turn signals. I especially love the people who turn on their right turn signal and then merge into the left lane, or vice versa.

That's just using the art of deception in order to achieve one's objectives. All's fair in love and war... and yes, traffic is war.

But it was opposite day.

Shouldn't you celebrate opposite day on days that aren't opposite day? :confused:

42 percent said they don't have time.

Why, are they to busy talking on the phone, farding, eating a McBreakfast or lunch, drinking coffee, or what? :rolleyes: It only takes a second to signal when you make the decision to change lanes or turn.

Shouldn't you celebrate opposite day on days that aren't opposite day? :confused:
But then... *head explodes*

That survey needs a "I'm too drunk" option.

But then... *head explodes*

I ruin so many carpets that way. :p

I ruin so many carpets that way. :p
Now I'm going to have to hire a maid...made increasingly difficult by the fact that I have no head! :mad:

Good example proving the lack of rational thought being processed in the average driver's brain. Even the most simple minded individual should know, that a cop needs probable cause to pull you over. Failure to use a turn signal when changing lanes provides them with all the probable cause they need. I'll never understand why something so simple as a flick of your finger is too difficult a task to prevent a cop from making his quota.

bump

That's one of the reasons I'm too busy to check to see if there's another car driving beside me when I toss a glass bottle out my window.

bump

The best way to keep a conversation going is to at least pretend to contribute :rolleyes:

The best way to keep a conversation going is to at least pretend to contribute :rolleyes:
I started it...

How can people be too busy to flick a friggin switch? Eh, it doesn't matter anyways, ah well.

Bah! I always signal, but then again I'm a very passive non aggressive driver.

Shouldn't you celebrate opposite day on days that aren't opposite day?

Only on opposite day, which is why no one can ever logically celebrate it.

Bah! I always signal, but then again I'm a very passive non aggressive driver.



Only on opposite day, which is why no one can ever logically celebrate it.

Then what about a opposition party?

Well, I use my turn signals...and I stick to the speed limits too.

http://www.wgal.com/news/8063840/detail.html

I'm scared to go on the roads now...One of these days a certain percentage of these people will,if they keep up these bad driving habits,become a statistic themselves.

If you signal, you're showing weakness.
On the contrary, I feel that signaling makes my traffic-weaving victories taste all the sweeter. Not only do I out-maneuver my opponents, but I shame them with an advance announcement of my conquest.

Failing to signal is the real sign of weakness. It's like shooting someone in the back.

The only way to successfully change lanes is to just do it; if you give advance warning, you lose the advantage of surprise.

Yes, you do. But since it is an unfair advantage, there is no honor in playing it.

;)

On the contrary, I feel that signaling makes my traffic-weaving victories taste all the sweeter. Not only do I out-maneuver my opponents, but I shame them with an advance announcement of my conquest.


Well, that wouldn't really work here on the West Coast, is all I can say. Announcing your conquest is as good as surrender!


Failing to signal is the real sign of weakness. It's like shooting someone in the back.

Yes, you do. But since it is an unfair advantage, there is no honor in playing it.

Honor, shmonor. True strength comes through victory!

Shooting people in the back works.

:D

I drive a '67 VW Bus-to the rest of the road my turn signal means "Hurry up, he's trying to get in front of us!!!"

I still us it anyway, and then shove the red and white beast into the lane to hastily applied brakes. You saw the signal, you can't miss the van (if you didn't see it, you certainly heard it), if you hit me it's because you are a colossal ass. I make sure to ride the right hand lane and only move over if that lane is ending or I need to make a left hand turn. I do my part, the least the rest of traffic can do is not be a dick when I need to get over. I'm not the slowest thing on the road, shake it off...

(If someone is already coming up to pass me, I let that cat by before I move over, it's the sudden accelerators that get the red ass treatment...)

Kinda explains road rage. Everyone drives like an idiot.

No no, the correct answer to the question "Why don't you use your turn signal?" is one of three things:

1) I can't drive yet
2) I have the attention span of a goldfish
and last but not least
3) I'm a fucking idiot and don't realize that I'm driving around a giant hunk of metal that could easily kill someone and that I refuse to let them know where I'm going.

I'm normally a very curtious and safe driver. I drive the speed limit. I don't run red lights. I let people in front of me in traffic and make room for those leaving parking lots. I always give pedestrians the right of way. But I despise drivers who don't use their blinkers and feel I must punish them. "Oh, did you want me to move into the left lane so you could get on the freeway? Should have used that blinker." "Oops! Were you trying to move over because your lane suddenly ended? How was I to know? You didn't use your blinker." "Are you looking over your shoulder because you want over? Well, since you aren't using your blinker I know that isn't really the case, so I'll just speed up a bit." ;)

I know it's incredibly petty, and I'm probably going to get shot one of these days. (Or run over. Semi or Miata, I treat them the same. "I don't care how much bigger your vehicle is!") But I just can't seem to help myself.

Then again, when there is a lane closure and traffic is backed up, I move over into the other lane so no one can pass (if a semi hasn't done so already). "If we have to wait in line, so do you." Pisses me off when people fly past everyone else in line and expect to be let in. As if their time is any more important to them than mine is to me. :mad:

Umm...what was the topic again?

.

Makes me glad I'm not driving in the United States!

gah.


I hate these people. Where I live, turn signals are a luxury.

To properly turn, you must continue at normal speed until you are RIGHT ON THE TURN, then slam on the breaks and turn. You must not at any time use the turn signal, because then people might slow down behind you.


:headbang:

http://www.wgal.com/news/8063840/detail.html

I'm scared to go on the roads now...

And people wonder why I advocate, on the spot execution of bad drivers.

Well, that wouldn't really work here on the West Coast, is all I can say. Announcing your conquest is as good as surrender!

Excuses, excuses... You say "wouldn't work," I hear "I'm scared!!" I find it hard to believe that driving in California is so fundamentally unlike driving in all the other many places I have driven that I would not be able to thrive while managing to obey basic traffic laws.

The only accidents I've everbeen in have been caused by Driverus Moronicus who decided not to signal when lane changing. The amusing thing is that I used to drive a real POS van; both the idiots who slid into me were driving luxury sedans, one a BMW, one a Mercedes!

The Merc driver actually had the gall to take me to court to try to get me to pay for his repairs. Poor guy forgot I had three friends in the car with me, two of which could see he hadn't signalled. The justice required him to pay all court costs, MY repair bill, and a $15 000 fine for wasting the court's time.

gah.


I hate these people. Where I live, turn signals are a luxury.

To properly turn, you must continue at normal speed until you are RIGHT ON THE TURN, then slam on the breaks and turn. You must not at any time use the turn signal, because then people might slow down behind you.


:headbang:
And don't forget, if there is a turn lane, it must be ignored until the last second in which you just turn through it.

You don't understand. I really AM too busy to use my turn signal. I have my cellphone in one hand, I'm applying makeup with the other, and I'm eating a cheeseburger off my lap. How do you expect me to use my turn signal with all that going on? :p

You don't understand. I really AM too busy to use my turn signal. I have my cellphone in one hand, I'm applying makeup with the other, and I'm eating a cheeseburger off my lap. How do you expect me to use my turn signal with all that going on? :p

Get handsfree. That way, you have a hand to drink coffee with too. After all, it is important not to be sleepy while driving.

Get handsfree.
Why? What do you think passengers are for?

Excuses, excuses... You say "wouldn't work," I hear "I'm scared!!" I find it hard to believe that driving in California is so fundamentally unlike driving in all the other many places I have driven that I would not be able to thrive while managing to obey basic traffic laws.

Being at the center of the world affects the gravitational field and thus the physics of automobile operations. It's a whole different ballpark. Hard to believe but 100% true!

And don't forget, if there is a turn lane, it must be ignored until the last second in which you just turn through it.

:headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

BTW, I drive in California and I signal. If the car in the next lane, I gas it and cut him off. He deserves it. :p