Peope Who Don't Use Their Turn SignalsIt seems every weekend I am out driving around running errands with my son, I find something new to hate/bitch about.
Today....it's people who don't use their turn signals. This can be quite dangerous for the rest of us who are driving around, assuming that because other people on the road (in most cases) have a license they know where various gadgets reside in their cars - like, oh, say....THEIR TURN SIGNAL SWITCH!!!!!!!!!
Today on no less than six occasions, I was stopped at a stop light or stop sign and the person across from me in the intersection or directly in front of me in the lane did not have their turn signal on....yet they turned.
This can be particularly dangerous when the guy at the stop sign goes, then you begin driving forward because it's your turn and after all they are going straight because they don't have a turn signal on....and then directly they make a hard turn to the left and you nearly plow into the side of their car because you took your turn, thinking they were going straight and therefore assumed it was safe for you to enter the intersection. But unfortunately, more often than not these days the car across from you is, in fact turning left without their signal and the driver is more than likely on a cell phone and is totally oblivious to the fact that you are in the intersection and they very nearly would up in a very serious wreck. Oh, no....they happily turned left thinking a) everyone else knew they intended to turn left, or b) everyone would realize soon enough they were turning left and would take appropriate action to avoid a wreck. I would bet that nearly all of these types of non-turn signal users remain blissfully unaware of how many close calls they (and many others) have had due to their negligent behavior.
THEN...the annoying ones.....the people in the ginormous SUV in front of you in the lane - an SUV so big you can't even see whether the light is green or red in front of you....that sit there, intending to turn left on a green light without an arrow...through many lights until they feel it is "safe" to go....while you sit there behind them, getting anxious because you think there's probably a wreck up there somewhere because surely the light would have turned green so everyone could go straight. But NOOOOOOO......about five or six minutes later after many cars have come the other direction, finally the SUV moves...and.....turns left without a signal indicator. By now, the SUV has caused a major backup behind them because they were too busy talking on their cell phone to bother to take the turn even when they could make it and heaven FORBID they should put the signal on so people behind them would know what the deal is. Oh no...that would be courteous responsible driving behavior, and we can't have that, can we?
Some people can just be SO rude.
P.S. I can totally understand if you don't use your turn signal when you're trying to switch lanes on the highway because then people will speed up and not let you in...but at stop signs and street lights....unacceptable. Just rude, negligent, and unacceptable.
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Comments
As a professional pedestrian, do not get me started on the optionalness of turning signals.
I'm amazed that over the last 15 years that this mandatory part of driving has been fazed out by drivers.
Hullo people! You need to indicate when you're making any kind of lane change in your car. Pedestrians like it when they don't get run over by a car.
Posted by: Scully on October 11, 2005 01:50 PM
Hello! I'm visiting this cool site via Janet. I agree with you. I always use my turn signal. My rule of thumb is 125 feet before the turn. With the way people tail gate you have to. Also, like you I've seen the morons blow a Stop sign or signal and not turn. I'm one of the few, the proud--who come to a full stop. Would like to link your site!
Posted by: MICHAEL MANNING on October 9, 2005 11:33 PM
I almost always signal. Maybe not at at stop sign if no one's around. Speaking of stop signs, I hate when peeps go out of turn--or won't go when it *is* their turn. Then you're like, uh, should I go, or are they suddenly going to stomp on the gas?
Posted by: Paula on October 9, 2005 10:17 AM
My daughter lived in Germany for a while. She told me that on the Autoban you can get ticketed for basically being stupid or rude. You can get a ticket for running out of gas, for not allowing trafffic to merge(like a zipper) or for not stopping to offer assistance at an accident scene.
Posted by: Sarcasmom on October 9, 2005 05:52 AM
