tell the IO that you were just making up for the times you forgot to use it. 😉
So you saying that turn signals went the same way as common courtesy?
I'm glad it's not just me that feels this way. Using my turn signals used to be almost reflexive for turns or lane changes. Then I moved to Portland, commuting from a west suburb to downtown and back every day.
Found that everything was backwards out here on the left coast from what I knew in the Midwest. On the freeway, everyone drives in the most left lane they can get to as the default position, regardless of their speed relative to the flow of traffic and passing is done on the right. Turn signals are, as Dave said "close the gap" signals. Also as Dave said, you don't start using it until you've fully committed to your lane change.
What I find really annoying is when the left lane is full of cars going about 45 in a 65 zone, but I'm lucky enough to find another lane open up in front of me so that I can actually drive 65-70. All to often, some self-important, self-appointed speed limit monitor in a prius or a Subaru decides that the maximum safe speed is 50, so they pull out of the left lane in front of me, causing me to break hard to keep from driving over them, and then they travel the same speed or just a little less than the traffic beside them, leaving an increasing gap in front of several hundred yards to a mile or so.
I've also developed a theory that my F-250 must be big enough to generate its own gravity field. When I'm following one of these little cars, they inevitably slow down to well under the speed limit, until I have an opportunity to pass them. when I begin to pass, that little car might be going 50 or 55. By the time I get around them, I've had to accelerate much more than anticipated, find them close on my back bumper, and look down to see we're going 85. Odd physics on the roads here.
Another weird thing I see here fairly often is that some people seem to be confused about which way to flip the switch for their turn signals. I'll see a left turn signal come on and then see the car turn or lane change to the left, or vice versa.
I was beginning to wonder my observations of driving habits were a generational thing, or a regional thing. A couple years back, I had the opportunity to drive from Lynchburg, VA to my home near Sacramento, CA. I was happy to find that in all other states we passed through, people still seemed to recognize the left lane of the freeway as the passing lane and for the most part, responded to turn signal use with the proper courtesy. That stayed pretty consistent until we got to Reno, which is almost within sight of CA and has plenty of CA drivers in and near it at any given time.
Yep, that irritates me too.
[MEDIA=youtube]AjGXn249Fc0[/MEDIA]
Beer Legs, post: 349728, member: 33 wrote: Ditto here too. IO reminds me all the time that my turn signal is on. I don't hear it...
Hear what?
Is that what that stalk is beside the steering wheel? I though it was just to hold the windshield wiper controls.
As a practical matter in order to be able to get over to make your exit use of turn signals prior to moving to the right is not conducive to that because the other drivers don't respect the signal.
Jim in AZ, post: 349699, member: 249 wrote: "... I don't waste the effort."
Here's where I don't use it.
When no cars are around, which is fairly common around here.
When passing on the interstate, unless there's somebody around who needs to know.
When in a right turn only lane, unless somebody is waiting to see if I'm really turning.On the other hand, my wife is from Atlanta. She signals when pulling out at the end of our driveway. You can only go left, we live at the end of a dead end road. I don't use it there either.
Knock on wood, been driving 47 years since I was 10 on the farm and have yet to even bend a fender.
I've been the recipient of two road ragers. The first was on the old double merge on the Watt Avenue over crossing north at the US50 exit from eastbound. It was a short merge so this one time I had to merge in front of some guy thereby inconveniencing him by impeding his progress by two seconds...an outrage which brought on the middle finger salute and horn honking. He insisted that I should get back on US50 westbound to go back the way I came which was the result if you didn't merge. Caltrans has since rebuilt that into their standard two signal light nightmare freeway exit because drivers can't seem to do the double merge.
The other time I was on northbound I-5 in Oregon. I was in the right lane at the speed limit approaching a truck so I changed lanes in front of an Oregon driver with plenty of room. I saw the middle finger go up in my rear view mirror so I made him follow me for five miles as I refused to pass the truck. Man that really angered him...I saw a lot of swear words as he finally took his exit. I guess I shouldn't have done that, but really, the middle finger salute from a grown man? What is this, Junior High School?
One time Neal was driving the Queen Mary (a GMC Quigley 4WD van) northbound between Stockton and Sacramento when he did a reasonable lane change. The guy passed us on the left gravel shoulder!!!! Throwing up rocks and so forth. You can die doing that. We were at about 75 and he must've taken it up to 85.
eapls2708, post: 349743, member: 589 wrote: ....On the freeway, everyone drives in the most left lane they can get to as the default position, regardless of their speed relative to the flow of traffic and passing is done on the right. Turn signals are, as Dave said "close the gap" signals. Also as Dave said, you don't start using it until you've fully committed to your lane change.
I this state, it's against the law, and you can get a ticket if you are driving in the left lane and aren't passing other cars, and cars have to pass you on the right. "Slower traffic keep right". It's usually posted. Had a relative come in from out of state and they were just sitting in the left lane the whole way and ended up getting ticketed. This run so much smoother when people use the lanes like they're supposed to be used.
But, but, but.............If I'm driving 10 mph over the speed limit I must be passing someone, even if I can't see them yet.
Same here, but never enforced. My wife doesn't even recall it ever being mentioned in her drivers' ed class 30-some years back and didn't believe me, so we looked it up and I won the bet.
Similarly, there's a law that if you are on a two lane highway, travelling less than the speed limit and have a string of 5 or more vehicles behind you, you are required to pull over at the first safe location to do so and let those vehicles pass. Very few drivers seem to be aware of that law and very few CHP enforce it.
A friend of mine is CHP, and being caught behind someone going well under the speed limit and refusing to pull over is one of her pet peeves. She's the only one I know of who regularly writes tickets for that violation.
Tom Adams, post: 349790, member: 7285 wrote: I this state, it's against the law, and you can get a ticket if you are driving in the left lane and aren't passing other cars, and cars have to pass you on the right. "Slower traffic keep right". It's usually posted. Had a relative come in from out of state and they were just sitting in the left lane the whole way and ended up getting ticketed. This run so much smoother when people use the lanes like they're supposed to be used.
That's one of my pet peeves. It's not law here, and most people if asked about lane discipline, have no idea what you're talking about. I don't think anyone should be licensed until they have shown an understanding of lane discipline and the meaning of flashing red or yellow lights.
I understand that rude people will cut you off. No matter how many times I get cut off, I seem to still get to my designation. I am not going to act like the people who P___ me off. I would rather get somewhere and think I am not like those A__ H____ than get there 30 seconds faster. Everyone will do what they want and I am not qualified to preach, I just appreciate the ones that show courtesy even when it is inconvenient.
In Florida you are required to drive with a turn signal on regardless if you are going to turn.
In my old age, I have learned to leave just a little bit early. Besides, if you're on time--you're late!
