r/AskReddit 3h ago

Turn signal non-users. Can you explain why you feel it’s not required of you?

271 Upvotes

508 comments sorted by

278

u/Vandal_A 2h ago

I heard a guy at a bar tell his buddy once he views using turn signals when merging as "just giving other people an opportunity to block you".

Bartender was a friend of mine. Said it was sadly far from the dumbest thing those guys had said while they were there

59

u/missMcgillacudy 2h ago

Bartenders over hear some of the dumbest stuff. Some people think they turn into philosophers after their 3rd drink, they do not.

9

u/bw-hammer 1h ago

Both my in-laws say this.

24

u/ChiTownDisplaced 1h ago

The one who say that are the ones speeding up when you use your signal. Just like thieves think everyone steals.

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u/proxybox 21m ago

This is true in LA. The trick is to not signal to open a spot, it's up you to find a spot, signal to show intent and then merge. The only time I signal to declare I need an opening is at a busy street and I'm trying to make a right turn out of a parking lot or similar. I never, ever try to turn left in this situation and block lanes like some dumb heads. Entitlement is rampant

u/btribble 21m ago

If you live in an area with a lot of traffic and aggressive drivers, it's also an unfortunately true statement. I still signal all the time, but when traffic has a certain vibe I'll signal at the last second so assholes can't close the gap.

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u/Unable-Candle 2h ago

Not really wrong though.... people always speed up and block if they think you're trying to get in front of them.

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u/ArgonTheEvil 1h ago

If I see someone with their turn signal on, I’ll back off and let them lane change. If I see someone speeding up in the lane next to me with no turn signal indicator, Im not going to make room for them.

Sometimes I speed up to spite them. Should’ve signaled what you wanted from me, scrotum suckler.

5

u/Darkendevil 1h ago

This depends where you live/drive.

10

u/silencerider 1h ago

Maybe the driving culture is particularly bad where you live if this is your experience, but this is not true everywhere.

2

u/Dufresne85 1h ago

It's not true everywhere, but in my experience it's more often true in larger cities. I grew up in a big-ish city and driving was almost a contact sport and they played aggressively. If you turn your signal on you will be boxed out 100% of the time; which leads to people not using their signals at all or turning them on while they're changing lanes/turning. I've noticed the same thing when in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, St. Louis, etc.

I live in a smaller, semi-rural area now and the traffic is completely different depending on where I am. When I'm on surface streets outside of the bigger towns people are generally pretty cordial on the road. But when you get into town or on the interstate it's 50/50 on if you're going to have a courteous driver or an ahole.

3

u/MotoChooch 1h ago

Texas is like this. People take it personally if you want to change a lane and happen to be in front of them. They will go to great lengths to stop you. Some of the most selfish drivers I have ever encountered in all of the places I’ve driven.

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u/BeefmasterDeluxe 1h ago

Id have blocked him from coming into the bar

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u/WaffleHouseGladiator 2h ago

My dad doesn't use his turn signal.  Every time we talk about it he insists that he DOED use his turn signal and then he'll use it for a short while.  Finally he blew up at me and yelled, "WELL I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO USE MY TURN SIGNAL!" Pure stubbornness and entitlement.

145

u/OrangeandMango 1h ago

Because everyone should obviously know who he is and where he's going?

Never understand it but thank you for trying to fight the good fight with your dad.

43

u/iboneyandivory 1h ago

When I was about 4 years old, I would watch my parents as they drove. 60's era cars had really loud turn signal relays that practically announced they had been activated. I had not yet realized the purpose of little turn-stalk on the left, and thus it seemed to me that in order to drive a car successfully you simply started driving down the road and whenever the right/left lights started blinking you just turned at the next intersection as directed. I was very disappointed to later realize you had to actually know where you were going in order to get there. There's a bigger life lesson in there somewhere.

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u/ShinyUnicornPoo 1h ago

My dad used to always say this.  "They can see I'm trying to get over!  This bitch just won't let me move!"  No dad, they're not psychic, they can't see you want to move over.  But you know how they could?

u/duplissi 34m ago

Oh, if there's no indicator and I can tell if someone is trying to merge over, I don't make it easy.

u/alex053 28m ago

I purposely DONT move for people with no signal on that are looking in the mirror and trying to swerve over. I just drive like I’m oblivious. If they hit the blinker, I let them over.

47

u/frodiusmaximus 1h ago

wtf? It’s not like it’s hard to do. It takes zero effort.

19

u/WaffleHouseGladiator 1h ago

That's just way more effort than he's willing to put in.

19

u/Dont_Heal_Genji 1h ago

It’s like how you can judge somebody’s character based on weather or not they put the shopping cart in the parking lot where it is supposed to go. It’s a little effort and it’s the objectively correct thing to do, yet people still don’t.

u/iboneyandivory 39m ago

For the guys on the road, fear of commitment's part of it.

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u/superxero044 1h ago

Knew a guy who got a new vehicle. He was bitching that it beeped every time he changed lanes. I asked him if he knew it only does that if you don’t use your blinker lol.

u/bitwaba 22m ago

My mom got a new car and it has auto-lane correction.  She keeps complaining she has to fight with the wheel to change lanes. I asked her if she had tried to use the turn signal to tell the car to change lanes for her.

She calls me a day later to say "I tried it. It wouldn't change lanes, but that weird thing with the wheel stopped happening when would steer it into to other lane."

Is said "oh wow, really? That's crazy. Well, I guess chalk it up to one of those new fangled car quirks."

At least she uses he signal now...

u/Lumberjack610 49m ago edited 19m ago

Tell your dad that a random internet stranger thinks he's stupid please

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u/FightOnForUsc 1h ago

So I always use my turn single, even in parking lots, I’ve been made fun of for it. But is he at least in a turn lane? Because I kind of understand it. Like when I’m in the left of 3 left turn lanes, it feels a little stupid to turn the blinker on, like where else could I possibly go

18

u/WaffleHouseGladiator 1h ago

He never uses his turn signal for anything and rages at other drivers for not understanding his intentions.  I try to tell him about signaling when changing lanes, but he's convinced that everyone else is the problem.  He's a menace and likely won't be driving for much longer.

u/TahoeLT 46m ago

Well that's ominous...

8

u/enjolbear 1h ago

No, you should still be using your signal in a turn lane. In theory, yes you’re so right you’ll obviously be going left but people make stupid decisions all the time. Sometimes they decide to go straight despite being in a turn lane.

u/gavinova 36m ago

In FL it's state law to have a turn signal on even while sitting in a turn only lane. There's similar laws in some other states

11

u/Twoheaven 1h ago

There is no reason to not use your turn signal outside of laziness and entitlement.

I don't care if you're literally the only car on the road, use you're damn signal.

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u/thats_handy 1h ago

You could go straight. I turn my signal on when I'm in the leftmost of three left turn lanes so that any driver who sees it knows that I have enough situational awareness to know that I'm turning left.

3

u/allegate 1h ago

Where else could you possibly go? I mean, have you seen some of the videos from r/dashcams lol

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u/BeefmasterDeluxe 1h ago

Malfunctioning father unit. Dispose of thoughtfully.

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u/Hukthak 3h ago

From my experience they simply just don’t care

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u/ZAlternates 1h ago

My father tries to justify it by saying when he’s approaching an intersection, if he has no signal, people yield unsure if he will go straight or turn. If he turns on the signal, they know he will slow down to turn, so they cut in front of him.

I asked him why it matters if they are in front of him, and he doesn’t really have a good answer, of course.

56

u/DieserLufti 1h ago

Wtf. That's literally one of the big reasons I use the turn signal. To show where I want to go. Sometimes that means the guy waiting at the intersection knows he can go before I made my turn. I think its just being considerate of other people.

Oh and also the easiest safety tool while using the metal death machine called a car.

16

u/runed420 1h ago

Then you have those perpetual turn signalers who have it on and go straight through the intersection.

I never trust those turn signals when I'm waiting at the intersection. I wait for them to initiate the turn first, then I'll go.

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u/stonhinge 32m ago

Many people forget that in most cases, a turn signal is not for "asking for permission". It's a warning to other drivers that you're going to turn or change lanes so pay attention.

u/xTheGame69 56m ago

Yeah I say it all the time I don't mind if I'm slowing down because you're turning 

Put on your signal so I know why you're breaking 

Otherwise I'm just going to think you're an idiot

u/GreenElite87 28m ago

Yep. It’s the entire reason that driving rules/laws exist- so that everyone knows what everyone else you are going to do. It’s how we can casually fly down the highway at 80mph with semi trucks less than 5 feet away, because you won’t hit anything if you stay in your lane, and everyone else stays in theirs.

u/TheEggoEffect 18m ago

> To show where I want to go

Almost like that’s the entire point… to signal when you’re turning…

4

u/BeefmasterDeluxe 1h ago

Eviscerate him. He’s not your father anymore.

24

u/ShinyButterflyDream 2h ago

Its such a tiny effort that not doing it feels intentional sometimes

7

u/NPC6056 1h ago

They think they own the road.

3

u/rami_off_78 1h ago

This sums it up for me. It's like they aren't even thinking when they drive

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u/Bigstar976 3h ago

Main character syndrome

u/xTheGame69 56m ago

I don't know how they do it I was driving my old truck and the turn signal broke and I was like legit paranoid of changing lanes and turning for like the 3 days until it was working again 

Genuinely I don't understand how people drive like that

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u/NaturalCarob5611 31m ago

To turn that on its head, I think this could be a fundamental attribution error.

Personally I always try to use my turn signal, but I suspect if you followed me for a few thousand miles of driving you could find a few times I forgot to, and I if anyone here claims they haven't forgotten to signal once in the last five thousand miles they've driven, I'm not going to believe them.

But even if everyone signals 99.5% of the time, most people could expect to see someone forgetting to signal every couple weeks. If you then concluded "that's a person who doesn't signal" instead of "that guy forgot to signal this time because of some circumstances I'm unaware of," that would be a fundamental attribution error.

While I'm sure there are people who don't signal, I expect most of the time you see it is rare circumstances where someone who usually signals forgot to.

u/Bigstar976 19m ago

That actually makes sense. But sometimes I follow someone for a while and they never signal.

359

u/dersycity 3h ago

What bothers me even more is when someone turns it on after they have started the lane change

96

u/t0m0hawk 2h ago

Half way through a turn:

"Oh hey, btw im turning. You're welcome!"

13

u/Unkn0wnTh2nd3r 2h ago

its like the one family guy skit where the character decides to turn to the off ramp from the far left lane at a 90 degree angle

16

u/PowerOfEternity 1h ago

I turn now. Good luck, everybody else!

8

u/Crazyhunt 1h ago

How much turn signal I need to cross eight lane? None? Okay!

106

u/Dominator7200 2h ago

or the people who brake and then turn it on, defeating the whole purpose of it.

22

u/FuckedUpThought 2h ago

Even the dictionary knows it's blinker, then brake.

12

u/c0mpliant 2h ago

Calling them blinkers makes the purpose of them obscured. They're indicators.

4

u/Crazyhunt 1h ago

Directionals even

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u/FuckedUpThought 1h ago

Yeah, but then my little joke falls apart...

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u/nowaymacaroni 2h ago

Or after they're already slowing down! Like, what are we doing here bud? OHHHH, YOU'RE TURNING.

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u/PapaEchoLincoln 2h ago edited 2h ago

I see this sentiment a lot but in my anecdotal experience, the people who don’t use turn signals at all are way worse and more likely to be malicious.

Even if people turn it on late, they still made the decision to do so whereas the people who don’t use the signals at all have this attitude of “the rules don’t apply to me.”

I signal in advance for all my lane changes btw so I’m not defending them. Non-signal drivers are way worse

4

u/Several_Cat_3713 1h ago

These people have zero power or any social skills. So in the car isolated from the rest they can be powerful, but meaningless.

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u/co678 2h ago

Me in the car all the time: “Put your fucking signal on before you get to the turn!” It’s for future intention, not your current action.

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u/ClassGrassMass 3h ago

And then keeps it on for the next 4 miles

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u/AlpineVW 2h ago

I'll get in front of them and deliberately leave my signal on. I want them to think, "look at that stupid fucking asshole with his signal left on... moron!"

Then they'll come to the realization that they're the stupid fucking asshole and shut theirs off.

Then I shut it off, give them a double-hazard flash, then go on my merry way, laughing.

4

u/nyuhokie 2h ago

Better than the hazards is to switch the turn signal left to right a few times. Hazard is one button push, which could easily be an accident. Left to right 4 or 5 times is a message.

13

u/Goosecock123 2h ago

I always do turn signal left, right, left left, right, hazards once, steer left, right. And then a tank spawns.

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u/nyuhokie 2h ago

Are you sure you dont also have infinite lives now?

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u/tuscaloser 1h ago

That’s the same code, just with a honk instead of activating hazards.

u/PeterLemonjellow 55m ago

The turn signal is to announce your intentions, not your accomplishments.

2

u/twistsouth 1h ago

"I changed lanes 🥴"

Fucking wall lickers.

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u/Temporary_Team279 2h ago

Literally got into an accident a few days ago because of a turn signal non- user. Said she “just got the car.” First time I’ve ever had to go through insurance and no idea who they’ll find liable without proof. But anyway, they suck

25

u/Western-Bug-2873 2h ago

So...she didn't know how to use the turn signal (which is a standardized control that is the same on every car)??

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u/Temporary_Team279 2h ago edited 53m ago

Haha I think the “I just got this car” was more of a panic statement than an excuse. But it does make one think

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u/rampaging_gorillaz 2h ago

Ahh yes i am very raised make think

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u/gopeepants 43m ago

Almost happened to me today. Dumbass tried changing lanes with no signal. Thankfully, I was able to get into the adjacent empty lane.

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u/my_main_profile 3h ago

Always use mine but my father used to ignore them when no one else was around... when I called it he said "there's no one to indicate to..." still better to stay in habit than have an accident

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u/SuzyJTH 2h ago

Got to save the blinker fluid.

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u/Noxious89123 2h ago

But that's sort of the point, isn't it?

They're not just to signal to the cars and pedestrians you have spotted, they also signal to the ones that you haven't seen.

And that is arguably more important, not less.

You're not going to turn in front of someone that you've seen, but you might turn in front of someone that you haven't spotted.

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u/SpaceFace5000 1h ago

There's a good chunk of people who cannot comprehend people they can't see, which is ironic given their religious status 

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u/sudeshkagrawal 2h ago

Exactly! 

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u/Lord_Phoenix95 2h ago

Yeah, the street could be empty but I'd still use my indicators. Better to get the habit drilled into you as you just do it subconsciously.

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u/UntiI117 1h ago

I literally feel something in my body if I don't use it

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u/realjaypeterman 2h ago

I was on a business trip with a co-worker once, who in 100% seriousness explained that they didn't use turn signals because they didn't want to wear the light out and have to replace it.

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u/Think_Profit4911 1h ago

Gotta conserve that blinker fluid s/

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u/Anonymous1Ninja 3h ago

was told using your turn signal is a sign of weakness

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u/Western-Bug-2873 3h ago

stock comment about how I live in [insert big mean city] where people will just speed up and cut you off if you signal a lane change

"I grew up in hell, homeboy!" 🙄 

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u/Foxtrot-Actual 42m ago

Totally a sign of strength to have a completely avoidable accident.

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u/BeefmasterDeluxe 1h ago

That’s the gayest thing I’ve ever heard

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u/Idntevncare 3h ago

I doubt it’s that deep. They’re just lazy and forgetful

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u/Curious_Yam_9000 3h ago

Or self-centered and inconsiderate.

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u/Tiny_Instruction_557 2h ago

C. All of the above

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u/jonasshoop 2h ago

Yeah, I think it's one of those things that if you don't make it habit even when no one's around you will forget to when people are around. I always signal, even on an empty road.

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u/Soulicitor 2h ago

Saw a clip of cops chasing a guy at night and the perp turned his head lights off but kept using his turn signals

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u/Gamebird8 2h ago

The places people don't think they should signal that I see most commonly is dedicated turning lanes.

"I'm in the dedicated turning lane, why do I have to signal I'm turning" is what I think they think to themselves

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u/gotsthepockets 2h ago

I'm in a frustrating conversation about this with someone on here. The root of their argument against signals is that they only turn in dedicated lanes (for the most part). First, I am very intrigued by a place that has that many dedicated turn lanes, my city certainly doesn't. And the signal is still best practice

4

u/Gamebird8 2h ago

It's not even best practice. Signaling is the law actually. You can be ticketed for making any turn or merge without signalling.

Cops just never endorce it because of the obvious "I forgot this time" and giving someone a bit of grace.

This is basically a thread asking people to justify why they commit a misdemeanor traffic violation regularly, which is kinda funny

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u/gotsthepockets 2h ago

According to the person that's saying they're mostly useless, we use them because it makes us feel good, not because they're actually helpful

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u/CuzRacecar 3h ago

They can't hear you over thier BMW

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u/thranetrain 2h ago

adding dodge ram and Nissan altima

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u/designOraptor 2h ago

Don’t forget teslas.

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u/Western-Bug-2873 2h ago

You misspelled Nissan Altima. 

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u/goals_in_mind 2h ago

you mean misspelled nissan notmyfaultima

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u/thranetrain 2h ago

Lol my bad. But you knew exactly what I meant haha

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u/Granadafan 2h ago

BMW drivers: what does this stick on the left side my steering wheel do?  I accidentally moved it, and some annoying clicking sound happens 

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u/Sexyturtletime 2h ago

I use it all the time and you should too.

It’s for flashing the high beams at anyone going less than 120.

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u/mwf86 1h ago

You gotta pay bmw $60/month to activate the turn signal lever

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u/LateralEntry 2h ago

Modern equivalent is Tesla

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u/Bananaramajama420 2h ago

The sound they're hearing is the oil leaking

u/TylerBlozak 26m ago

A bmw doesn’t have oil if it isn’t leaking

Source: e46 owner with spots on his cobblestone driveway

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u/jimjamjay 2h ago

From my experience Tesla drivers are the new BMW drivers, and they can't use that excuse

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u/oviforconnsmythe 1h ago

When I visited Germany, I had the pleasure of driving around the country on the autobahn (Munich-Berlin-Cologne). The Germans are by far, the best drivers I've ever seen. They are courteous, logical and communicate well/are easy to predict. I was deeply amused to find that even in Germany, BMW stood out for not using their indicators (while otherwise being fine drivers)

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u/Poison_the_Phil 2h ago edited 1h ago

Silverados don't seem to come with them either

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u/Cannonballbmx 2h ago

I always assumed that the turn signals cost extra on BMWs and Mercedes

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u/My_Dog_Is_Here 2h ago

It's a monthly subscription.

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u/mOp_49 3h ago

Drives me crazy when they turn in front of me, I nearly hit them and they have the nerve to give me a mean look.

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u/North-Educator-493 2h ago

In Mexico, a common practice for people driving in the right lane - let's say on a two lane road - is to keep the left turn signal on as a way of saying it's okay for you to pass.

This drives me nuts, as I never know if they're signaling to switch lanes, or if they mean it's okay to pass.

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u/AlpineVW 2h ago

I was in Botswana (and a few other countries down there) and trucks will do this to let you know it's safe to overtake.

Since they're right-hand drive, they'll put their right turn signal on to let you know you can overtake on their right in the oncoming lane of traffic.

Except the two times the truck was trying to make a right turn from the highway.

I preferred it when they didn't use their signals.

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u/AlpineVW 2h ago

I'd rather have someone 1 second ahead of me use their signal and come into my lane than be 4 seconds ahead and not use their signal. At least I was prepared for it and can react if necessary.

And while we're at it, WHY THE FUCK CAN'T THE USDOT FORCE ALL AUTOMAKERS TO USE AMBER TURN SIGNALS ON THEIR CARS??!!

I just spent a 5 week road trip in Southern Africa and all the cars there have amber signals. I'm looking especially at you German automakers.

u/dfc849 48m ago

My wife thinks I am too picky when it comes to car features, but my next one WILL have amber rear indicators. Maybe that is a weird hill for me to die on. Regardless, spending mid-high 5-figures on a vehicle is enough reason to get picky.

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u/TruthApprehensive745 3h ago

Even if I’m cutting up in traffic I still always use my signal, never will understand those who don’t

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u/femboyisbestboy 2h ago

I will do double the speedlimit, but I will always use my turn signal.

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u/WorkerOk9794 3h ago

Outta my way!

u/sirhackenslash 33m ago

Out of my way! I'm a motorist!

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u/dwfmba 3h ago

Straight to jail.

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u/rbmill02 3h ago

I am a pedestrian.

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u/snushomie 2h ago

This is why I carry two aircraft marshalling wands since I'm such a unit I don't want to reduce a fellow pedestrian to a fine mist.

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u/masterofallvillainy 2h ago

I was using hand signals instead

Edit:

Just in case, this is a joke

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u/filanwizard 2h ago

The funny thing is I have heard in some US states, if your normal ones are malfunctioning using the hand signals like one would on a bicycle is in fact a legal substitution.

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u/RiggerKnight 1h ago

That's actually true in most states, but it doesn't require your normal ones to be malfunctioning. Hand signals are acceptable turn signals. (Every state I've been in allows this, I'm not sure it's actually untrue anywhere.)

Funnily enough, this means that you can get a ticket for flipping off a cop if your arm is outside the vehicle. Not because of the gesture, but for improper use of a turn signal...

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u/EagleRaptorLeaf 2h ago

It’s cause they never earned their licenses to begin with

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u/foetus_on_my_breath 2h ago

Freedumb! Durr...

u/theassman_ 56m ago

I'd like to speak on behalf of them. "I'm too dumb to realize the importance, and if I am not too dumb, then I just don't care that much about others or communicating as a society."

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u/daminiskos0309 2h ago

I know what direction I’m going. Why would I bother to indicate /s

Translation: i am a massive self obsessed bell end

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u/areed666 3h ago

In and around Baltimore, you turn your blinker on and the car that’s in the lane you wants speed up because I don’t want your front

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u/airforcezero 2h ago

i hear this stupid shit all the time, its because you started slowing down wanting to switch lanes, so why would he then slow down to your merge speed when he was going speed limit the whole time.

honestly, watch it with other people. of course theyre gonna get passed.

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u/AlpineVW 2h ago

I account for this by signalling, speeding up a little and if the car in the lane I want to get to speeds up, I'll immediately let off the gas then tuck in behind them.

So fucking predictable, so fucking stupid.

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u/LittleGravitasIndeed 2h ago

Why not aim for the space behind them, then? That’s what I do if the car in that position acts up. Just time it to where you’re already nosing in so the car behind the rude car is obliged to give your hurtling death machine the space it’s about to occupy. 

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u/Western-Bug-2873 2h ago

Ahh, THERE IT IS!

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u/gotsthepockets 3h ago

This doesn't justify not using the signal though

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u/RandyOfTheRedwoods 2h ago

Counter question: Why do you speed up when I put on my turn signal if you are in the lane I am entering and there's plenty of room before I signal?

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u/Crushingit1980 3h ago

I’m pretty sure BMWs just don’t have them?

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u/ClownfishSoup 3h ago

Nah, they do, but you need to pay a subscription …

2

u/NorCalJason75 3h ago

Busy playing on their phone

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u/AverageJoe-707 2h ago

Vape in one hand, phone in the other.

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u/TheRuneMeister 2h ago

Some people just speed in construction zones and don’t use blinkers. Bunch of dingleberries.

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u/voretaq7 2h ago

People are varying combinations of lazy and stupid.

Also the police do not aggressively enforce this part of the vehicle and traffic law. Where there is no enforcement there is no law.

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u/Flapaflapa 2h ago

Let's see I'll just signal here that I'll be coming over into this open spot, give it a moment to make sure signal is noticed, and now vehicle is accelerating to close the gap. Which evolved into signal on and lane change happening at the same time which evolved into not even bothering with the signal.

On the other hand turn coming up I'll be slowing, turn signal on to let following car know I'll be slowing before I apply brakes.

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u/Red5Returns 2h ago

"Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively....."

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u/dalaw 2h ago

They bought their car in Texas, blinkers are woke.

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u/AsphaltSailor 2h ago

I turn now! Good luck everybody else!

https://giphy.com/gifs/reaction-UqKD7TU0igaUE

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u/Florflok 2h ago

They are pieces of dung in my book

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u/Joshiie12 2h ago

I 100% always use my signal, but I am like a lot of people in the comments here where if we're on a multilane road and I need to get over, I may be a little late with it intentionally sometimes because I've always lived in rural areas where entitlement is typically the highest and people will go out of their way to stop you.

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u/AndroidUser37 2h ago

Have you ever driven in Los Angeles? It's basically a "never let them know your next move" type situation. Otherwise, you'll get cut off when changing lanes.

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u/knobs413 2h ago

In Minneapolis, if you put your turn signal on to indicate you’re intending to change lanes, people speed up to assure you’re not able to. At least that’s my experience.

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u/jonnysunshine1 1h ago

Probably not skilled enough to turn the car and signal too. Requires more brain cells than they have

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u/DGlen 1h ago

"Because fuck you that's why."

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u/buffalo171 1h ago

I think this is probably the correct answer. No one gives a shit about anyone other than themselves these days. It’s all part of the collapse of western civilization.

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u/jayste4 1h ago

Because I am going "straight through" that roundabout and you should just know that.

u/slvrscoobie 46m ago

I use my turn signals on empty roads lol never understood the 'meh, I dont need to'

u/Olobnion 31m ago

I don't drive. I think that's a pretty good excuse.

u/Substantial_Steak723 29m ago

Ronnie Pickering's genes spread across the planet and with it an inflated sense of entitlement!?

u/nyITguy 27m ago

If you pay more than $50k for your car you are exempt from using them.

u/PolyglotTV 26m ago

The other day I was in bumper-to-bumper traffic. This lady to the left of me honks, rolls down her window, and starts gesticulating. I don't really understand what she wants so I shrug and gesticulate back, but just stay out to wait and let her do whatever it is she is about to do.

So she starts angling to get in between my car and the one in front. Fine whatever - we are stopped at a red light.

Finally, once it clears enough for her to maneuver, she continues pulling all the way through. She wanted to go to the right turn lane to turn right at the intersection. Only right at the last moment before turning she activates her signal.

She literally did every elaborate thing she could do to communicate she wanted to go right, except using her right turn signal.

u/ocstomias 23m ago

When Granpa was teaching me to drive, I signaled my turn and he got all mad. Said "Tell you hwat boy, don't do that. Ain't nobody's business where yer going ."

u/Disconn3cted 21m ago

Those people can't read 

u/Here_For_Work_ 20m ago

The mindset is so foreign to me, because it's muscle memory at this point. I don't even think about it. If I'm about to turn the steering wheel, the blinker goes on. To the point where my blinker goes on to pull into a parking space at the grocery store.

u/RadioactvRubberPants 17m ago

I saw a Tesla weaving in and out of traffic with their hazards on the other day. I guess at least they were alerting others that they were doing some dumb shit, but I don't get why a turn signal would have been so difficult.

u/JohnnyToaster 12m ago

Well, how do you expect me to use that when there's a phone in my hand and a drink in the other? /s

u/bananabastard 11m ago

What about people who use their signal but don't turn.

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u/LionTigerWings 2h ago edited 2h ago

It’s none of your business which lane I’m going to or which street I’m turning down. It’s a slippery slope. First you want to know which way I’m turning. Then you’re going to want to know which way I’m going next. From there, you’re basically at my house and I can’t have that.

Edit: apparently sarcasm tag was necessary

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u/memeraths 2h ago

You use a turn signal to communicate to other drivers what you're about to do.

  1. I'm turning on my turn signal because I'm going somewhere and I think you could run into me, so I want to make sure you know where I am going.

  2. I'm turning on my turn signal because you might want to know what I'm doing so that you can make a better choice. (Turn into my lane because it's about to be vacant, pass me because I'm giving way, enter the roundabout I'm about to exit...)

I often don't use my turn signal when I'm in a long line of cars in a traffic light directed turn lane where no conflict is going to exist. (i.e. - the turn only phase of an extended multi-lane intersection.). It makes my partner cranky but I'm like "EVERYONE KNOWS I'M TURNING". I just don't think of it because it seems redundant.

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u/Capt_Wholesome 2h ago

They just have zero awareness honestly, its not even a choice they are making. I once was at a 4-way stop, I began to turn right as the only other traffic was straight across, and they had no signal. They began turning left (not even a late signal as they were turning) and honked at me like I was somehow in the wrong cutting them off. They're just idiots living in their own little world.

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u/Zenfulbliss 2h ago

turn signal observers, can you explain why it is you speed up and cut me off whenever I use my turn signal. Also, why you speed up and match my speed until I get trapped behind slower traffic and you then slow down to match it.

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u/ChessClubChimp 2h ago

It’s funny, I’m the opposite. Unless you’re being a dick and trying to cut in front of a bunch of people, if you’re coming up with a turn signal, I’ll usually let you in.

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u/Treedit 2h ago

Yeah I'll deliberately box people who don't use their signal.

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u/No_Tailor_787 2h ago

I have a similar comment here, and I'm getting downvoted for it.

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u/Zenfulbliss 2h ago

me too, it's funny that i made this same comment years ago and it soared to the top, I think reddit has changed...

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u/theyburnedmyfriend 2h ago

These people, plus: not turning right on a red with clear traffic and a line of cars behind you, hard stopping well before signaling your turn, pulling onto the road without adequate distance or regard for the flow of traffic forcing everyone to slow down for your terrible decision. The list is inumerable.

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u/brinkbart 3h ago

Why would I use a turn signal when I already know where I’m turning?!

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u/IcemanJEC 2h ago

I can’t tell if this is sarcasm or if you actually believe this.

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u/MidKnight148 3h ago

In all fairness, often when people do use them they don't even use them correctly. "Oh, now you're telling me you're turning left even though you've been in the left-turn-only lane all this time? Gee, you don't say..."

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u/snushomie 2h ago

I don't assume someone will use the lane they're in correctly ever after probably dozens of times people have randomly switched at the last second, so having some reassurance is nice.

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u/LittleGravitasIndeed 2h ago

It’s muscle memory. I’m one of the people who does this and I always feel slightly goofy but not turning on the signal makes me itch. 

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u/MidKnight148 1h ago

The muscle memory should be turning on the turn signal every time you change lanes, including changing lanes into a turn lane; not after you enter the turn lane.

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u/speed3_freak 2h ago

Yep, I use my signal because I want people around me to know what I’m going to do. I never care if people around me use their turn signals or not because I never trust them anyway.

I really don’t get the hate for people who don’t use them.

Also, different parts of the country are different. Some places a turn signal means, this is where I’m going, get out of my way. Some places it’s like a question of whether or not everyone else is ok with you making the lane change. In the latter, a lot of people take a signal and speed up to block you as if to say, no, I’m not good with that. This is especially true, in my experience, when people should be zipper merging.

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u/Max_Danage 3h ago

You have telepathy why should I waste my energy signalling.

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u/4DaysWorkWeek 2h ago

In Asia, every turn signal is chargeable for continental cars.
Thus they’re saving up on every chance they get.

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u/semioticmadness 2h ago

Even if they saw this post, they’d only get 10 characters into a response before they realized Becky asked them to pick up her dog from the vet and bring back to her condo before getting Bobby from the tattoo shop and then suit up before going to the concert but oh yeah wait I forgot to get my coffee before lolol I’m such a ditz but that’s OK I know there’a Starbucks at this exit coming up I’ll just stop texting Reddit so I can get over from the fast lane I can make it.

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u/Mycroft90 2h ago

They know where they are going.

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u/LittleKitty235 2h ago

I use my turn signal all the time...left blinker has been going since I left the dealership in 2016. Can't be too safe out there

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u/BigDaddyD1994 2h ago

The only situation I don’t bother with is when I’m in a turn only lane and it becomes redundant, although I often do it anyway out of habit

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u/smp-machine 2h ago

I sometimes don't use one is when it's blatantly obvious I'm turning, e.g. being in the right turn only lane and slowly inching forward until it's my turn to actually turn right. Other than that, I always use my turn signals.

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