Advocacy & Safety - Cars that don't use signals

You ever run across these jerks? It's been countless times I have to stop to know if the person is gonna turn or go straight.. How hard is it to turn them on? What could they possibly be doing that they can't use one finger to turn it on..

If you are looking at their blinkers, I can assume you are behind them.

Therefor it is your responsibility to stay a safe distance and at a safe speed to allow them to swerve into the shoulder (your "lane" of travel) to avoid a pothole (or for any other reason).

If they're in front of you, it's YOUR fault for not having enough reaction time.

No, I can be across from them. Wondering if they are gonna turn or what.. It's just an annoyance not knowing is they will or not.

I watch for eye contact as much or more than I look for signals. If I dont get eye contact with a driver that Im not sure what they are going do, I use extreme caution.

I watch for eye contact as much or more than I look for signals. If I dont get eye contact with a driver that Im not sure what they are going do, I use extreme caution.

I like to make eye contact with drivers too. And I hate it when cars have the full tinted windows making eye contact impossible. I know some states have laws making full tint windows illegal, but some states allow it.

The limit here in 35 for tint, and I believe that's presidential tint. It's hard to make contact, considering the majority of the cars around here are driven by 20 yro's who think big exahusts and giant spoilers are cool.. I guess that makes it explainable why they don't use their signal.

I never trust a turn signal. To tell you the truth, I don't set much stock in eye contact either. I just try to position myself where it's safest in the street or road.

I don't even look at turn signals or make eye contact. I find neither to be reliable to even a small degree. I watch their wheels for any indication. If someone is going to turn in a particular direction, often they'll turn their wheels that way on a slight angle first -- even before their light changes (assuming they've actually stopped at it). Otherwise, like Roody, I just rely on correct lane positioning -- and it works everytime.

I believe turn signals are an expensive option on newer vehicles...

Must be the reason I never see them used.

I believe turn signals are an expensive option on newer vehicles...

Must be the reason I never see them used.
With an annual safety inspection in Hawaii, most drivers do not want to take the chance of burning their turn signals out before the next inspection. Although, I have seen a couple of times it appears the driver has hit the lever accidently and drives a couple miles with the thing on.

On highways in Hawaii, if you use a turn signal prior to a lane change, the driver behind you in the lane you are moving to will speed up to discourage your lane change in front of him.

Oh yes, there is one instance in Hawaii that almost every driver will use a right turn signal; that is when they pull up behind a bicyclist who has taken a narrow lane at a red light. I guess these guys expect the cyclist to move onto the sidewalk so the driver can then make a right turn on red.

Hawaii is most definitely one of the worst states for using turn signals. A co-worker was making his first trip ever out of Hawaii at the age of 27. I told him that I was going to right down 3 things that would amaze him in the western states. I hit a perfect score. The 3 items were:
1. all the trains
2. drivers really do use turn signals
3. drivers give more room to change lanes when you signal and not less

Eh? Cars have turn signals? I thought I'd heard that somewhere, but it certainly can't be true. Can't say that I've ever seen those mythical "turn signal" things here in NYC.



:D

my favorite is when you check for a turn signal or any indication of turning, and then it looks good to go, but they are just hiding it so they can feel really innocent and harmed when they slam on their brakes about to hit you and say GOD!!! with their eyes really wide open like this is an unbelivable situation. ahah especially when they have children in the back. then they can go tell their neighbors at the neighborhood bbq about how teens are so dangerous with their bicylces and drugs.

With an annual safety inspection in Hawaii, most drivers do not want to take the chance of burning their turn signals out before the next inspection.

I can't tell if this is dry humor--in which case it is funny--or the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

Do they not use their headlights at night for fear they will burn out as well? New signal bulbs are much cheaper than headlights.

I also believe most (if not all) states have annual inspection at which all lights are checked.

I also believe most (if not all) states have annual inspection at which all lights are checked.

Unfortunately Kansas doesn't require an inspection, annual or otherwise. It's not uncommon for me to run into (not literally) cars with only 1 out of 3 brake lights working. Thankfully, I haven't yet encountered any with all of the lights out... probably just a matter of time. :(

Roody made the best point of this thread. Turn signals are nice, but I don't usually trust them to the point of putting my body out in front of a 3000-lb. vehicle. I'll believe that car is turning when I actually see it turning -- until then, I'm assuming it's headed straight for me.

I can't tell if this is dry humor--in which case it is funny--or the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

Do they not use their headlights at night for fear they will burn out as well? New signal bulbs are much cheaper than headlights.

I also believe most (if not all) states have annual inspection at which all lights are checked.

Dry humor no doubt... CA only checks for smog... not safety... if it rolls and doesn't pollute, it is on the streets.

Roody made the best point of this thread. Turn signals are nice, but I don't usually trust them to the point of putting my body out in front of a 3000-lb. vehicle. I'll believe that car is turning when I actually see it turning -- until then, I'm assuming it's headed straight for me.

True true.

But I believe that the lack of use of turn signals, not only to cyclists, but to other motorists is a sign of the general discourtesy on the roadways. Many many drivers simply don't care about anybody else on the roadways... therefore, they don't signal, they fail to properly check for clearance, and they tend to be hostile to anything that they feel "impedes" their own personal progress.

I also believe most (if not all) states have annual inspection at which all lights are checked.
Maybe most, but not all. Iowa has no vehicle inspection requirement.

I really don't see any real issue with turn signal use or not. It can help a little if the driver in front of you is going right so you can get going on their left quicker when the light turns, but its really just a convienience that can you can never rely on. But in no case do I have to know which way a driver is going.

Al

If you are looking at their blinkers, I can assume you are behind them.

Therefor it is your responsibility to stay a safe distance and at a safe speed to allow them to swerve into the shoulder (your "lane" of travel) to avoid a pothole (or for any other reason).

If they're in front of you, it's YOUR fault for not having enough reaction time.

And who's fault is it when as the title of this forum suggest "Cars that don't use signals"?

Dry humor no doubt... CA only checks for smog... not safety... if it rolls and doesn't pollute, it is on the streets.

So how come there are motor vehicles on the streets in CA as don't motor vehicles still pollute?

So how come there are motor vehicles on the streets in CA as don't motor vehicles still pollute?

Sure, just like the alcohol limit is .08... there is a touch of room in the laws.

This brings to mind the section of Hurst's The Art of Urban Cycling in which he talks about interpreting drivers' intention, with eye contact, vehicle positioning, and so on. At the end, he notes that the reader may be wondering that he has made no mention of turn signals. He then proceeds to make his official pronouncement on turn signals, which, if memory serves, is something like "Turn signals? Ha!"

I think the bottom line was something like they can possibly be taken into account as one of multiple clues to indicate driver intent, but are not used correctly and consistently enough to be the sole indicator, by either their presence or their absence.

I can't tell if this is dry humor--in which case it is funny--or the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

Do they not use their headlights at night for fear they will burn out as well? New signal bulbs are much cheaper than headlights.

I also believe most (if not all) states have annual inspection at which all lights are checked.

Yes it is a touch of humor. But case in point, when working with a night road crew, I saw at least three drivers a night that were also concerned about their headlights burning out before the next inspection.

I like your response to the post. :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

I have noticed, while both biking and driving, that turn signal usage has declined due to the increase in cell phone usage. One hand on the wheel, one hand holding the phone - no hand left for the signal lever. I can't understand why it is so slow for laws to be passed limiting cell phones while driving.

This brings to mind the section of Hurst's The Art of Urban Cycling in which he talks about interpreting drivers' intention, with eye contact, vehicle positioning, and so on. At the end, he notes that the reader may be wondering that he has made no mention of turn signals. He then proceeds to make his official pronouncement on turn signals, which, if memory serves, is something like "Turn signals? Ha!"

I think the bottom line was something like they can possibly be taken into account as one of multiple clues to indicate driver intent, but are not used correctly and consistently enough to be the sole indicator, by either their presence or their absence.

I'm with Hurst on this one, John.

Turns signals - on or off - provide no reliable information.

Getting upset about motorists who don't use their signals is a misfocused waste of energy. Even if we could increase compliance from 50% to 99.9%, you still couldn't rely on them, so what would be the point?

Life is too short to choose to get aggravated by stuff that doesn't matter.

Serge

I have noticed, while both biking and driving, that turn signal usage has declined due to the increase in cell phone usage. One hand on the wheel, one hand holding the phone - no hand left for the signal lever. I can't understand why it is so slow for laws to be passed limiting cell phones while driving.

Just an observation: This is likely to become the least-enforced law ever to be on the books. It will be universally disregarded by drivers, traffic officers and judges, all of whom will in fact break the law daily and in some cases continuously.
The law against using handheld cellphones while driving is smart. I despair of ever seeing it make a difference, though. Driving with cellphones appeals to people who weren't that interested in courtesy or safety anyway.

This thread reminds me first of all that it is irritating when people do not properly indicate that they intend to turn with the turn signal. If they have their blinker on, at least you know that they will probably turn. If they don't, no skin off of my nose. Everyone else should be regarded suspiciously--I swear that I can predict whether a car will turn (when looking from the side or head-on) with 90% accuracy. Body language and driving position tell alot about intent, since people rarely make emergency swerves into their driveway... ;)

Still, the running joke here is that turn signals come optional on cars sold in Washington State, and I live in Portland, Oregon. Just a little healthy rivalry. I'll freely admit that Oregonians drive like idiots the first time it rains in a while.

My other pet peeve is cars that don't have yellow turn signals! It's hard to tell whether someone is riding their brakes with a tail-light out or what sometimes. Yellow signals just jump out at me more quickly. Not to mention the nice euro-style side indicators that more cars are getting. Those are nice, especially to peds and bikers.

But what do I know, I use signals in the parking lot even. :D

Once again... When driving a car I notice when others don't use turn signals and it annoys me that they don't give the courtesy.

But when cycling I don't find any useful benefit of them, they don't affect my riding in anyway, how could they? I go when I have right of way and I always position myself so it doesn't matter if car turns or not.

Al

Watch their front wheels. If a car passes me and I suspect he is going to turn right in front of me, I watch his front wheels. If the front wheels start to turn, I am on the brakes. Another tip: If you are proceeding along and there's a car waiting to enter your line of traffic, make sure the driver is looking at you. If not, be ready to stop. Many times I have approached this situation when the driver is looking right to make a right turn, and then makes it without checking what's coming from the left. Another thing: If a driver is getting ready to enter from a side road, and they're on a cell phone, assume they are going to pull out in front of you. If they are on a cell phone, and there are young kids in the back of the car, and the driver is putting on make up, and there is a dog on the driver's lap, you know you are in trouble.

Once again... When driving a car I notice when others don't use turn signals and it annoys me that they don't give the courtesy.

But when cycling I don't find any useful benefit of them, they don't affect my riding in anyway, how could they? I go when I have right of way and I always position myself so it doesn't matter if car turns or not.

Al
Consider traffic bearing down on you from the rear while bicycling on a high speed (55+mph) 4 lane road. I keep on constant alert through frequent mirror checks of vehicles approaching from the rear and always track the drivers until they move to the passing lane OR signal their intention to do so. Once that turn signal is activated I know the driver is alert enough to do the right thing. I can assure you that distracted drivers who are unaware of your presence do NOT turn on their signals. Many drivers will never signal before changing lanes but when they do use signals it reduces stress for me. I have had to bail out of the road several times because of drivers who never deviated from a straight course at 55+mph; no signal means be prepared for evasive action. If I didn't use my mirror as described I would not be posting this response.

The limit here in 35 for tint, and I believe that's presidential tint. It's hard to make contact, considering the majority of the cars around here are driven by 20 yro's who think big exahusts and giant spoilers are cool.. I guess that makes it explainable why they don't use their signal.
35% isn't horribly dark. It's the legal limit here too. Lots of kids do 20%, and that's a lot darker. "Limo" tint is 5%, and in MD you'll get busted for it every time.

BUT, that's only on side windows. ANY tint on the front windshield will get you pulled over immediately.