hheremtp wrote:The reason most people don't use turn signals is because they are essentially "gap fill indicators". I can't tell you how many times I have seen someone put their tun signal on to indicate a lane change and the person behind them speed up to block them from getting over. Why would you use your turn signal before changing lanes if you know your are just going to get cut off?
Primarily because I feel the responsibility to share the road; they don't. I can't bash them for not using one if I do not use it. At the very least, I hope I make driving a tiny bit safer for both of us. And, as I said before, I need to warn someone who I may not have seen (just happened to me yesterday).
I use the signal, and let the person beside me respond as they see fit, and I will move accordingly. It is their lane, after all (i.e., right-of-way).
Also, of course, the signal is a
request and
warning of intent, not a
demand. That seems to be lost on a lot of folks.
And, there are so many drivers who do not leave nearly enough room in front of the adjacent car (or truck!
), that it is simply not safe.
There is another issue, of course: Most drivers turn on their signal too late for me to do anything about it. People don't seem to realize that it takes time 1) for the blinker to come on (it can take a second or more, depending on the circuitry), and 2) for the nearby driver to notice it and respond.
)