Do you use your blinker in a car?
I use it literally everywhere out of habit, I got made fun of for using it when pulling out of my moms driveway once lol
The only reason I won't possibly use it is when I'm in a turn only lane at a red light and don't want to listen to it for 3 minutes
Most people I find only use it 75% of the time at best.
I'm 2.5 years into driving and am curious if it's just what semi-new drivers do or if I'm the odd one out.
specially when I don't see anyone, I don't want to keep sweeping my eyes through mirrors...
those that don't use blinkers at all do use mirrors, right? OH.
Only assholes don't use their blinkers. Anyone making fun of you for using yours is a selfish turd.
use. your. blinkers.
If you turn your wheel, use your blinker.
Unless you get a BMW. Then you buy the right not to use your blinkers.
I thought they made that a subscription now.
Always. Driveway? Blinkers. Parking? Blinkers. On an empty road with no one in sight? Believe it or not, blinkers.
It's a muscle memory. When you get used to using them, you just do. If you have exceptions, you might forget it when it matters.
100% the same. I never even think about it. It's just baked into my brain.
The only time I don't is leaving my driveway. We're corner house on a quiet cul-de-sac so it just doesn't occur to me.
People leaving roundabouts on the first exit who don't indicate before entering are the ones that annoy me most. They will watch me waiting to enter or slow down to stop as they approach and literally not lift a finger to help.
Roundabout = indicator you donkey. There's literally no legal way to use one without it (here anyway).
Oh god. I absolutely hate ppl who don't signal off roundabouts. I drive a car but also a motorbike, I've learned not to trust at roundabouts due to too many near misses. Fucking pillocks all of em.
My mom tried to tell me that when you turn left through an American roundabout, you enter and leave with your left blinker blinking.
I was a child the last time I had to sit quietly on such a big disagreement with her lol. I guess I’m lucky.
I always signal out of roundabouts, but never on. Legally I'm supposed to signal in but that makes no sense to me because of course I'm going to be entering the roundabout, there is never another option.
Sometimes when I’m turning a sharp normal turn in a parking lot or ramp, I’ll instinctively signal, even though there’s no need to.
I'm with you all the way to the final sentence.
Your indicator usage is linked to your mirror usage. If you use indicators in all situations regardless, what you might actually forget to do is look in your mirrors properly, which is more important.
Your first two mentions are fine examples. In the UK at least, using indicators when entering your driveway or a parking space isn't necessary if no other cars or pedestrians are approaching your car.
Its the only way you can signal your intentions. Being predictable is the best way to ensure the safety of yourself and others on the road. Combine these two and its a no brainer. Always use them.
Sure. It's better to develop this habit and use them automatically, without thinking. Sometimes there are no cars around, but pedestrians want to know your intentions too. And even if you don't see anyone, it doesn't mean there's nobody around.
Sometimes when I'm feeling adventurous, I will change lanes without using a turn signal (only when I am 99% sure there is no one around). For the other 99% of the time when I am feeling non adventurous, I will use my turn signals.
Yes. Don't listen to people who tell you not to.
The indicator is for communicating your intent to change the position (which lane you're in) or direction (turning in or out of a road, parking space, etc.) of your car.
The safest thing you can do as a driver is to be PREDICTABLE to other drivers. The indicator communicates necessary information for other drivers to predict your actions.
Not using one when changing the position or direction of your car is inconsiderate and dangerous to other road users. It is also illegal.
Use them. Please.
Not just to drivers.
There's nothing more annoying as a pedestrian than a vehicle whose driver has seemingly decided to run into you because they 1) didn't think to use their signals and 2) mostly just checked for car traffic until you're right in front of their bumper.
Very much this.
I was hoping to imply that with the phrase "road users" but I wasn't explicit about it.
Cyclists too. If you can't keep a cyclist safe you shouldn't be allowed in a car.
The people who made fun of you won't be laughing when they share 50% of the blame during the damage claim phase of an accident.
Yeah, it's a lot easier to just make it a habit and doing it everywhere instead of overthinking the context.
Use your blinker, return your cart to the corral, and mind your business
I'm sure I've missed it sometimes over the years, but if you make it a habit it's harder to forget or ignore
Yeah. Whoever made fun of you is an idiot.
I use it all the time and I judge people who don't.
I always do. Feels wrong not to. Just get in the habit of ALWAYS using them and it becomes a no-brainer. It's just a good habit to have.
Other drivers cannot read minds, so use the blinker.
Its why it's there in the first place.
Always. Drive predictably it helps.
Predictability is so much more important than being nice. Just follow the rules.
Using it 75% of the time is harder than using it all the time, because it means you’re consciously thinking about it each time instead of doing it reflexively.
I used to try to use them 100%, but there are so many situations where it's completely unwarranted (in my specific driving circumstances). So I guess I default to using my indicators, but I try to use them the right way, i.e. before a lane change rather than after I've started to commit.
Also, I used to put on my indicator for a lane change nice and early, but dear god the way these cars warn about your blind spot being occupied, holy shit. Music turns down, loud beeping, it's madness.
It's actually easier to just use it every time. Deciding whether you need to is cognitive load that's better spent on other things.
This. It should be automatic, and you can't have perfect awareness to always know with 100% certainly if there is another vehicle or pedestrian around which may benefit from that information.
Of course I do. My goal while driving is to be predictable so I can minimize the chances of causing an accident.
Yeah man operating machinery is awesome. Doing it respectful and responsible way is extra satisfying. People really look down on cars but it's an awesome technology!
...how else would people around me know what direction I'm about to move 2+ tons of metal???
I can't stand how often I see people changing lanes or taking turns with ZERO blinker usage. Selfish short sighted fucks.
I remember a driving instructor asking me who I was indicating for when we were practising in a suburb. I couldn't see any other cars but figured that if one appeared they'd want to know my intentions and it would mean it was one less thing to think about.
I fired that instructor.
Indicators?
Yes, only pillocks don't use their indicators. They're an essential method of communication between vehicles and for pedestrians, and an essential safety feature.
I cannot stress this enough, people who don't use their indicators are massive twats and shouldn't be on the road.
They're a danger to themselves and everybody around them.
I read this in a posh British accent.
I don't drive a BMW, so yes.
Making funof someone for doing the responsible thing is childish and stupid.
As long as you are using them to indicate intent you are using them correctly. At worst you are being extra clear to drivers around you. If you don't use them though, at worst you are an unpredictable driver that might be involved in a crash.
Fuck the people that made fun of you.
P. S I use them any time I do something that isn't driving straight, i don't care if there are others around me, if it's a single lane, if it's obvious, etc. Every time I stray from a straight line I signal it.
I get really annoyed when people don't use them. My psychic powers are terrible and I like to not have people suddenly change lanes in front of me or cut me off on the road.
Blinkers are not just for special occasions or discos!
Yes, I use them even if there is nobody around as it’s good to keep the habit. I’ve noticed not many people use them in say a right only lane, but my logic is pedestrians might not know and so you should use it there too.
UK.
Only sickos don't use their blinkers
Yes, and I really wish cops would aggressive ticket every motherfucker who doesn't. ESPECIALLY the fucking morons who switch lanes without them, but when they're in the turning lane with literal no other option, THEN they fucking find their blinker.
Like hello fuckwit, I'm not a damn psychic, but thank you so fucking much for using that blinker in the least important place of everywhere your dumb ass drove.
There is 0 scenario where a blinker should be used that I won't use it, and fuck anybody who doesn't use theirs. If you can't handle the simple act of flicking a stick with your finger, you sure as fuck shouldn't be able to operate a land torpedo.
I use them 100% of the time. Which yes, includes my own driveway.
You should train yourself to use them automatically instead of a manual step. Like a reflex.
And if you're at a light and you plan to turn, you have that blinker going. Even if it's a long red light, even if you think no one is around.
Turn signals are not optional.
I felt dumb using it at a roundabout because nobody does there, then I looked it up and found it's something you're supposed to do. No harm in over communicating when you're in control of a few thousand pounds of metal.
I drive a BMW
I use my blinker even when turning into my own driveway and the reason is simple:
The signal isn't for me. It's for others to know my intentions.
One major thing that makes driving with others safer is predictability and your blinkers can help with that.
I do this just for the habit of turning. I don't need to waste brain power trying to determine if I need to actually use it or not. It's just associated with turning.
It’s better to use your blinkers all the time than 90% of the time.
I don't drive a BMW, so yes.
I have ridden BMW motorcycles for many years and made a point of using blinkers when needed. Cars have crumple zones; on a motorcycle, you are the crumple zone.
But yes, BMW cars are often driven by self-centered assholes.
Got my licence a bit over 2 years ago. I ALWAYS use the blinkers. You never know when there's some other participant in traffic that you don't notice for which the information of what I'm about to do is important.
It annoys me to no end that a lot of drivers here won't signal for lane changes or turn offs.
The "unknown participant" is a great term for it. I use it alone on my neighborhood turns, particularly at night, because I can't properly see around the turn. One of them is totally in darkness, situated between street lights. If there's a pedestrian crossing, I'd like to give them a little warning. One of my cars has stellar fog lights and gives ample sideways light though, so I recommend using them under 40mph for turns.
Over 10 years of driving here.
as a pedestrian i have to say that i never use my blinker.
joke aside, there's not much that aggravates me more than drivers not using their signals when they can turn either left or right, but cannot continue forward, like near the street i live in that i frequently have to cross. since they HAVE to turn, i have to wait for them to either remember that they have turn signals, or wait until they have enlightened me about their decision by making them a fact.
don't be an ass, use your turn signals to make your intentions known for the weaker parties on the road.
Your eyes must be really dry
Yes and that's how it should be. It shouldn't even be conscious. I signal into and out of parking spaces, I signal every lane change, hell I signal for sharp corners sometimes.
It seems to me if you are choosing to signal or not, then the use of turn signals isn't that heavily ingrained. Before I turn the wheel I'm instinctively touching the signal lever.
Keep up the good work!
If you ever think you are useless, remember people are paid to install turn signals in new Lexuses
If a BMW has a turn signal on, rest assured, it was purchased in that condition.
It's normal to use it pulling out of a driveway and in parking lots, don't worry about peer pressure and other people's bad habit
It's always good to communicate on the road, the more information the better. I'm not sure why anyone would give you a hard time about this, unless they're insecure (about what, I couldn't analyze). Signals tell everyone around you what you're about to do. Keep up the good work.
Even when I’m a pedestrian I fucking hate anyone who doesn’t use a turn signal. Usually I’ll yield to cars because they’re faster, and as an impatient person myself I wonder who’d want to wait six years for someone to walk across whatever but I can’t do that when the idiots don’t use their turn signal.
It's worse when you're a pedestrian. If you swerve towards me and expect me to get out of your way you kinda have to tell me where you're going. But if you walk a lot you get better at judging intentions by the changing speed of the car and distrasting blinkers.
I’ve only been driving for 33 years, but I try to signal every turn.
Because the signals are for those situations where you don’t see something you should have AND those situations where someone else didn’t see something they should have.
Takes a flick of the pinky to do something that could save you thousands of dollars and wasted time, or even save someone’s life. So why not do it?
I never get bent about other people using them when they don't need to. It's real fucking old sitting at a busy light where I could have gone five times if someone would have had a moment to flick a switch.
Yes. I always use them. I hate when people don't. Oh, so you needed to come over? I would have slowed down if you told me. What are you slowing down for? Move- Oh. You're turning. Wish I would have known that. Dang, I need to pull out and make this turn. Let me wait until that car passes... Oh, they're turning.
It's such a small thing that makes driving safer for you and the people around you.
Currently I'm staying in Thailand the road culture here is fascinating. There are very few actual rules that people follow but its all about speed and projecting what are you doing so signals and everything is a big part of road culture here despite many drivers don't really knowing road theory.
For example if you drive up a curvy mountain road you horn on the turn slowly to project that you're driving there.
It works.
That's so incredibly thoughtful. If you honk at the wrong person in the US, you might end up on a Tshirt.
I don't drive a BMW, so yes, I do use my blinker.
I was just talking about this with a friend. I think bmw drivers driving like douches is maybe the most accurate stereotype I know. It is shocking how often I see a car driving like an asshole and it ends up being a bmw.
Most stereotypes are hilariously inaccurate but that one seems pretty legit lol
I mean, we don't really notice the BMW drivers who are acting sensibly, and it's probably the vast majority. But that being said, outside Germany they attract a certain enthusiast demographic that will include a statistically relevant minority who think every trip outside the neighborhood is Gran Turismo.
I've never understood how a simple hand motion can be beyond anyone's skillset. It's just part of driving.
...i always use my signals to unambiguously communicate intent; the only time i've been embarrassed is after carrying that habit onto the track, but it's tough to break...
...my wife uses her signals to ask permission, which i feel can cause confusion, but she feels the same way about me...
Mirror, signal, manoeuvre. This is the way.
You forgot the part where you turn your damned head and look beside you.
Please tell me that's just an oversight, and you're not one of those.
Do I still count even if I have an ultrawide mini mirror?
Yes. You're supposed to use it anytime you're about to turn or change lanes, including if you're sitting in a turn lane at a red light or backing out of a drive way or parking spot.
Not doing so makes you a road hazard.
In the Netherlands you don't need to signal when you pull back in after overtaking in the middle lane.
That's not true. You need to signal when changing lanes. Going back after overtaking constitutes changing lanes.
[Artikel 55 Reglement verkeersregels en verkeerstekens 1990] (https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0004825&hoofdstuk=II¶graaf=24&artikel=55&z=2024-07-01&g=2024-07-01)
That’s fair though if it’s a keep right situation as it’d be fair to expect you to move in as soon as you safely can.
Can you pull back in the right lane if there is an entry and incoming car?
Yes, I use it. Over a million miles and nearly 40 years driving.
Fuck the haters, use that thing.
That's a lot of driving
Yeah. 35k miles some years
I use mine so often that sometimes I accidentally turn them on in sharp curves.
Always, because I’m not a lazy git or self-centered arsehole.
I'm the road a lot as a cyclist. Like OP, I'd estimate that at least a quarter of vehicles rarely or never signal.
Ah, but do you follow the rules as well? Ride with traffic? Give hand signals for turns?
Not picking on you, but as a truck driver, I see far too many people riding against traffic, all over the middle of the road, and generally creating their own demise.
I do about 3k miles a year and safety is my top priority. I have (knock wood) never had a serious accident, but I've had a couple close calls (always from an inattentive driver). Every time I read about a road cycling injury, I shudder. The Gaudreau brothers incident was particularly harrowing.
I have flashing lights on my bike, wear high vis, ride with traffic, and signal when turning. But the absolute best piece of bike safety gear imho (and one which I see fairly infrequently even though it's cheap), is an eyeglass or helmet mounted rear-view mirror. I see handlebar mirrors sometimes and I've tried them myself but they aren't nearly as good (they are useless when turning). The eyeglass mirror is a little distracting at first, but eventually you stop noticing it unless you want to, and it's like having eyes in the back of your head.
What kind of person shits on another for using a turn signal? My guess is it is someone who forgets to use it frequently.
It was out of his moms driveway lol I would have made a joking comment too. I use my blinker basically everywhere but I guess there could be more traffic by his moms driveway. 😉
I use it 100% of the time when the rules of traffic prompts me to use it.
Within a small single-lane housing area: I blink.
When exiting my driveway and the road reaches a dead end 100 meters in the one direction, so it should be very obvious which way I'll go: I blink.
The roundabout in town which is so tiny that it looks more like an intersection, and when heading straight through it: I blink.
It's so much better to have a habit of blinking and making unambiguous signals than to forget it. It helps with the flow of traffic and probably lets everyone get where they need to go quicker.