Do people in your town signal when they turn their car?
By breepeace
@breepeace (3014)
Canada
August 28, 2009 4:23pm CST
I don't drive because I'm not a big fan and can't afford a vehicle, so I walk pretty well everywhere.
One of my biggest pet peeves is that people in this town do not know how to signal. In any given week I will be honked at at least 3 times for DARING to cross at a crosswalk, et al, when someone has (obviously arbitrarily, since I saw no signal light!) decided they wanted to turn down that street.
Some people do signal, but the vast majority of those that do, will do it AS they are turning, as if turning on your indicator light is required in order to turn your car in another direction.
I got into an argument with a friend of mine the other day about it because he says that as a pedestrian, I don't NEED to know which way a vehicle is turning, that indicators are only meant to signal other drivers. As I pointed out to him, I need them MORE because if I don't know that you are planning to turn in my direction, I will cross the street (or parking lot entrance/driveway) without even looking at you, which could cause big repurcussions for both of us if you aren't paying enough attention. Add that to frustration you will experience as I SLOWLY make my crossing (and I do, just to piss you off!), and you have a whole lot of trouble on your hands that could have been easily avoided if you'd just signalled to me and the world that you are planning to make that right hand turn. Last time I checked, they were standard in all 4-tire vehicles. LOL
So do people in your area signal? Or is it seemingly 'optional'?
3 people like this
22 responses
@pushkin69 (546)
•
28 Aug 09
hey there. I dont drive at the moment as like you I cant afford a car. I do love to drive and miss the freedom of having a car. Getting a bus or train is quite limiting in this country especially as the public transport system is so bad and expensive.
Here in the UK drivers tend to be very courteous. I have never had any problems with people indicating etc... I have driven in other countries such as the US and Australia and noticed that drivers tend to be a lot more aggressive and unaware of road rules!
2 people like this
@TheGypsyDad (391)
• Canada
28 Aug 09
That is such a big pet peeve of mine...I hate it when someone hits the brake lights, start turning, then put on their signal...ARRRRG! I'm going out now to pick up the laundry and if I see someone do that today, I will RAM them with my truck! lol no i won't just kidding.
@TheGypsyDad (391)
• Canada
29 Aug 09
Yes it is, a one tone dually with a diesel engine. It has push bars in the front and rockerpanel protectors....arrrg.
@stealthy (8181)
• United States
28 Aug 09
I don't know about Canada, but here in the U.S. it is my understanding that drivers are always supposed to signal when they are going to turn and at some distance before actually making the turn. I don't remember the exact distance but it is well before the point of starting the turn. Some people are just totally stupid about safety and others are just lazy and if they signal at all, do it by hitting the lever as they turn the steering wheel. These people should be ticketed more often than they are.
1 person likes this
@zoey7879 (3092)
• United States
28 Aug 09
Hm.. The only signal people around here that people seem to know how to use is a waggle of a solitary middle finger ... Lol
And I hate hate hate hate when people don't use turn signals.. It's not bad for just the drivers, but pedestrians and cyclists as well... but heck, the LE here don't even use them half the time.. so what can I expect from the civilians....
1 person likes this
@iowamomof3 (30)
• United States
28 Aug 09
I live in the midwest and I would have to tell you that it is half and half. I agree with you and not your friend that yes they are signaling for the other cars but you as a pedestrian needs to know more than ever because people don't seem to care about people crossing the street and even though they are to wait for people walking they turn and try to continue on because EVERYONE IS IN A BIG HURRY TO GET NO WHERE!!! You yourself have to make sure you are safe because the person driving the car sure the hell won't. I live in a small town of about 300 and to tell you the truth they don't signal here because we have no stop lights and we pretty much watch out for everyone because we have small children riding bikes everywhere but when I go to the city it is a totally different story. Most people don't signal and they turn and drive as fast as possible. Good luck with the walking and watch out because unfortunately I don't think people are going to change the way they drive.
1 person likes this
@shuetyeng (146)
• Malaysia
28 Aug 09
I am not sure is it a strict rules in my country that driver needs to signal when they turn their car, but it will be good at least to advice other drivers know about your intention. Turn signals are the simplest serving notice that the car wishes to turn. No matter how "simple" to so, there are still tonnes of driver in my country that do not use turn signal. To be honest, I hate them.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
28 Aug 09
Signaling is such a habit with me that I used to do it before I turned into my driveway! Now that I have my own house, I use it when I turn down my alley and again to indicate I'll be turning into my garage!
Most people here signal but I wonder when they don't--am I supposed to be a mind reader?!
And my policy is that pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way, even if they are not in a crosswalk! I'd much rather be delayed or have another driver honk at me than to hit some hapless person crossing the street.
1 person likes this
@littleone3 (2063)
•
29 Aug 09
I agree with you on this one. It really annoys me when people do not indicate when they are turning.
I have experience both as passenger in a car and as a pedestrian I am always extra careful when crossing the roads with my children as you never know if a car is going to turn or not.
At the moment I am staying in Northern Ireland and find that drivers are very bad at using their indicators but I think I notice it more because in my home town they usually use their indicators, although you do go the odd few who don't.
@tyronie4cash (925)
• Philippines
28 Aug 09
Some of them don't, and that's annoying, stupid drivers. hahaha. All they think about is how to get to their destination as fast as possible. tsk
1 person likes this
@Jennlk84 (4206)
• United States
28 Aug 09
I think you will always find people that don't use their turn signal. It can be incredibly annoying!!! It can also be quite dangerous! I don't know why people don't use them. It's not that hard to do. Definitely a huge pet peeve of mine.
1 person likes this
@trisha27 (3494)
• United States
29 Aug 09
I would have to say that the majority in my city do not signal and where I live is a pretty big city. That too is a pet peeve of mine when I was driving and even when I am taking a walk. That people don't even bother to signal. So it can also become dangerous for a pedestrian as you have mentioned when you don't see someone signal. I have done that many of times and figure if the person is not signalling and the walk sign is lighted up, then I must be ok to walk across and then that person has decided to turn when they never put a signal on and then they honk at you. Hello, where was your signal. It even becomes frustrating when you are driving as well, because when you're needing to turn or the person that is needing to turn and you are keeping straight and the person just automatically turns in front of you with no warning at all. Like hello, first of all did you not see me here and secondly where was your warning. It seems like in my city that people just don't care and they're driving for themselves and they're like oh who cares if I get in a car accident or who cares if I hit someone. That's what I mean no one seems to care any more around here. But truely I believe there would be a lot less wrecks and car accidents if people would just use one simple thing, which would be hello, they're signal.
@bluehibiscus (702)
• United States
29 Aug 09
Usually but sometimes people don't and that is by far one of my biggest pet peeves.
@marctiu (829)
• Philippines
29 Aug 09
People in my place usually turn on their signal when they turn their car either way left or right. It's not optional because even when there is a stop light people turn on their signal light when they try to turn, because this is one way of a safety precaution so that the one following will not be mislead and can anticipate what the driver in front of him is going to do next.
Signal light are very important they are made for various reasons. one is to maintain the safety of all who wishes to use vehicles and pedestrians. {Please maintain the integrity of the signal light.) It's place in your car for a reason.
@mzz663 (2772)
• United States
29 Aug 09
Hi Breepeace,I most usually use my signal unless I'm the only one on the road, driving or otherwise (I live in the boonies where that happens a lot early in the morning or late at night) but I always have thought that a signal is needed for other drivers and pedestrians....Just like you liking to know what way a car is going so you can safely cross, I like to know that it's safe to turn so I don't hit a pedestrian, something that I don't ever want to do.
I get frustrated at other drivers that don't use their signal in heavy traffic. My kids laugh because I use a lot of swear words and yell....oh yeah, I forgot...they didn't put signals on that model, you $%^&*!!!! 
so it's not just annoying to you when someone does not use their signal(s).
so it's not just annoying to you when someone does not use their signal(s).
@gracefuldove (1668)
• Malaysia
29 Aug 09
Well, expect black sheep. Most of the drivers in my city are responsible. They give out signal alerts before they turn. Yes, there were arguments seen on the road when drivers came down from their respective cars to play, judge, jury and prosecution.I do hope we can reduce the number of accidents if all road signals are followed.
@sfjalex (46)
• India
29 Aug 09
People down here hardly use signal because of which many minor and major accidents are taking place. Once when i was taking my sister on my bike to drop her to work one guy going before me suddenly turned without any indication i jammed the brake and both of us stopped and i shouted at him during which time he turned on his indicator and said it was my mistake.
@dominiqueen (69)
• United States
29 Aug 09
I used to live down south in florida and most people don't use their signals when turning. I mean it was a real war zone just driving through traffic there and lots and lots of road rage incidents. Bad ones too. i now live central fl, it's a whole lot better but ocassionally there will be that one who doesnt feel they need to use signals
@EnglishTeaDuck (862)
• United States
29 Aug 09
I am right with you on this one!
I also do not drive and I walk everywhere around my town. Signaling does seem to be optional! Not only do people not signal, they glare at me or shout things I;m sure their mother wouldn't approve of at me because I crossed over the road which they, apparently, did not wish to turn down!
Then there are the ones who are addicted to signaling....these people start signaling three roads before the one they intend to turn down, confusing drivers and pedestrians alike who are waiting for them to turn.....are they turning? Is it the next one? Did they turn an hour ago and just forget to turn their signal off?
And may I just share with you my FAVORITE people of all....these are the ones who see you at the side of the road, waiting to cross, and indicate to you, very kindly, that you should go ahead...yes, they will wait, while you struggle across the road with your shopping bags....unfortunately you are going to get smooshed by the car speeding up the road in the other direction, or in the lane alongside, because it hasn't occurred to Kind Driver that there are other cars on the road.
Now, don't get me wrong - bless them for letting you go - but the thing is, when you don't cross because of said speeding smoosh-mobile, they look at you like you are completely stupid! How DARE you reject their generous display of patience? What sort of an idiot are you?
Its them and us out there, watch your backs, pedestrians!!! :))
