Why don't many people use their turn signals anymore??
EBennett said:
I was thinking about this exchange this morning when the less-than-skilled driver in front of me moved all the way to the left side of Jefferson and then put on his turn signal to turn right into his driveway. If I had not thought of this thread, I might have tried to pass him on the right and been hit.
He was driving a medium-size car and I have no idea why he needed to swing all the way to the left to turn right into his driveway. Our driveway has a stone wall on the right so I have to swing out a little but not so far that I leave the right lane. Although I avoid the problem by always approaching our driveway from the left.
Something like this happened to me recently -- driver swung way left and I thought he/she was pulling over to the curb on the left side of the street, didn't use a turn signal, so I started to pass on the right, and he/she then started their rightward turn toward the driveway and almost hit me on the driver side. I'm willing to bet that he/she just mentally categorized me as a "reckless driver" and never even thought that his/her failure to use a turn signal may have contributed to this near miss...
ParticleMan said:
When someone pulls to the left to make a right turn, they are unskilled.
ETA: Unless they're driving a tractor trailer.
Yes, it's a dumb move, but there are two unskilled drivers if the driver behind tries to pass the vehicle ahead with the blinker blinking.
While the first dumb move is by the person moving left to turn right, the collision or near collision is avoidable by the driver in the rear. I assume you're talking about a typical Maplewood residential street, 50 feet wide.
I would have to argue that it depends on the configuration of the turn. If it's a really sharp or tight right, you have to either: pull left; go into the opposing traffic lane of the road you're turning onto; or hit the curb.
And there are some driveways that are treacherous, either because of their narrowness or pitch. My daughter lives in a building where if you don't approach the driveway from exactly the right direction you bottom out.
But that said, mostly it's correct.
ParticleMan said:
When someone pulls to the left to make a right turn, they are unskilled.
ETA: Unless they're driving a tractor trailer.
Tom_Reingold said:
Suzie2 said:
I can't tell you the countless numbers of times I have experienced the converse of your neighbor: I DO signal with plenty of time, and slow down, before making a the turn into my driveway, and yet easily 90% of drivers these days completely ignore the signal and try to pass me as I'm turning, almost hitting me. This happens on a daily basis and I'm still at a loss for what to do about it.
Are you talking about turning left into your driveway? If people try to pass you on the left, then perhaps the best thing is to stop and stay stopped until no one is left behind you. It's lame that you have to do this, but you're dealing with New Jersey drivers. Be sure to keep your front wheels pointed straight forward, and don't start turning until it's safe.
If people try to pass you on the right when you're turning right into your driveway, they are certifiable. But don't give them the room to squeeze by your car's right side. Move to the right edge of the road before you get close to your driveway.
They do both, Tom.
Given where I live, passing isn't safe there at all in either direction on either side, so I would not be comfortable stopping and forcing them to pass me before I turn. They should be slowing and allowing me to turn before proceeding, and I give them plenty of notice and opportunity. Also, when there are no cars parked on the street, if I moved close enough to the right edge of the road to keep someone from squeezing by me on the right, it would be impossible to then turn right into my driveway.
Suzie2, maybe you should drive in the middle of street and block any would-be passers?
Of course, the almost equally maddening alternative to never using the turn signal comes from all those drivers who turned the signal on for some reason, then forget about it and drive on oblivious for miles while you travel behind them trying to guess whether they actually mean something by it or not.
Tom, If he had turned on his blinker I would have waited for him to turn. He did not put on his right turn blinker until AFTER he had pulled all the way to the left side of the street. As I wrote, I thought of previous posts about people pulling wide left to turn right and stopped.
And I've been meaning to let you know that your philosophy of "turn on blinker, look, then change lanes" works at least 80% of the time. I used to look, wait for a clear spot, then put on my blinker before changing lanes. I've found that many people will create a space for me if I let them know I want to change lanes.