On my long daily commutes, I almost always come across some person who has left their turn signal on when they obviously have no intention of turning. I was wondering if there is some soft of accepted code for letting them know their signal is on, similar to flicking your headlights to tell someone they need to turn theirs on.
If there is no such standard, maybe we should make one up! I’ve thought about pulling in front of the person and turning my turn signal on to the left and then right, alternating back and forth repeatedly, to draw their attention to the idea of turn signals in general so that maybe they become self-conscious and check to see if theirs is on. Then when they notice and turn theirs off, I’d turn mine off and resume driving normally, and they’d surmise that I was indeed doing it for their benefit, perhaps feel a little sheepish, and learn a lesson. What say you, Dopers?
Yeah I guess that works, but the whole driving with their signal on doesn’t really bother me so I guess I’m looking for a way to let them know in a neutral, friendly sort of way.
It isn’t a standard, but this often works (and is not misconstrued as agressive or hostile): Simply flick the turn lever from side to side, so the other driver sees left light, right light, left light, right light, etc. The more perceptive ones understand quickly.
I sometimes hold up one hand and flap the four fingers against the thumb, kinda like a shadow-puppet imitation of a quacking duck – to suggest that something on their car is attracting attention.
Sometimes they get it. Other times they buy supplemental disability insurance.
I’m somewhat less forgiving of people leaving their turn signals on. In the days where I had a smaller wage to garnish in case of lawsuit, I’d honk, pull up next to them, honk again, and give them the “I’m number one” sign.
I’m probably a little anal-retentive on this one, but not only does leaving your turn signal on annoy kind people who might want to let you in, it also dilutes the ability of the turn signal to be properly used.
On a slightly (only slightly!) tangential note, I do wish there was a universal signal for “one of your rear lights burned out” – especially the brake lights (the only lights that you cannot check by yourself).
I had a kind gentleman point that out to me once while we were waiting in line at a toll plaza.
When you go to a store at night (or anywhere you can think of that this would work), get your back end facing a big window and just check the reflection.
I believe the standard way is to point your fingers skyward and then to bend into your palm the first, third and fourth fingers. To emphasize this point you also yell the Aramaic saying, “fa que”.
