# A driving question.. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 8, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472 "2013-06-08T14:13:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/1 "2013-06-08T14:13:30Z")
You’re pulling out of a parking lot onto a road. You want to go left. You’re all clear to go except for one car approaching you from the left. He has his turn signal on as if he’s turning into the parking lot you’re pulling out of. The only next right turn the approaching car could make is a hundred feet away. At what point do you pull out onto the road? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/2 "2013-06-08T14:32:42Z")
It’s not at all uncommon for turn signals to be stuck on, so one cannot rely on that at all. And 100 feet is not at all an adequate distance to be sure the signal is not for the next turn(signally half a block ahead of time is not unusual). ---
**Author:** ![stoplight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@stoplight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stoplight)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/3 "2013-06-08T14:39:37Z")
two things, I expect the car to slow down while in approach of its expected turn, if that does not happen I am on guard and hold my position. If the car begins to slow, I then expect the front wheels to begin turning, when they begin I begin my turn. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/4 "2013-06-08T15:10:14Z")
If it’s really just that one car and there’s nobody behind me, I’ll proceed but be ready to slam on the brakes and horn. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/5 "2013-06-08T16:03:44Z")
I wait until it’s safe to proceed. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/6 "2013-06-08T16:05:39Z")
I’m sure I remember in driver’s ed being taught that you should wait until the car just starts to turn in. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/7 "2013-06-08T16:15:04Z")
I’ve learned not to trust turn signals. I’d wait until it was very clear he was turning, so either him slowing down a lot, or actually beginning a turn. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/8 "2013-06-08T16:35:45Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I’ve learned not to trust turn signals. I’d wait until it was very clear he was turning, so either him slowing down a lot, or actually beginning a turn. Yup. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/9 "2013-06-08T16:42:10Z")
There is a corner I negotiate every day that has a gas station on it. The entrance to the station is just beyond the corner. Half the time, right turn signals and slowing mean the car is going to go in front of me and turn into the station. I always wait until the car starts its turn before I go. The same could happen in the OP’s situation. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/10 "2013-06-08T16:51:16Z")
If the guy slows down enough, I’ll go, but I’m not trusting his turn signal. If he doesn’t slow down enough I’ll wait until he turns or passes by me. When I was younger I would tried to peel out if I was in the right car. That was stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Krouget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b38774/32.png) [@Krouget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krouget)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/11 "2013-06-08T18:16:12Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I’ve learned not to trust turn signals. I’d wait until it was very clear he was turning, so either him slowing down a lot, or actually beginning a turn. Yep, I don’t make a turn into the path of another car, unless I’m absolutely sure I’m going to make it into the lane I intend to go. People make last second decisions ALL the time when driving, and it’s simply not worth the risk. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/12 "2013-06-08T18:32:20Z")
For those who picked the first three options: how do you know that there isn’t a vehicle hidden by the one you see? ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/13 "2013-06-08T18:37:38Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > If it’s really just that one car and there’s nobody behind me, I’ll proceed but be ready to slam on the brakes and horn. Better to slam on the gas and get out of his way. Also why would you blow the horn? He’s on the main road, signal or not, he has the right of way and if you pull out and he hits you you’re at fault. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/14 "2013-06-08T19:09:06Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Better to slam on the gas and get out of his way. Also why would you blow the horn? He’s on the main road, signal or not, he has the right of way and if you pull out and he hits you you’re at fault. Well, yeah, gas or brake depending on how far out I get. Basically, if someone has the blinker on, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt that they’re actually going to turn to the extent that I will be able to avoid them if they don’t. I won’t pull out if I can’t avoid them if they don’t turn, but I won’t just sit there and wait for them to turn. And I think signaling and slowing down, but not actually turning is honk-worthy. I’d want someone to do the same for me if I didn’t realize I had my blinker on. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/15 "2013-06-08T19:58:27Z")
I said Other - chances are I’ll wait till he turns, but if there’s enough space and time, I’ll turn. I’m generally a very conservative driver and rarely in such a hurry that I’d take any chances. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/16 "2013-06-08T22:06:51Z")
I got T-boned once when I pulled out in front of someone that had their right blinker on but didn’t turn. Ever since then, I wait to make sure they are actual turning before I will pull out. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/17 "2013-06-08T22:39:11Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > For those who picked the first three options: how do you know that there isn’t a vehicle hidden by the one you see? Because I’ve been watching for more than just an instant. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/18 "2013-06-09T00:15:13Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I’ve learned not to trust turn signals. I’d wait until it was very clear he was turning, so either him slowing down a lot, or actually beginning a turn. Yep yep yep. Wait for him to actually make a commitment to turn. He might change his mind at the last moment…and in that case, we are the ones at fault, not he! ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/19 "2013-06-09T04:06:02Z")
Combination of 2 and 3. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472/20 "2013-06-09T12:39:35Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > At what point do you pull out onto the road? Immediately after ensuring traffic from my right is clear. What’s the problem? We drive on the left. The car approaching from the left is not on an intersecting path. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-driving-question/660472.md?page=2)