# Drivers who use your turn signals against you. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 30, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108 "2013-04-30T15:11:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/41 "2013-05-01T17:55:41Z")
> [@CoastalMaineiac](#): > > While we’re on the subject, how about those center turn, suicide lanes that allow left turns from both directions. What is with the idiots that leave the ass end of their car in the travel lanes instead of pulling all the way over? This happens all the time time with left and right turners - you can pull your car all the way into your lane to make the turn and not block anyone else’s driving, but they just don’t. I’m pretty sure that if you got out and asked these people why they block another lane, they would be surprised as hell to find out that they were doing that, or that it was possible _not_ to do that. Or they wouldn’t care - “It doesn’t affect me - why should I care about that?” > [@JKellyMap](#): > > Occasionally, someone will signal behind me with intent to pass, and I will realize that I was going slower than I’d thought I was – so, I’ll speed up a little, to give the person behind me the option of being content to remain behind me at this higher speed (if he still wants to pass me to go even faster, that’s fine with me.) > [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > \ > Yeah, this is when I noticed it. I was in the left lane and someone came around to pass me from the right and it made me realize I was going kinda slow so I instinctively speed up to the speed I should be going and when I look over to thank the guy trying to pass me for reminding me how slow i was going, he flips me the bird.\ You two might not have road rage, but it sounds like you’re carriers of it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/42 "2013-05-01T19:12:47Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > I am specifically talking about cases where I do not, _per se_, “speed up” OR slow down. Ah! For whatever reason, I thought by “not let him in” you meant that you sped up. Never mind… ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/43 "2013-05-02T02:32:40Z")
I admit, I speed up, usually only if I’m not sure you see me. If you turn on your signal in the right lane, and I’m in the left at say; your 7:00 or 8:00, I am already next to you so probably won’t see a reason to hang back. Instead, I scoot up quickly to make sure I’m visible and then get out of your way so you can safely change lanes. ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/44 "2013-05-02T02:37:44Z")
…oh by the way, no, I am not in your blind spot on purpose, and I don’t intend to stay there. It’s just where I am in the passing process. Why do people insist on staying in my blind spot at any speed no matter what I do to lose them? HATE that.:mad: ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/45 "2013-05-02T02:40:25Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > I am specifically talking about cases where I do not, _per se_, “speed up” OR slow down. I am talking about cases of crowded traffic, usually slower-moving, where I am following someone with an appropriate following distance but it is NOT safe for another car to be inserted into that space, and yet someone signals an intent to come over. I do not open the space up and they do not succeed in coming over. Yet I speculate that those people rant somewhere that I “sped up to cut them off.” With the greatest respect possible, do you have any idea how passively-aggressive dickish you sound here? There’s the law, and then there’s common courtesy. Even in crowded conditions, you can easily make space just by slowing down slightly. And if you need more space for safe driving - just hold off on accelerating back and you’ll have your safe travel distance in a few seconds. Meanwhile, other people may have a very hard time getting over without completely screwing up their lanes, as they’re forced to either brake more heavily to get behind you - solely because you wouldn’t let them in. I occasionally drive in Atlanta traffic, and I’m pretty familiar with people like you. You’re not the aggro drivers - but you sure aren’t helping things regardless. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/46 "2013-05-02T07:04:01Z")
What about the freeways in LA (e.g. the 101) where you have the damned ramp meters combined with merge lanes that are about 100 feet too short? Starting from a dead stop behind the ramp meter, there is simply no physically possible way to get up to traffic speed by the time the merge lane ends, which means either the person in the thru lane has to slow down for you or move over, or you have to drive on the shoulder. So your options are to force your way in or possibly scrape a jersey barrier or a bollard or whatever random construction junk is left over there. It’s a lovely design. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/47 "2013-05-02T10:24:30Z")
I like to see the waste truck stuck in front of me on the 134 change lanes so I can gun it! For a whole three seconds until Mr. Jackassery cuts in front of me and ruins the rush. What kills me out here in the west is when I’ve got 5-6 car lengths of space and someone want to get in my lane. I flash my lights, wave them on in, they hover and hover… and then the turn signal goes off. WTF??? I’m buying invitations next week so I can drive up next to their window, hand deliver the message and they can read their calligraphy-scribed invite reading, “You are cordially invited to share my highway lane. May your dick get supped upon as soon as you arrive at the office, right after you GET A CLUE!! Merge now, motherfucker! You’re cordially invited!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/48 "2013-05-02T12:09:02Z")
> [@tenacious\_j](#): > > …oh by the way, no, I am not in your blind spot on purpose, and I don’t intend to stay there. It’s just where I am in the passing process. Why do people insist on staying in my blind spot at any speed no matter what I do to lose them? HATE that.:mad: 2 reasons: – Lack of cruise control. They’re taking their clues from the other drivers. – My other theory is they’re trying to use you as a shield against radar operators. This theory (and the above one as well) also works for people who tailgate you in the left hand lane, only to speed match you once you move over. Those are the worst for me because it means you either have to slow way down in the right hand lane to get behind them (which means they’ll also slow down,) or speed up to get ahead of them and repeat the process, or don’t do anything and get blocked when the two of you approach the next car in the right hand lane. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/49 "2013-05-02T13:09:04Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > What about the freeways in LA (e.g. the 101) where you have the damned ramp meters combined with merge lanes that are about 100 feet too short? Starting from a dead stop behind the ramp meter, there is simply no physically possible way to get up to traffic speed by the time the merge lane ends, which means either the person in the thru lane has to slow down for you or move over, or you have to drive on the shoulder. So your options are to force your way in or possibly scrape a jersey barrier or a bollard or whatever random construction junk is left over there. It’s a lovely design. Here’s the other one too - when people literally don’t slow down or speed up to let you in from the merge lane. Dude, my lane is ending! I have no place to go. I have no problem dropping behind you, but you have to make me some room. And it’s even worse if as in your example there just isn’t time to get up to speed. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/50 "2013-05-02T13:25:50Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Here’s the other one too - when people literally don’t slow down or speed up to let you in from the merge lane. Dude, my lane is ending! I have no place to go. I have no problem dropping behind you, but you have to make me some room. > > And it’s even worse if as in your example there just isn’t time to get up to speed. And then the driver behind you is pitting you for not merging fast enough, while the driver already on the freeway is pitting you for trying to merge too fast. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/51 "2013-05-02T13:48:09Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > With the greatest respect possible, do you have any idea how passively-aggressive dickish you sound here? There’s the law, and then there’s common courtesy. Even in crowded conditions, you can easily make space just by slowing down slightly. And if you need more space for safe driving - just hold off on accelerating back and you’ll have your safe travel distance in a few seconds. Meanwhile, other people may have a very hard time getting over without completely screwing up their lanes, as they’re forced to either brake more heavily to get behind you - solely because you wouldn’t let them in. > > I occasionally drive in Atlanta traffic, and I’m pretty familiar with people like you. You’re not the aggro drivers - but you sure aren’t helping things regardless. With the greatest respect possible, I am not applying this to all cases, just to a few aggressive-aggressively dickish people trying to force their way in. I let in lots of people. I was only discussing worst-case scenarios. With even greater respect, I’m not going to generalize about what sort of person _you_ are from this single comment. ---
**Author:** ![AnthonyElite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/52 "2013-05-02T13:50:03Z")
> [@Deser2](#): > > Just to add to this - when entering onto a main road/parkway/etc with on and off ramps it is the responsibility of the merger to yield and merge properly. If a person merges and causes a disruption to the existing traffic flow (ie; those in the right lane need to break/slow down/stop) they are improperly merging. > > I will say that I do the box out manuever in a few situations: > > 1. If the car attempting to move into my lane is travelling slower than me, they’ll get to wait for me to get ahead of them then they can merge behind me. This situation along with improper mergings are what causes most of the traffic in the New York Tri State area. > > 2. The assholes that will ride up the entire exit lane and merge left just before the exit so they can now be 1/5 of a mile further up in the traffic. And conversely, the people that travel right up to the actual exit itself before merging right to exit to cut off the 25 cars waiting in the exit lane traffic to exit. These people will both have to smash into my car before I let them in. And since I don’t own a car and usually will be driving my girlfriends piece of shit 97 Taurus, the damage to my own car will matter a lot less than it would to that Mercedes that just couldn’t deal with the extra 5-10 minutes to enter/exit the roadway. > > I don’t feel like I’m unjustified in those two scenarios because its the other people who are driving improperly. I may look like a dick for doing it but me being a dick lets the road traffic flow unimpeded. If everyone drove this way, traffic in the area would be greatly reduced. > > I’m also a big proponent of left lane-right lane-left lane-right lane when two lanes merge into one. I want to fucking murder the assholes who think they shouldn’t have to take turns when merging. Simple fucking courtesy goes a long way in all aspects of life. THIS! You aren’t better than me, you have to wait just like the rest of us. Cars like that should be blown to bits. To me another facet is when people get real horny to get in front of you they are now in control of your speed. If you want to go faster you are stuck. I was there first and I don’t want to be stuck, so I chose not to by speeding up. If you want the lane, get in line behind me. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/53 "2013-05-02T14:55:13Z")
> [@Deser2](#): > > 1. The assholes that will ride up the entire exit lane and merge left just before the exit so they can now be 1/5 of a mile further up in the traffic. No, they’ve been trying to get into the left lane for the last 3 miles, but the second they turned their signal on the drivers in the left lane made damn sure there were no openings to merge into. > [@](#): > > I don’t feel like I’m unjustified in those two scenarios because its the other people who are driving improperly. I may look like a dick for doing it but me being a dick lets the road traffic flow unimpeded. If everyone drove this way, traffic in the area would be greatly reduced. Actually you’ve averted a momentary slight slowdown in the left lane by contributing to a huge slowdown in the left-1 lane, because now instead of being able to slide into a normal opening, they have to stop and wait for a huge opening. If everyone drove this way traffic would come to a near stop. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/54 "2013-05-02T15:23:43Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Here’s the other one too - when people literally don’t slow down or speed up to let you in from the merge lane. Dude, my lane is ending! I have no place to go. I have no problem dropping behind you, but you have to make me some room. In normal road configurations, it is the merger’s responsibiliy to match the road speed and line up where there is space. Through-drivers in the metged-into lane should neither speed up nor slow down if they can possibly help it, because changing speeds makes the merger’s calculations about where to fit in harder. > [@](#): > > And it’s even worse if as in your example there just isn’t time to get up to speed. I agree that faulty configurations, such as a too-short merge lane, require some adjustment. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/55 "2013-05-02T15:35:58Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > This is a big peeve for me, too - the only reason I can think of for these assholes doing this is that they don’t want to hear the ticking of the signal indicator throughout the whole red light. Boo freakin’ hoo. Where I am I usually see the opposite problem–people who put their signal on when it’s not necessary or helpful to other drivers in any way, like sitting in a turn-only lane. So I have to watch all of them blinking… blinking… blinking… for no reason. I _know_ you’re all turning left; there’s a barrier, or oncoming traffic, plus signage, that prevent you from not turning. (And if anyone _was_ trying to signal something else, like a leftward move out of what is mainly a left-turn lane, such as to U-turn, it is lost.) ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/56 "2013-05-02T16:05:51Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > In normal road configurations, it is the merger’s responsibiliy to match the road speed and line up where there is space. Through-drivers in the metged-into lane should neither speed up nor slow down if they can possibly help it, because changing speeds makes the merger’s calculations about where to fit in harder. State laws vary, but a quick Google found these: Illinois: > [@](#): > > at an intersection where traffic lanes are provided for merging traffic the driver of each vehicle on the converging roadways is required to adjust his vehicular speed and lateral position so as to avoid a collision with another vehicle. > **[625 ILCS 5/11-905](https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/062500050K11-905.htm)** Kansas: > [@](#): > > Drivers on the freeway should cooperate by creating safe gaps that make it easier for entering vehicles to merge. But remember, it’s you who must YIELD to approaching vehicles as you attempt to enter the freeway. [http://www.ksdot.org/burtrafficsaf/sns/presentation/freeway.asp](http://www.ksdot.org/burtrafficsaf/sns/presentation/freeway.asp) Virginia: > [@](#): > > Merge: Two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction are about to become one. Drivers in both lanes are responsible for merging safely. > > Lane Reduction: The right lane ends soon. Drivers in the right lane must merge left when space opens up. Drivers in the left lane should allow other vehicles to merge smoothly. [http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/dmv39.pdf](http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/dmv39.pdf) (PDF) ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/57 "2013-05-02T16:11:00Z")
It seems that 90% of the time when I slow down to allow someone to merge into my lane from the ramp, the other person slows down, too, as though angling to get behind me. As can be imagined, this turns into a dangerous clusterfuck. So, I usually accelerate and give the other person a good opening to merge into. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/58 "2013-05-02T18:04:25Z")
We’ve been noticing a weird thing around here lately; where people get incensed when you don’t actually slow down and give them a written invitation for them to get in front of you, when normal merging procedures would have you just continuing on and them merging easily behind you. I don’t really know where people are getting the idea that you’re supposed to slow down and let someone merge in front of you when they can easily merge behind you. That isn’t how I was taught to merge some decades ago. The other thing people do here that drives me out of my mind is not use the on-ramp properly; it’s there for you to get up to speed, not dawdle along and pick your nose just before you try to get into highway-speed traffic. When I’m Supreme Leader, not only will everyone be required to become excellent drivers before they’re allowed a license, but there will be a whole section on learning to merge. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108/59 "2013-05-02T18:27:50Z")
This is why in Minneapolis people use their turn signals AS they change lanes. This gives the person behind you in the other lane no time to hit the accelerator. Not all places are as bad as Minneapolis. When I visited a friend (back in the 90’s) in Los Angeles I was amazed at how friendly people were…if you needed to change lanes you signaled and people made room. My friend said that was because driving was so hellish in L.A. that people try not to make it worse 🙂 No…I am not kidding. I was there 3 weeks and that was my experience. Herein Minneapolis, if you signal a lane change before you start changing lanes it is likely someone will try to cut you off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-who-use-your-turn-signals-against-you/657108.md?page=2)