I commute about an hour home each night. To combat boredom, I have been counting cars that signal a turn. (No lane change signal counting.) I have consistently counted better than 50% using their turn signal. Usually 7-8 of 10 signal their intent to turn.
What is your experience?
My impression is that you’re correct, but it’s always the ones that don’t signal that pull the most boneheaded moves. So there’s confirmation bias that we only see the ones that don’t signal, because that’s odd, and confirmation bias (or something similar) because not only is that odd, they do stupid, stupid things that really catch our attention. And sometimes our fenders.
Frequent comment to self: Damn. Didn’t know that turn signals were an option on that model.
I find it very rare to see someone fail to signal other than when exiting a round-about (this is one of those things that not many people do, like coming to a complete stop at a stop sign.)
Surprisingly, I’ve noticed, and been told by, police officers and firefighters that many of them don’t use their turn signals.
My husband is a perfect example, however, he’s better since I’ve been “teaching” him, though. 
The same group tends to not wear seatbelts either.
I guess they think they are above the law, but I don’t think they realize the laws they could break are the laws of gravity and inertia. Very unforgiving laws.
I signal. It is a huge pet peeve for me, to the point that I will - rather uncharacteristically - flip the bird to someone who doesn’t.
I’m a religious turn-signaller. I put it on when I turn into a parking space. I put it on when I come to a dead end at a 1-way street and have no option but turn in 1 direction. Every lane change, every time.
My girlfriend is horrible at turn-signals and it drives me friggin’ nuts. Now our deal is that I have to work on not saying “God damn”, and she has to work on her turn signal usage. It got to the point that I was annoyed riding in the car with her because she wouldn’t put her signal on.
I started this thread a while back with the same idea in mind, although my personal observation has counted far fewer than 7 of 10 signaling mentioned in the OP. However, I’m sure that BlueKangaroo’s observation is true in that the people who don’t signal and pull the stupid stunts are the ones that stand out in our minds.
Hopefully this isn’t too off-topic, but I’ve noticed a trend lately that really bugs me, and I don’t know whether it’s just caught my attention in the last year, or if this is happening more frequently.
I see a lot of people these days on four-lane streets (two lanes on each side) who will either be in the right lane or, even worse, parked against the sidewalk and then decide to make a U-turn from where they are, rather than getting over into the left lane first. I can’t even quite enunciate how dangerous a manuever that is, and, as with the failure to use a turn signal, it smacks of laziness.
Is it just me? :dubious:
We have some of the worst drivers in the world here and transplants notice it right away. Using turn signals is getting to be rare. I use them all the time, using them will never be detrimental. Although those who put personal convenience over safety will say that signaling a lane change will just cause someone to cut you off. Get over it.
I’ve noticed many drivers can’t signal because they’re on the phone. And it seems like the larger the vehicle the less the drivers feel like signaling pertains to them.
And I laugh at the folks who don’t use their signal to move into the turn only lane but then flip it on once they’re there. :rolleyes:
And speaking of cops, I see a lot of them not signaling lately. Pisses me off too when a couple of years ago my signals weren’t working and I was being careful to leave plenty of space between other cars before changing lanes. It was late at night and there were maybe three or four other cars on the highway and this cop still nailed me. THE GUY WHO ALWAYS USES HIS SIGNALS! Sheesh.
In New Mexico, it’s around 2 in 10 that signal lane changes BEFORE moving over. Maybe 5 in 10 if you include the ones that signal AS they cross the line…I guess this is to indicate that the lane change was not accidental.
Signaling while in the turn lane still matters, as oncoming traffic often can’t know your in a turn-only lane. There is a 4way stop near my house that is setup with a left turn lane in only one of the four directions (don’t get me started on why) People not signaling there often causes issues for the other directions.
from the OP:
huh?
Keep palm against wheel or thumb hooked around wheel, flick lever with extended fingers…works for me
Maybe it’s just me and my long fingers, but does signaling require more than one hand for most folks?
misattributed jimpatro to OP. Note to self: posts appear below typing space newest to oldest. :smack:
As a cyclist I am regularly pissed off and nearly killed by assholes who signal their turn just as they begin it. This usually happens when they are sitting at a red light. In the past, before I learned my lesson, I would approach from behind them, and say to myself “Good! They are not turning right, I can tell by the lack of turn signal. Therefore, it is safe for me to pull up on their right as I wait for the light to change.” At which point they would turn right, in front/on top of me, and at some point in the manouvre, put their signal on.
I have now learned to completely ignore turn signals and go by other signals, like the direction in which the eyes/head/front tires are pointing.
I think probably most drivers in this city signal their turns, but since it’s the ones who don’t who nearly kill me, they’re the ones I remember. And as they’ve so effectively taught me to ignore the signal or lack thereof, I really can’t say for sure who does and who doesn’t any more.