I use it literally everywhere out of habit, I got made fun of for using it when pulling out of my moms driveway once lol
The only reason I won’t possibly use it is when I’m in a turn only lane at a red light and don’t want to listen to it for 3 minutes
Most people I find only use it 75% of the time at best.
I’m 2.5 years into driving and am curious if it’s just what semi-new drivers do or if I’m the odd one out.
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Usually I use them, but not if I’m the only car on the road, and not in my city’s roundabouts.
The roundabouts are abnormally small, so using a blinker to exit is confusing for everyone because I’d be signalling to turn for the exit I need, but the roundabout is so small that the wrong cars will think I’m exiting before them and pull out in front of me. When really, I’d be signalling for the exit immediately after them while trying to provide time for that exit’s car to see my intentions.
Also people in this city don’t understand roundabouts. I see people enter the wrong way semi-regularly, stop in the middle of the roundabout to let people in, use a left blinker to enter a roundabout that only goes around to the left, and treat every empty roundabout as a 4-way stop. Its pretty frustrating sometimes.
Sorry, we were talking about blinkers and, in some roundabout way, I got off topic lol
Yes, even in clearly marked turn only lanes. I wish more people were ticketed for not using them.
I don’t drive anymore because I live someplace with transit and sidewalks, but when I drove I always signalled turns. Low effort, high safety.
Yes, I use it. Over a million miles and nearly 40 years driving.
Fuck the haters, use that thing.
That’s a lot of driving
use. your. blinkers.
Unless you get a BMW. Then you buy the right not to use your blinkers.
I thought they made that a subscription now.
If you turn your wheel, use your blinker.
Ideally a good 10-20 seconds beforehand.
I use it as soon as it’s clear what it means. If there are multiple turns, that might be four seconds so that they don’t expect me to turn early. I’ll typically hit it in the middle of the intersection of the first turn.
If there’s no earlier option to turn, I’ll absolutely leave it on for 10-15 seconds.
Regarding switching lanes I prefer when other driver enable their signal a few seconds just before they do the maneuver. If they enable their blinker too early I don’t know when exactly they will switch lanes which is confusing IMHO.
We say we know people aren’t from our town when they use their indicators going round the market square and the corner after/before it.
No. Not when the road curves. Only when changing lanes, turning at an intersection, or pulling out from being parked.
If you habitually use it on simple or clear turns or empty roads you will habitually use it when there are people around. That’s a good habit to have.
Lights on always and signal whenever you’re deviating from your current lane.
Been driving for a few decades at this point. I use my turn signals for nearly all turns, and any moving merges. The more information I can give to other drivers, the more likely they are to act rationally… which decreases the chances of miscommunications and accidents.
I don’t always signal while in a turn only lane, as being in that lane should already denote my intentions, and while merging into heavy (stopped, bumper to bumper) traffic…
Turn signals are not optional.
I use it all the time and I judge people who don’t.
Yes, of course.
Yes. You’re supposed to use it anytime you’re about to turn or change lanes, including if you’re sitting in a turn lane at a red light or backing out of a drive way of parking spot.
Not doing so makes you a road hazard.
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That’s not true. You need to signal when changing lanes. Going back after overtaking constitutes changing lanes.
[Artikel 55 Reglement verkeersregels en verkeerstekens 1990] (https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0004825&hoofdstuk=II¶graaf=24&artikel=55&z=2024-07-01&g=2024-07-01)
Always. Driveway? Blinkers. Parking? Blinkers. On an empty road with no one in sight? Believe it or not, blinkers.
It’s a muscle memory. When you get used to using them, you just do. If you have exceptions, you might forget it when it matters.
100% the same. I never even think about it. It’s just baked into my brain.
The only time I don’t is leaving my driveway. We’re corner house on a quiet cul-de-sac so it just doesn’t occur to me.
People leaving roundabouts on the first exit who don’t indicate before entering are the ones that annoy me most. They will watch me waiting to enter or slow down to stop as they approach and literally not lift a finger to help.
Roundabout = indicator you donkey. There’s literally no legal way to use one without it (here anyway).
Oh god. I absolutely hate ppl who don’t signal off roundabouts. I drive a car but also a motorbike, I’ve learned not to trust at roundabouts due to too many near misses. Fucking pillocks all of em.
My mom tried to tell me that when you turn left through an American roundabout, you enter and leave with your left blinker blinking.
I was a child the last time I had to sit quietly on such a big disagreement with her lol. I guess I’m lucky.
I always signal out of roundabouts, but never on. Legally I’m supposed to signal in but that makes no sense to me because of course I’m going to be entering the roundabout, there is never another option.
Not being preachy…If you’re taking the first exit (turning right essentially if you drive on the right or turning left of you drive on the left) you should be indicating as you enter. It allows traffic from other lanes to enter the roundabout without stopping to figure out where you’re going.
Yes, I do it only if I’m taking the first exit.
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Obviously I don’t just use blinkers and go without looking. I would’ve thought that goes without saying
Why would somebody forget to check their mirrors more often if they use turn signals?
It doesn’t logically follow to me.
I’m not perfect, but my signals pretty religiously… and I’ve been driving for almost 30 years.
I’ll ride with my dad sometimes though… and in his old age he won’t always use his turn signals. Never has, actually. I always get onto him, and he gives me this shit-eating grin and says “it’s on a need-to-know basis.”
Anyone use when backing out of the driveway or parking spot?
No, but only because I rarely pull out of a driveway or parking spot into any sort of traffic. Parallel parked on a road, though, sure.
Using it 75% of the time is harder than using it all the time, because it means you’re consciously thinking about it each time instead of doing it instinctively.
I used to try to use them 100%, but there are so many situations where it’s completely unwarranted (in my specific driving circumstances). So I guess I default to using my indicators, but I try to use them the right way, i.e. before a lane change rather than after I’ve started to commit.
Also, I used to put on my indicator for a lane change nice and early, but dear god the way these cars warn about your blind spot being occupied, holy shit. Music turns down, loud beeping, it’s madness.
