When driving, why don't you use your turn signal?

Question

In traffic lately, I've noticed that many people don't use turn signals when changing lanes or actually turning. So non-signal users: What are your reasons for not using them?

Are you morally opposed?

Do you assume all other people are psychic?

You don't know where they're located and are too embarrassed to ask?

Are you too busy texting and don't have an extra hand?

You just enjoy wreaking havoc during rush hour?

Can someone please explain this phenomenon to me?

Thank you.

Answer 1

What, you expect me to hang up my phone and put down my beer can just because I'm making a turn? Sheesh! Next you'll be telling me to wear a seatbelt and stop my kids from jumping all over the seats while I'm doing 80mph in the inside lane with the inside of the car so full of cigarette smoke it looks like Victorian-era London. Go pick on someone else. I mean, it's not like Britney even had a licence or anything.

Answer 2

Some people are lousy drivers, all about themselves. I cannot stand the people that cannot stop at an intersection. It doesn't matter if they have a stop sign or a red light. I saw a school bus van do this this morning. Do you know what really irked me? The passenger gave me a look this morning as they passed me on the highway. I guess they didn't see the car in front of me. It's why I wasn't going faster. That tends to happen when there are other vehicles around. Stupid people. The only time I don't use my turn signals is when there is no one else around. Otherwise, I use them. I'm not a chatter on my cell phone. I don't need my cell phone to feel important or whatever. Most things can wait. I know all too well about those people. This would get your goat. This total insane driver pulled out of his driveway and immediately turned into the next driveway. I had no idea what he was doing until he did it. I slammed on the brakes and got real scared, thinking I was going to rearend him. He sped down his driveway, narrow with a steep hill. He sped up the next driveway, narrow with a steep hill. Some people are all about themselves and have 0 regard for others. The school bus van, there was a state police cruiser one car ahead of me. He was on the highway. He could have pulled this van over. She was speeding and tailgating, changing lanes. She was a young kid, twenty something. The way she drives is how a lot of people drive around here. Don't care. I don't know how to deal with it. Meditation. Yoga. It is scarey driving today. I'm glad that I don't have kids. edit: We all make mistakes when driving now and then. But it does seem that people these days are just lazy, don't care, and do whatever the heck they want to do. It's when it affects other drives (me) that it really bothers me. You can file a complaint but you have to be willing to go to court to testify against them. I also get annoyed with people in stores that think they own the aisles. They hog the entire aisle and act surprised when you want to get around them if they hear you. Some people are such jerks.

Answer 3

Well, where I live in New Jersey, where there are a lot of people, everyone uses their turn signals. I have no specific memory of ever seeing a person not use one. Though I have heard from my sister who moved to California that they generally don't use turn signals as much there. I'd have no good explanation unless it was actually a place that was so aggressive that putting on your turn signal would make it more difficult to get in the lane.

Though I usually start turning and put the turn signal on simultaneously, as I change lanes when I can already see I have it clear. Of course, my reaction time and driving competence are better than that of most. The only time I wont use a turn signal is if I'm in a situation where it serves no purpose.

Answer 4

If I may, I'd like to add to your selections:
* I have no arms and it's tough to bend my head down far enough to reach the turn signal.
* I gotta burger in one hand and a soda inda udder and I'm steerin' wid my friggin knees. Cut me some slack.
* I gestured with the steering wheel - surely you noticed I hugged the edge of my lane first
* Hitting the turn signal callouses my pinky
* You don't really mind do you?
* I have to look ahead when I drive, why don't you?
* I have a turn signal?
* It's too hard/It's too much trouble
* I forgot
* ...and you are?

Answer 5

If people had a remote (like with T.V. etc..) they would use their turn signals. Well men anyway, I know here where I live not much traffic around and the two lawmen around are usually at one of the towns $ stores flirting. So why bother? maybe they were in the big city for supplies and your the lucky one that got behind them. LOL

By the way BUGS me too!

Answer 6

omg i completely agree with you!! turn signals are there for a reason people! how am i supposed to know that when you stop in the middle of the road you planned on turning? tonight on my way home i almost re-ended a person who was oncoming traffic. their light turned yellow so i started to turn. the guy had no blinker on and just turned even though i was already turning, of course into the left lane instead of turning into his lane on the right. he then proceeded to stop in the middle of the road as he cuts me off. wtf people? a simple flick of the wrist to turn on his blinker would've avoided that completely.

just another example of how being too lazy to use your blinker could cause an accident and give you more problems.

Answer 7

Because people are STUPID. I have actually been in a car where my friend was suddenly cut off by some jerk who gave NO warning signal, then STOPPED. We slammed on the brakes so hard to avoid him that we skidded, got within inches of hitting that a$$hole, and the car behind us ended up getting rear-ended by the car behind HIM. How crappy is that? Everyone, please please please use your blinkers. It's not like it's not cool to use them. They are there for a reason, are not hard to use, and seriously save a lot of other people huge stress.

Answer 8

I have a theory that these people are only thinking about extending the life of the little light bulbs that light up the signals. The bulbs burn out and sit in landfill sites.
That's my theory...they don't want to contribute to the ruination of the earth.

Answer 9

These are the same people who do not wipe down the treadmills at the gym after getting all their nasty sweat all over the machines.

Don't worry. I am making a list...

Answer 10

What explanation do you want to know? You mentioned the varied reasons right on the nail, so you more or less know why. In addition though, sometimes others do use their signals but it so happens the light is busted. That could happen to anyone, so it's best to include checking out the bulbs in your maintenance schedules.