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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Only when I remember to fill up on my blinker fluid.
I don’t drive a BMW, so yes.
It has sadly extended to all the more expensive German cars, somehow they think they are better then everyone else
Nah, the blinkers of all German cars are just intentionally broken.
Nah, the kind of people buying those cars are just all assholes
I would think the people buying these expensive cars wouldn’t want to crash them. I guess they do though.
I have ridden BMW motorcycles for many years and made a point of using blinkers when needed. Cars have crumple zones; on a motorcycle, you are the crumple zone.
But yes, BMW cars are often driven by self-centered assholes.
…how else would people around me know what direction I’m about to move 2+ tons of metal???
I can’t stand how often I see people changing lanes or taking turns with ZERO blinker usage. Selfish short sighted fucks.
I use it everywhere because it signals intent. You never know when someone might pull up fast or walk into your blind spot. This is the only indicator they have that you’re about to pull into traffic, or change lanes.
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).
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.
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.
I’m with you all the way to the final sentence.
Your indicator usage is linked to your mirror usage. If you use indicators in all situations regardless, what you might actually forget to do is look in your mirrors properly, which is more important.
Your first two mentions are fine examples. In the UK at least, using indicators when entering your driveway or a parking space isn’t necessary if no other cars or pedestrians are approaching your car.
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.
Always use the blinker. Remember it’s not a request, it’s a warning. The only time you might not is if you have to make a sudden emergency swerve and don’t have time and need both hands on the wheel. In this case, survival should be immediately followed by an apology wave.
When changing lanes in fast traffic, using the blinker will usually cause the car next to you to speed up. This is a feature, not a bug, as it opens a space behind them into which you can stick the nose of your car, ahead of the guy following them.
Adding in: if you routinely drive with your lights on, you will find that little extra visibility makes people slightly less likely to cut you off or more likely to let you in. Sometimes they don’t mean to be assholes, they’re just distracted, and being more visible helps. If you consider that “dingdingding” a reminder to lock it, it will turn off the lights and be safe.
it’s not a request, it’s a warning.
This way of thinking comes across as a devil-may-care attitude, and a threat, even, whenever I see it. “Warning, I’ll do what I want. Stay out of my way!”
A turn signal doesn’t give someone permission to make an unsafe maneuver because they “warned” others. Your actions on the road should never be dangerous. Rather it’s an indication to others of your intentions, so that other people can act accordingly. Maybe it lets someone turn onto a road from an intersection ahead of you because you’re going to turn in. Maybe someone in the lane next to you will leave you space in front or behind them. Maybe the driver behind you will slow down instead of trying to pass, because they know you’re about to leave the lane. It does not give you undue permission to change lanes right in front of somebody who will have to brake to avoid a collision.
It’s not the first time I’ve seen “warning” used so I wonder if this is part of driver’s Ed somewhere, but it has always seemed like a dangerous way of approaching turn signals.
You’re right of course. You should drive defensively at all times, and with courtesy, remembering the humans around you. But it’s also dangerous and confusing to others if you don’t take the right of way when it’s yours. Or if you signal a move and then don’t do it. As with my example of lane changing, you can anticipate another driver not making it easy and use that to find your spot. You shouldn’t try to zoom ahead and cut them off, and you shouldn’t even be starting to signal if there’s not room. But soon after you start blinking, your car should at least indicate what you’re doing by changing position within your own lane, and then you should finish the move as soon as it’s safe.
You should also realize that the other person’s signals need to be treated as a warning. Even if the car and its driver look small and easily intimidated, you should allow them the space to make their move. Too many drivers don’t.
I’m going to add, if you see someone do something incredibly stupid, assume their GPS just gave them an impossible direction. Or their kid is kidnapped and they are hurrying to the ransom drop. Or whatever it takes for you to let go of your frustration and just add it into the day’s tally of crazy driving rather than getting angry.
I most likely agree with you, except I think we do this a little differently:
you shouldn’t even be starting to signal if there’s not room.
I disagree with this because I think it’s better to signal your intention to change lanes as soon as it’s practical to let others know. For example, if there is heavy traffic and I need to get over, I’ll put on my blinker and wait for my safe chance to merge. That way the person behind me knows why I’m slowing down, and the cars to my right can either speed up or fall back, if they notice at all. I may have to wait until it’s safe to change lanes, but I’m being courteous to those around me by signaling my intention.
The only time I wait is if there is a single car passing me: I’ll wait until they pass before putting on my signal, since I don’t have to wait long, and that car might misinterpret my signal as a warning :p and slow down. If it’s multiple cars passing, I’ll put on my signal so people can predict my actions: that I’ll change lanes at my first safe opportunity.
Indicators?
Yes, only pillocks don’t use their indicators. They’re an essential method of communication between vehicles and for pedestrians, and an essential safety feature.
I cannot stress this enough, people who don’t use their indicators are massive twats and shouldn’t be on the road.
They’re a danger to themselves and everybody around them.
I read this in a posh British accent.
I use my blinker even when turning into my own driveway and the reason is simple:
The signal isn’t for me. It’s for others to know my intentions.
One major thing that makes driving with others safer is predictability and your blinkers can help with that.
I do this just for the habit of turning. I don’t need to waste brain power trying to determine if I need to actually use it or not. It’s just associated with turning.
I remember a driving instructor asking me who I was indicating for when we were practising in a suburb. I couldn’t see any other cars but figured that if one appeared they’d want to know my intentions and it would mean it was one less thing to think about.
I fired that instructor.
Audi drivers huh? For most they’re non-optional when about to manoeuvre, except in the turn-only lane situation you mentioned where you don’t need it (it’d actually potentially signal a lane change).
BMWs in the U.K.
I’d group Audi drivers and BMW drivers into the same class of obvious driving.
Just yesterday I saw an Audi swoop from the slow lane straight into the fast last between two tightly-spaced cars in the middle lane. Without indicating.
From a technical point of view, I’ll admit it was an impressively small gap to sneak through, but it probably gave the second car in the middle lane a heart attack.
Yeah, I don’t disagree with that in hindsight. The absolute most dangerous piece of driving I’ve seen was from a Transit though…I was in the right hand lane slowly overtaking a car in the left hand lane, and to be fair I’ll admit I was too close to the car in front…. a Transit comes flying up my inside, and somehow fit in front of me.
100%
It’s just good practice. If you don’t make it a habit you will forget.
So grateful to everyone in the comments who use them. Thank you all! Where i live most don’t use them. I don’t get why; aren’t these people annoyed when others don’t use the blinker?
I get really annoyed when people don’t use them. My psychic powers are terrible and I like to not have people suddenly change lanes in front of me or cut me off on the road.
Blinkers are not just for special occasions or discos!
Yes. I always use them. I hate when people don’t. Oh, so you needed to come over? I would have slowed down if you told me. What are you slowing down for? Move- Oh. You’re turning. Wish I would have known that. Dang, I need to pull out and make this turn. Let me wait until that car passes… Oh, they’re turning.
It’s such a small thing that makes driving safer for you and the people around you.
Currently I’m staying in Thailand the road culture here is fascinating. There are very few actual rules that people follow but its all about speed and projecting what are you doing so signals and everything is a big part of road culture here despite many drivers don’t really knowing road theory.
For example if you drive up a curvy mountain road you horn on the turn slowly to project that you’re driving there.
It works.
That’s so incredibly thoughtful. If you honk at the wrong person in the US, you might end up on a Tshirt.
Where I’m going is none of your business.
In all seriousness I’m pretty sure I always do. Even when no one is around. Just good habits.
