 Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,477
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OP
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I've been noticing more and more that people here in LIT are becoming less prone to use their turn signals to either signal a lane change or even a turn. The other night, I consciously kept track of this, and I once noticed three cars in a line of four waiting to make a left turn in a busy intersection didn't have their signals on. The other day, I was even behind one of these yo-yo's on the way to lunch. She had stopped in the street, and although I had to presume she was making a left turn, she didn't have her signals on. Sooooooo, I stood on the horn and put up with her dirty looks in the mirror until she turned left. My question is: is this just a recent phenom here in Little Rock or is this thing going on EVERYwhere. Also, why aren't the police enforcing this type of behavior and issuing citations for not signalling? Be careful out there!  They're all out to get us! 
JB
"Long live the Duck Force!"
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877 |
What gets me is when the COPS don't even signal!! I read a recent thing about the states with the worst drivers (RI was worst, NY was only 3 up from the bottom, top 3 were Oregon, Washington and VERMONT). It was based on people taking a written test like you would to get your licence, and stats were compiled from there like 30% of people don't know pedestrians have the right of way! Crazy. So when I see people going slow in the left lane on the LIE I assume they honestly don't even know that you're supposed to keep right. They think they can go wherever. Then they get mad at tail-geters who just want to get around!
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
I've been noticing more and more that people here in LIT are becoming less prone to use their turn signals to either signal a lane change or even a turn.
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is this just a recent phenom here in Little Rock or is this thing going on EVERYwhere.
Just means that Little Rock is catching up to the rest of the world. I have been in some places (Salt Lake City in peticular) that you would almost swear that it was ilegal to use yoru turn signals.
Soren
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 140
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 140 |
Alabama is the worst I have been in. I told my brother-in-law I was going into the fuse business. He asked why, I told him everyone's fuses must be blown because there were no turn signals. (Actually, I did see signals used on out-of-state cars.)
My sister rode with me on the bike, then came home and told Rick, "You wouldn't believe him. He turns on his signal all the time, even when he doesn't need to." I told them it was to wake up the idiots, maybe they would see those bright pumpkins.
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Gary
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 828
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 828 |
When I moved down here 2 years ago it actually made me appreciate DC metro area drivers (if you can believe it). They may be more aggressive in DC but at least people have more of an idea of where they're going or where they need to be. I have seen more stupid drivers since I moved to SC than I have seen anywhere and I have driven in a lot of states from my last job where I was in a different city almost weekly. I'm all for more comprehensive driver's tests where you actually have to learn skills and exhibit them in order to get your license.
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,954
Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Posts: 3,954 |
TURN SIGNALS!!! You mean those orange reflector-thingies on my front and back?!! I always wondered what those were! You mean they have light bulbs inside of them, and you're actually supposed to turn them ON!! Honestly, anymore, I don't trust turn signals because: A) no one uses them at all B) when I do see one on, it is almost as likely to be because someone bumped the turnsignal stalk whilst dialing their cell phone (and not realizing it), or they used them and forgot to turn them off 4 turns ago, so they really aren't planning on turning so I don't want to get creamed!! And I agree with EnglishYankee, I used to CURSE out loud about how bad Connecticut drivers were and if they realized that turn signals were included as STANDARD, NOT OPTIONAL, on their cars. Then I moved to SC...
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,457
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
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I love it when some boob has his/her turn signal on for a while and then turns the other way!
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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like some boob who doesn't have a signal minder and their brain doesn't re-minder them to turn off the signals on our bikes once the turn is executed?  shmert
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,664
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,664 |
Turn Signals? Indicators? Everyone's too busy on their dang cell phones and laptops and GPS systems to consider actually OPERATING A VEHICLE!!! God knows how mad I get.
Ride Safe,
Dennis
Triumph, it's how I live and what I ride.
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,254
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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be grateful you guys are not driving here in multicultural vancouver . i could not begin to tell you what a bloody nightmare it is here. no signaling would be the least of your worries.we have a few ethnic majorities who have some very different ideas about driving.
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 386
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 386 |
I am originally from Western New York Been in Fla. over 35 years and I think people here forgot what Turn signals are for. Alot of kids don't even know what they are.I was in a Dennys and a young Waitress didn't know cars had a lever, thought they came on as soon as you started to turn. I think they need new books in Drivers ed.
I was so much older then, I am younger than that now (Wrote By Dylan Sung by the BYRDS,)
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877 |
Now THAT is funny. There are plenty of people who use them here on LI, but it's like you said, they come on when they START the turn... The purpose is to signal your intentions! Not what you're already doing... at that point, what is the point?!?
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
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i guess it's sorta like the, "just in case you were wonderingwhattheheckle&jeckyliwasgoingtodo...letyaknowatthelastpossiblemoment" kind of thing
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821 |
It's the same here. One other little thing though, here in Vegas people think that if you signal to change lanes, it means they have to speed up and stop you from doing it! So, when changing lanes, I signal as I'm changing, not before. 
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 977 Likes: 1
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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Mert,Are you calling me a boob?? So I forgot once, twice, seventeen times. I was gonna turn again eventually...  . I think here in Ga, they must be really expensive options on a car and thats why cagers don't use them. Or they use up alot of gas when they are turned on.... ride safe.... Gordon
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,438
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Posts: 1,438 |
Quote:
like some boob who doesn't have a signal minder and their brain doesn't re-minder them to turn off the signals on our bikes once the turn is executed?
Whacha' tryin' to say Shari? Hmmmm? Honest I just moved 'em before I got to GA. I wasn't used to 'em yet. The bus had a flat tire, I ran outta' gas... (Oops, gettin' carried away there) Wink, wink, wink, wink, wink, wink, wink, wink, wink, wink, wink, wink, wink, wink, wink...
Honest, I swear I'm better now. 'specially since I gotta' drive amongst all these idiots in city/suburban Chicago style traffic. Freaking morons!.
Ride On!
Airguy
--------------------
You gotta' be smart to be lazy(and get a job done)
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 95
Member
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Member
Joined: Jan 2005
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Way back when I was in the Navy, I was stationed on the Gulf coast for a couple of years. I became convinced that turn signals were optional equipment in Mississippi.
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,590
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,590 |
Quote:
I became convinced that turn signals were optional equipment in Mississippi.
Exactly. I mentioned to our local Judge a few weeks ago I was going to buy a billboard at the Idaho state line and post a "Welcome to Montana, turn signals are optional" billboard. Many operators just kinda' careen around the streets like they're practicing for the County Fair Demo derby  .
JH
"It's not what I say that's important, it's what you hear" Red Auerbach
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
Whacha' tryin' to say Shari? Hmmmm? Honest I just moved 'em before I got to GA
Quote:
Mert,Are you calling me a boob?? So I forgot once, twice, seventeen times. I was gonna turn again eventually...
Errrr...uh...i do believe that Matt started the whole 'boob' thing. Dang, it's always the quiet ones who stir things up around here.
A few weeks ago I was riding through new haven. in the left lane, prepared to make a left turn--singal on(mind you) a guy pulls up next to me on a Vwhatever and says,
"uh your left signal is on."
"yeah, i'm turning left at the light."
"oh, but your left signal is on."
"it is? gee i wonder if i am going to turn left at the light?"
with that the light changes, i turn left, and leave mr. VWhatever behind to contemplate his next maneuver.
oh...and...my signal minder turned off the indicator.
strangely enough, though, i still thumb that signal button like a reflex reaction.
mert
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 120
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 120 |
i agree with you 100%. indy drivers are just as bad. what drives me even crazier are the drivers that NEVER turn their head lights on! police included!
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,968 Likes: 1
Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Love my Signalminder 
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Quote:
Alot of kids don't even know what they are.I was in a Dennys and a young Waitress didn't know cars had a lever, thought they came on as soon as you started to turn. I think they need new books in Drivers ed.
Yup, I am in this area also, and blinkers are just not being used. Very irritating....I guess the lesson here is to be careful regardless of signals. Don't count on knowing the other drivers' intention...
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2006
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Around here many times they're not used to indicate "intention" so much as to let you know what they "did"
THE VOICE OF REASON
per: Stewart
AF&AM/Shriner/Scoutmaster
130/45 TBS 2shim SS Uni 18/42
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
I think you guys are forgeting about those cagers who actually DO use their turn indicators BUT don't make that ALL IMPORTANT look over their shoulder to check their freakin' BLIND SPOT before they come a creepin' into your lane. Now, I'm no statistician, but there can't be THAT high of a percentage of drivers out there with chronic NECK PROBLEMS....can there???!!! 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Turn signals - a thing of the past?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Old Hand
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Old Hand
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Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
Here in the peoples demokratic republik of Kalifornia, proper use of a turn signal is considered a challenge to block you from what you want to do. If signals are used at all, the trick is to use them as a diversion. So, if you are going to change lanes to the left, you turn on your right signal and, when everyone is crowding up on the right, you will have plenty of room on the left. Another trick is to turn on the left blinkers some 10 miles in advance. Then, they assume you just forgot to turn them off and relax so that you can sometimes sneak over before they realise you really did intend to shift to the left.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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