Thread: Pet Peeves (while driving)

"I move my finger one inch to use my turn signal. Why are these assholes so lazy they can't move their finger one fucking measly inch to drive more safely?" - from the movie Shoot 'Em Up

Sums it up nicely. Four-and-a-half years commuting in DC did not get to me anywhere near as much as four months in Baton Rouge has. No one has turn signals. It's gotten to the point where I am surprised when someone uses them properly. Let's see what the Louisiana Driver's Guide says:

Originally Posted by Driver's Guide

SIGNALING
If you do not signal your intention, other drivers will not be prepared for your move. You must
always give a signal to tell other drivers when you plan to turn, change lanes, slow down or stop.
You can use either mechanical signal lights or the left arm.
A right or left turn signal must be given continuously for not less than 100 feet before making the
turn. A greater distance is suggested when driving at faster speeds or in heavy traffic.

Okay, it's right there in Chapter Five. Not too different from:

DC

Signaling
You must use a turn signal, arm or hand signal, or both, continuously for at least
100 feet before turning. You should signal for a much greater distance and a
longer time interval when traveling at a high speed. This is particularly important
when changing lanes on all highways.

Virginia

Turn Signals
When you plan to make a turn or to enter
or exit a highway, first give the proper turn
signal, which is required by law. Develop a
good habit and use turn signals or hand
signals even if no other traffic is on the
road. Signal when making turns, changing
lanes, entering or exiting highways and
always let the other driver know what you
intend to do.
Signal three or four seconds before you
change direction so other drivers will have
time to react. If you plan to turn after
clearing an intersection, don’t signal until
you reach the intersection; otherwise,
drivers on the road ahead may pull out in
front of you. After you complete your
move, be sure the turn signal stops flashing.
Remember, always signal before
changing lanes.

If the speed limit is more than 35 MPH,
signal at least 100 feet before you reach
the turning point.
For speeds less than 35 MPH, signal at
least 50 feet in advance.

Kentucky

SIGNALING WHEN YOU CHANGE DIRECTIONS
For the benefit of other drivers, you should always signal when you
change directions. This gives them time to react safely to your changes.
You shall use your turn signals before you:
• Parallel Park.
• Make a turnabout (turnaround).
• Change lanes or pass another vehicle.
• Turn at an intersection.
• Enter or leave a freeway or interstate highway.
• Pull away from the curb.
• Pull over to the side of the road.
If you do not signal, other drivers will not know what you plan to do. They
may start to do something that will lead to a collision. Here are some
important rules about signaling direction changes:
• Signal every time you change direction, even when you do not see anyone
else around. The vehicle you do not see is the most dangerous.
Check your blind spots by looking over your shoulder.

In fact, I am willing to bet that every driver's manual in the United States has a similar section devoted solely to the use of turn signals.

Don't get me wrong, I am used to rude, aggressive, impatient, and even outright hostile drivers. Every day I would get on I-295 and I-495 in DC I was taking a risk. I-95 down to Richmond is even more dangerous, and I-395 was avoided at all costs. The volume of traffic up there breeds the type of drivers. Still, at least most of them have the common courtesy to signal and attempt to merge, resorting to cutting in only when other drivers force them to. The traffic down here, on the other hand, pales in comparison. Granted, there is congestion during rush hour, and the roads were not designed for the amount of traffic the Baton Rouge area has nowadays (locals tell me that it started getting this way after Katrina, when more and more people started moving here).

I don't know what it is that pisses me off so much about people not signaling. I can usually tell a driver's intentions by their driving technique; for example, most people drift towards a lane if they are planning to change lanes with or without a turn signal. Admittedly, it is safer driving around idiots that don't signal but allow ample space than it is driving around idiots that do signal and cut off other drivers. Perhaps even worse than the ones that do not signal when they switch lanes are the ones that fail to signal when they are turning. Are you slowing down for something in the road? Hard to tell down here, where there could be anything in the road from an animal to flowing water to a car in a ditch. Oh, nevermind, you are just making a left-hand turn, without the common courtesy of letting everyone else know. There have been a few times where I've almost rear-ended someone doing this. Four or five car lengths between us. Doing right at the speed limit. Okay, brake lights, let me take my foot off the gas and cover the brake. Okay, they're slowing down more, time for some brake. Holy shit, they stopped in the middle of the road! Oh, wait, there's the turn signal. Which brings me to my next gripe. the people that signal too late. If you are stopped in the middle of the road, see the big truck behind you, and then decide to engage your turn signal, it is too late. The big truck is either already stopped or will soon be rather intimate with your rear bumper. Oncoming traffic may suddenly realize that you are turning instead of being stopped for no reason, and you may even reap the benefit of a polite driver yielding to allow you to turn. Use that signal much sooner, though, and you may not have to stop at all. It is much easier for oncoming and following traffic to adjust their speed to allow you to turn than it is for everyone to come to an awkward halt for the sake of one car with a broken signal or driver. Similarly, if you are changing lanes, and signal when you are halfway in the lane, don't bother. You're already there.

Something related that is not quite so irksome, but still bothers me, is burnt-out lights. Let's talk about turn signals again, since they are the most obvious when they burn out. When blink..........blink..........blink..........blink becomes blink..blink..blink, you might want to do a quick visual check. You hear the click of the relay, see the light on the dash, and know your signal is blinking much faster than it was yesterday. Auto Electric for Dummies. Burnt-out bulb, less resistance, faster blink. So, there is no scapegoat for driving with burnt-out signals, but how hard is it to walk around your car every so often and check the lights. I had a headlight burn out a few months ago. Couldn't see like I could the night before, so I went out of my way to hit up Advance Auto. It could have waited until the next day as I was almost home, but putting it on the back burner would likely find me driving the next night with one headlight yet again.


There you have it, my number one peeve when it comes to other drivers down here. What's yours?