Blinkage

[Gemini Cricket]

Driving question:

Do you use your blinkers to request that someone lets you in to the next lane or do you use it during your merge to tell that person you're coming watch out...?

Confusion today:

I'm driving in to work. There's a gap in front of me. The car next to me is hanging out in their lane and I'm thinking he is fine and well in that lane. When I drive past him, he honks at me. Apparently, he wanted in. But no blinker. When the gap opened again, the guy turned on the blinker as he got into my lane.

Just now. At lunch:

A car next to me needs in. He turns his blinker on, I slow a little to let him in. He enters my lane. Waves. All is well.

So is a blinker used as a request or just an alert to everyone that you're changing lanes - look out here I come?

I've seen it both ways.

[Morrigoon]

A blinker is not a request, it's an announcement.

[mousepod]

According to the California driver handbook,

Before changing lanes, signal, look in all your mirrors, and:

Check traffic behind and beside you.
Glance over your left or right shoulder to make sure the lane you want is clear.
Look for vehicles or motorcyclists in your blind spot.
Be sure there is enough room for your vehicle in the next lane.

No mention of signals. But if you consider changing lanes a turn, here's the law:
CVC 21703

Proper Use of a Turn Signal

22108. Any signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given continuously during the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning.

Which would be both a request and an alert, making this bumper sticker unnecessary:
http://www.mega.bz/images/db_shopstickers/ForgetWorldPeace_.jpg

[Moonliner]

What and give away my intentions? Blinkers are for suckers.

[Ghoulish Delight]

So, by what magic did that driver expect GC to know his intentions? While, considering the number of times I've had my otherwise open lane blocked by a driver who sees my signal, I understand not wanting to use one, if you make that decision you should not expect other drivers to let you in. I'm pretty sure I didn't have to take an ESP exam to get my license.

[Snowflake]

I use blinkers unless there is nobody else on the road, but, force of habit, I typically use them regardless. It's rude of people to speed up to block you if you are signaling and faulting you for not being able to read their minds. It's always all about me, ya know?

[Capt Jack]

for me its second nature. I signal in parking lots even if Im the only one there and even in the slow down lane at the drags. just force of habit. the truck I drive doesnt leave a lot of room for error, so you sort of have to be extra careful.

and yes, I use it constantly for "yo...mind if I take cuts?"
it results in either the person waving me in or slowing enough to let me know its cool or they speed past, hopefully making a gap large enough for me to jet into.

the "look out here I come" guys are the ones constantly getting hit and blaming someone else for not being a mind reader

IMHO

[Gemini Cricket]

If there's no one around, I usually don't use my blinkers. But I guess you're supposed to.
Unless you're in Boston and then everything's up in the air.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Before changing lanes, signal, look in all your mirrors, and:

* Check traffic behind and beside you.
* Glance over your left or right shoulder to make sure the lane you want is clear.
* Look for vehicles or motorcyclists in your blind spot.
* Be sure there is enough room for your vehicle in the next lane.

No mention of signals, mousepod?

[Prudence]

Up here, you don't dare signal before the car is actually in motion. You signal as you move, and only in an attempt to satisfy legal requirements. If you signal so as to indication an intention, everyone will bunch up so as to prevent you from changing lanes. After all, if you wanted to be in a different lane, you should have started out in that lane.

[Kevy Baby]

No mention of signals, mousepod?Touché

[Ghoulish Delight]

Up here, you don't dare signal before the car is actually in motion. You signal as you move, and only in an attempt to satisfy legal requirements. If you signal so as to indication an intention, everyone will bunch up so as to prevent you from changing lanes. After all, if you wanted to be in a different lane, you should have started out in that lane.I certainly understand that mentality since, as someone who does signal religiously, I do get cut off constantly as a result (especially in OC where it's worse than LA). But if you take the non-signaling tack, you're absolutely loony if you get indignant at someone who doesn't make room for you when they can't possibly know what you're doing.

[NirvanaMan]

Turn indicators should be used to indicate intention whether changing lanes or making a proper turn.

One of the reasons we in America have so many accidents with such low speed limits is our inability to properly adhere to the rules of the road. Of course, our licensing requirements are rather lax, but still, in Europe using a signal and utilizing proper lanes (left for passing, right for slow) contributes their on the road safety.

In short, yes you should use signals. However, since many consider the signal as an indication to close the gap to prevent said lane change, combative measures are sometimes required.

Prepare the cannons.

[JWBear]

While I always use my signal when making a turn, I rarely do when changing lanes - for the reasons already mentioned by others. I'm tired of people speeding-up to keep me from getting in front of them.

[katiesue]

I use the signal to change lanes. I go with the theory that you can't bitch about people doing something - like not signaling - if you don't do so yourself. This then gives me the right to be annoyed when somoene cuts in front of me without signaling.

[Kevy Baby]

Turning: always use signal (even in parking lots and on streets when I know for a fact that no one is around). Its an ingrained habit.

Changing Lanes: I go back and forth. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. However, if I have been paying close enough attention to know that I had plenty of room and used my signal; if that person speeds up to close me off, I find a way in somehow.

I ALWAYS leave a lot of room and work very hard to accommodate 18 wheelers (blinking my lights so that they know they have room).

On Thanksgiving morning, as I was driving out the 210 to my Mom's house, I had my cruise control set (I won't say at what speed). I was in the #1 lane (the "fast" lane*) quickly approaching a vehicle. So, because I had a lot of room, I changed lanes to the right and was passing him. Then this nimrod makes a point of speeding up to prevent me from going in front of him (we were coming up on a car in the #2 lane). Had he not sped up, I would have easily (and safely) passed in front of him, each of us maintaining the speeds we were previously going and each of us merrily going on our respective ways without another thought.

But, he decided to be an ass, so I was forced to ruin his day.

[mousepod]

Ooh, I so want to edit my post.

That's what I get for posting from work...

[Alex]

Not that anybody really follows the rules but you shouldn't be passing on the right.

If you ever drive in Germany make sure you keep that in mind (of course, since everybody there knows the rules they will move to the right if someone faster is coming up on them).

[Ghoulish Delight]

Not that anybody really follows the rules but you shouldn't be passing on the right.
Myth.

The driver of a motor vehicle may overtake and pass to the right of another vehicle only under the following conditions:
(a) When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn.
(b) Upon a highway within a business or residence district with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or more lines of moving vehicles in the direction of travel.
(c) Upon any highway outside of a business or residence district with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width and clearly marked for two or more lines of moving traffic in the direction of travel.
(d) Upon a one-way street.
(e) Upon a highway divided into two roadways where traffic is restricted to one direction upon each of such roadways.
The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of a slow moving vehicle from the duty to drive as closely as practicable to the right hand edge of the roadway.

From that, about the only situations you AREN'T allowed to pass a vehicle on the right are when you're on a 1-lane per direction road and when it's physically impossible.

[Kevy Baby]

...and when it's physically impossible.It's never physically impossible. Practically impossible maybe, but not completely :evil:

[lindyhop]

I always signal my turns even when no one is around. But when I'm changing lanes I always expect that signalling my intentions will make the driver in the next lane get in my way. So I don't usually signal until there's plenty of room to change lanes and I'm already moving. At that point I feel like I'm letting the other drivers know I'm not just weaving around because I fell asleep.

I'm in control, people. Really!

[BarTopDancer]

If everyone used their signals when turning, merged at the proper merge points, allowed people to move into their lane when a signal signifies they would like to move the freeways would be a nicer place. Instead it's a free-for-all of vehicles moving at high speeds. No wonder the CA freeway system scares so many tourists.

[Kevy Baby]

If everyone just got the f*** outta my way, the freeways would be a much nicer place. Instead it's a bunch of vehicles in my way. No wonder the CA freeway system annoys the hell outta me.

:D

[Alex]

Myth.

Ok. I learned to drive in Washington where the rule is more explicit. But the "rule" I meant nobody follows isn't so much that you don't pass on the right but that if the guy behind you is faster than you, you are in a lane too far to the left. If this rule is followed (and it is the law in California (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=veh&group=21001-22000&file=21650-21664) that if you're going slower than the general traffic that you move to the right, see section 21654).

Anyway, here's a rundown (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=veh&group=21001-22000&file=21650-21664) of the state-by-state regulation regarding left lane usage.

[Kevy Baby]

According to a cop who once taught a traffic school class I was in, it is technically possible for someone to be ticketed for driving too slow ("impeding the flow of traffic"), even if they are doing the full posted speed limit if they are in the #1 lane and cars are going faster than them.

It probably never happens, but technically it is possible.

However, that was the instructor that said that there is no such thing as a "fast lane." That is just an issue of semantics. Sorta like saying that drunk driving is not illegal. There is no such language in the vehicle code about "drunk driving": although, obviously, "driving under the influence" (or whatever the proper legal term is) is naughty.

Since we have the "slower traffic keep right" laws, this would indicate that the faster traffic keeps to the left, with the fastest being the left, or "fast" lane.

But that is just me.

[Kevy Baby]

the law in California (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=veh&group=21001-22000&file=21650-21664)

here's a rundown (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=veh&group=21001-22000&file=21650-21664)Both links open the same page.

[Alex]

Here's the second link

http://driverightpassleft.com/laws/index.asp

[blueerica]

I use my signal first as a request, second as an announcement. If there is a move that makes it clear that the other person is just being a dick, I get forceful. That's just me. I'm young. I'll live forever. Right? ;)

Second, don't be so quick to judge Southern California drivers. Sure, they may be a little heavy on the pedal and freak out over a drop of rain - but at least they're not afraid to merge on the freeways, an all too frequent situation I've witnessed in Utah. I think the best drivers have spent some time driving in MI.

Or I might be biased.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

I don't know if I signal - my eyes are usually closed...

[Kevy Baby]

I remember when I was at a meeting back east and someone mentioned about how fast California drivers drive.

I responded that we need to drive fast when we can because we are stuck in traffic so much that we need to balance things out.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I remember when I was at a meeting back east and someone mentioned about how fast California drivers drive.

I responded that we need to drive fast when we can because we are stuck in traffic so much that we need to balance things out.We drive fast because we have a reasonable expectation that there won't be huge, wheel-busting potholes caused by the latest freeze around any given bend. I noticed 2 things in a recent trip east. 1) Cars generally looked like sh!t compared to cars here and 2) for good reason because the roads are in such poor condition that there's just can't be much impetus to put much effort into your car's appearance.

[Alex]

And yet, when driving from California to another state you can immediately tell you've crossed a state line because the road quality immediately improves.

[blueerica]

I'm with Alex. IMO, California has such great weather that there's little excuse for the roads to be in such poor condition. A few years back when the Democratic National Convention was held in Los Angeles, the city (or whomever is in charge of this) decided to do a last minute fix up of the major streets out of LAX. Previously, going anywhere that wasn't directly onto the free was like going off-roading, minus the mud. Two blocks away from any major street around LAX was pretty much deemed unnecessary to fix and was left in the sh!ttiest, pot-holiest condition possible. Or maybe they just moved the potholes. It's really hard to say.

The reason why cars are so nice out here, outside of the potholes, is because of the same reason I find no excuse for the crappy roads around me. The weather is too nice. Salted roads = eventual rustbucket. Why get a new car when the salt's going to eat it up next year, anyway?

[alphabassettgrrl]

My signal can be either request or announcement, it just depends. And if you move up to block my lane-change, I will move over anyway.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

One of the reasons we in America have so many accidents with such low speed limits is our inability to properly adhere to the rules of the road. Of course, our licensing requirements are rather lax, but still, in Europe using a signal and utilizing proper lanes (left for passing, right for slow) contributes their on the road safety.My experiences on the road in Europe scared the hell out of me. In Italy everyone drove straddling lanes, all the time. They sped up to pass each other and then hit the brakes to avoid hitting the person in front. Our taxi rides felt like video games, except for the impending death part.

[Kevy Baby]

My experiences on the road in Europe scared the hell out of me. In Italy...Did you go to Germany? My experiences there impressed the heck out of me. Yes, I got to do 200 KPH on the Autobahn for a half hour (would have liked to have gone faster, but that was as fast as the car would comfortably do), but people knew how to drive, The roads were excellent and the Autobahn is well designed and maintained.

One thing I recently saw about the Autobahn and other European highways was that they design IN curves and hills. US highways have long stretches of straight and flat. This leads more to road hypnosis. The curves and hills of the European highways keeps your mind more alert.

[Gemini Cricket]

Here's a blinkage question:

Two cars meet at an intersection with stop signs at each crosswalk. One car is going north, the other south. They get to the stop signs at the exact same time. If there's no blinkers on the other car, I go forward. If there is, I usually wave them to go.

But...

Today, this happened to me. I went forward, the car turned towards me in the middle of the intersection. The driver wanted to make a left. No blinkage. There was honking, hand signals yaddah yaddah.

No blinkers, I'm thinking yeah he's going straight.

Or...

Is it supposed to be one at a time only crossing the intersection? Whereby I would be at fault...

[JWBear]

He should have had his turn signal on. There is no excuse in that situation.

[Gemini Cricket]

He should have had his turn signal on. There is no excuse in that situation.
Then I was right in giving him the middle finger.

:D

[Kevy Baby]

He should have had his turn signal on. There is no excuse in that situation.Not only that, but the vehicle going straight has the right of way (with both cars arriving at the intersection at the same time).
Then I was right in giving him the middle finger.

:DYep

[Ghoulish Delight]

Not only that, but the vehicle going straight has the right of way (with both cars arriving at the intersection at the same time).
YepYeah, if I were the car turning left, with my signal on, and you didn't go straight, I'd probably be giving you the stink-eye G.C. A car going straight always has the right-of-way, all other things equal, and people inappropriately ceding their right of way is one of my pet peeves as it tends to be one major contributor to clogged intersections.

[Gemini Cricket]

As a little side note, I told bluerica this one last night...
I went to In-n-Out yesterday or the day before and saw a woman leaving the drive through in her car. In one hand, she had a shake. In the other hand, a burger. She was driving with her thighs. I guess.
It made me laugh.
:D

[katiesue]

As a little side note, I told bluerica this one last night...
I went to In-n-Out yesterday or the day before and saw a woman leaving the drive through in her car. In one hand, she had a shake. In the other hand, a burger. She was driving with her thighs. I guess.
It made me laugh.
:D

I can do that, while talking on my cell, and I've got a stick shift.

(of course I don't as that would be extremely unsafe)

[JWBear]

Maybe she had her trunk monkey driving for her.