Blinkage

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

No mention of signals, mousepod?

Touché

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Alex

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

Myth.

Originally Posted by California Vehicle Code 21754

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]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

...and when it's physically impossible.

It's never physically impossible. Practically impossible maybe, but not completely