Filed under: Trends
Survey: lane-changing drivers skipping signals
In
what can only be described as a piercing glimpse into the obvious, a national survey by Response Insurance reveals that a remarkable 57-percent of U.S. drivers
don't use their turn signals when changing lanes. Even more amazing (frightening?) is that 7-percent of those drivers
confess that they don't signal because it "adds excitement to driving"!
Signal-challenged drivers
also admit to not having enough time (42-percent), being lazy (23-percent), not signalling because they forget to turn
it off afterward (17-percent), changing lanes too often to bother signalling (12-percent), thinking that signalling
isn't important (11-percent), and not signalling because other drivers don't (8-percent).
Fully 71-percent of drivers ages 18-to-24 admitted they don't signal when changing lanes.
From one group of driving enthusiasts to another: Light 'em up, people!!
[Source: Response Insurance via PRNewswire]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Richard Warren 12:38PM (3/16/2006)
Nice 57 Mercury signal light!
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Giggles of Doom 12:39PM (3/16/2006)
Yes, please do use them. I for one perfer not to have to guess what that monsterous SUV ahead of me is doing as I cruise in my sedan. Also, not signaling can lead to other lazy activies, like not bothering to check a blind spot.
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d 12:44PM (3/16/2006)
Disclaimer: I'm from New Jersey.
Signaling, at least in my opinion, says a lot about someone. Those who don't signal are typically passive, or, at the most, passive-agressive.
Signaling is confidence. The unconfident will just try to get where they want to go. The confident will tell you before they even make a move, "That's where I will be."
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Christian J 12:45PM (3/16/2006)
Not even close to suprising. You should see Ottawa, Canada where I live. I have friends who come from other towns and they say, "What the hell is wrong with everybody here? They NEVER signal". Hahah.
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Corey 12:47PM (3/16/2006)
I've found that (and this may be due to living in a large metropolitan area) it doesn't make a difference if a car signals to change lanes or not. The other driver usually will not change its behavior, i.e. slowing down to allow a larger gap.
Additionally, what's the point of signaling when cars are scattered on the road, i.e. 6-7 car lengths apart.
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Yolanda 12:51PM (3/16/2006)
Everyone should signal. It is incredibly useful. I'm sure if they did studies it would prove the value of signaling.
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Campisi 12:52PM (3/16/2006)
The reason why I don't signal? About 75% of the time, the guy in the lane I need to be in floors it, preventing me from moving over.
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Yolanda 12:57PM (3/16/2006)
Everyone should signal! I'm sure if they did a study the outcome would prove that signaling is useful and save slives or at the very least it saves accidents.
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Mark 12:59PM (3/16/2006)
I don't signal, that way the government can't track my movements using the embedded turn signal RF ID tags installed by the NSA. I disabled my brakelights for the same reason. If you don't want them tracking you never turn your headlights on, or drive through tunnels.
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Aki 12:59PM (3/16/2006)
Corey: Well in the wretched bay area, people drive 50-60 mph with 1-2 car lengths apart (and I wonder why we have so many fender benders, hmm).
Drivers here are so bad. Turning on the signal means the reckless driver will speed up to close the gap--even if that means being perilously close to the car in front at high speeds.
I signal anyway. Even if their reaction to you changes the difference is that it's a warning. If you suddenly cut in w/o signaling and they're not paying attention (in SF that's all the technoratis w/ iPods, cellphones, Treos and Blackberrys) they'll slam on the brakes and endanger other drivers... drivers who leave only one car length of space.
I signal, then cut in if they speed up. If you're already going in they can't do anything anyway. Plus 95% of drivers speed up when signaling, so you're forced to cut in. Hate Bay Area drivers. Since so few signal, for the ones they do I always give them plenty of room to come in.
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5Against1 1:03PM (3/16/2006)
I'd bet that people who don't use their indicators when changing lanes are the same ones who drive diagonally in parking lots, totally oblivious to the lines.
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Araemo 1:06PM (3/16/2006)
I wonder if any responded 'I don't signal, because if I do, someone speeds up to block me.'
I've had that happen more than a few times here in good ole ohio. But I signal anyways. I just make sure that there is room for me BEFORE I start signaling.
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CJ 1:07PM (3/16/2006)
Let's make it clear too, turn signals are a WARNING to let drivers know that you WILL be turning/changing lanes. You are not supposed to start changing lanes and then turn on your signals. I can clearly see you are changing lanes and are about to hit my car, a*****e! You don't need to tell me that!
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bhtooefr 1:08PM (3/16/2006)
Am I the only considerate driver on the road?
I wait three flashes before changing lanes, stay in the right (or next to right on a 6 or more lane highway) lane, slow down to let people in that are coming in front of me, speed up to let them in if they're coming behind me, etc., etc.
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Kwyjibo 1:10PM (3/16/2006)
I hate people who don't signal...the worst is when you signal for a spot and some jackass jumps into that spot before you do, WITHOUT a signal...I will go out of my way to switch lanes using my signal, then get into a spot where i can cut in front of the guy. But i turn my signal on for a sec, then shut it off and just dart infront of the guy, followed by a nice downshift or two to slow his ass down sans brake lights.
I also yell at people in traffic who do dumbass shit like that. you'd be surprised how freaked out people get when you yell out, "use your signal moron".
But it's common sense. If EVERYONE used their signals and everyone knew where the cars around them are going, then you could make a judgement on where to go with your car and traffic would flow more freely, becasue you can anticipate what others are doing.
Police should give up on speeding tickets as a form of revenue...so what, i'm doing 85 in a 65. It's a safe car and i can handle it. Write tickets to those morons who don't signal and have no lane discipline(yielding to faster cars) and watch the revenue from tickets roll in.
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chl 1:11PM (3/16/2006)
san jose and san francisco drivers are notorious for not using their turn signals! i am from new york city and drivers signal about 75% of the time. i would compare and say it was 10% of the time in san jose/francisco.
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JZeke 1:13PM (3/16/2006)
Signalling is your intent to take ownership of a spot, be it a parking spot or a hole in traffic.
People who drive like A**holes tend to not signal, they just take spots. Im 99% more willing to let someone in ahead of me (and not even be annoyed!) if they just freakin' signal first.
However Im a bit of a geek about it, ill signal driving alone on an empty highway...
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Tom 1:13PM (3/16/2006)
If you are travelling behind someone and he signals it gives you a chance to slow down in advance of seeing his break lights and maybe move into another lane using your signals, of course. It's more than just a courtesy and watch to see how many law enforcement officers don't bother using theirs. As far as changing lanes if there isn't a break in the traffic giving one a chance to pull into another lane there is a goodly chance someone will slow down and let you in.
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Chris 1:13PM (3/16/2006)
Learning to drive in Seattle I noticed that people are pretty good about signaling. Thus I always signaled when changing lanes or turning.
But I'm in New Orleans now, and based on the near-complete lack of use of signaling, I'm guessing most people don't know what that stalk is for. I'm having to make an effort not to be lazy and follow suit.
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NSA 1:19PM (3/16/2006)
Mark,
You forgot about the chip we embedded into your T7 vertebrae while you were sleeping on the night of Oct. 5th, 1997.
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