July 13, 2005
I have a proposal for automobile manufacturers and consumers alike. Why not make turn signals on a car an option?I see no reason why everyone needs turn signals on their car. From what I've seen there is a statistically significant number (> 5%) of drivers on the road that don't use them. These people are forced to purchase something that apparently they don't want and surely won't use. Just to show you how much this whole blog thing is about you and not me I did some research so you wouldn't have to. I put in a call to [Jack Ellena Honda][1] to get an estimate of how much it would cost to replace the whole shebang on my [1996 Honda Civic][2]. It was kind of hard to explain to the very helpful guy on the other end why I would want to replace all of it. I got a grand total for the lenses, housing and bulbs (I'm sure there's gotta be a hefty tag for the wiring and labor) of $688.33.And of course it's just another thing that can break or need to be replaced. If turn signals were an option like a moon roof, window tinting or car alarm manufacturers costs would go down. And saving what could be a thousand dollars on a car without signals would be a tempting deal.I would be one to purchase the luxury option of turn signals. It gives me piece of mind to know that I'm alerting other drivers of where I'm going. Sure it would be nice if I didn't have to guess if the person at the 4-way stop is going straight or turning either right or left but I wouldn't want to force my simple beliefs on someone else.If any major auto manufacturers are reading this, make a proposal and do some market testing. And if you're one of those that disdain the ball and chain of the turn signal, vote with your dollars. [1]: http://ellenahonda.com/ [2]: http://auto.consumerguide.com/Auto/Used/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/2172/act/usedcarreviewphotos/
Comments
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El_Borak (Bill Hoyt) says...
C'mon, Chad, don't you know it's the law? Your car must come with turn signals and you must use them if it has them. If it doesn't have them, then you must use hand signals.
http://www.ohiobike.org/NCUTLO/uvc11p...
But fear not. It's for your own good.
July 13, 2005 at 2:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bwoodard (Bill Woodard) says...
Actually, this is a great idea, but only if it is tied to the "option" of having tires on the vehicle. That'd get some of those non-signaling ass monkeys off the road real quicklike.
July 13, 2005 at 3:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Freakshow (anonymous) says...
Back in NYC, the use of turn signals is considered giving information to the enemy. Here, the drivers seem pretty polite, but I did see a real zipperhead blow through a stop sign today at 9th & New Hampshire, nearly broadsiding a woman he proceeded to curse out.
Legalize murder, I say.
July 13, 2005 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DavidRose (anonymous) says...
I'm, surprisingly, more calm than usual while driving but something about the sight of those turn signals on the passenger and driver door mirrors of SUVs, mini-vans, and some luxury cars just makes me wanna smash the hell outta them!! Ah, I'm prolly just jealous.
July 13, 2005 at 4:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rpk (Robert Kerley) says...
In New Mexico signalling is too froo-frooey for the common person.
The old-timers who drive 35 miles on the highway, however, liked to signal at the beginning of their slow ride, and leave it blinking for the duration of their trip (while this is a funny occurence out here, it's a GUARANTEE out there).
I agree for the most part drivers are pretty considerate out here, although I once encountered reverse-signal-misuse-anger at light when I assumed the driver's signal meant he would actually turn.
I've also noticed a lot of out of town plates from the offenders. Recently Coloradans have been testing my patience, before that it was Illinois.
Not using a signal signifies you have no respect for the millions of other humans you co-exist with and should be punishable by bastinado. Perhaps the guilt they feel is worse than any punishment....
July 13, 2005 at 4:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chrysanthalbee (chrys anthalbee) says...
i have to admit that those impatient turn signals (you know the ones that go like 120 bpm) make me nervous. but at least i know where the driver is going.
July 13, 2005 at 5 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
memoirs_of_a_sleepwalker (anonymous) says...
I've lived in many places, and Lawrence contains, by far, the worst drivers I've ever seen. In my opinion, people from the East and West both drive with more manners and respect for each other than they do here. It probably has to do with the fact that 3 out of 4 drivers are 18-20, yakking on cell phone, playing with their palm pilots, and parading a funny yellow tag from their rearview mirrors. And these, quite often, are the people whizzing in and out of traffic without signaling. It's quite ironic, in this age of convenience, that it isn't convenient enough to flip the lever up or down . . .
For God's sake, keep the damn turn signals.
July 13, 2005 at 5:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tomking (Tom King) says...
Memoirs: amen, brother. Now lets talk about "merging" on K10...
July 13, 2005 at 7:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Freakshow (anonymous) says...
Sleepwalker, have you ever driven in Manhattan?
So far, I'm the only set of NY tags I see here. That's good. The bad news is that I've seen over a half-dozen California tags. No New Jersey or Massachusetts --- Praise The Lord!
North Carolina tags are almost always illegal immigrant dope trade, by the way. Lot of 'em in NYC.
July 13, 2005 at 7:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gccs14r (anonymous) says...
I used to think that Kansas City had the worst drivers in North America until I drove to Florida. Wow.
July 13, 2005 at 8:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Dazie (Aileen Dingus) says...
Hands down- Nevada. Since most of them are from California, they have the speed, but since they crossed the border, they lost some IQ points, so the finer issues of physics escapes them.
MERGE you MORON! MERGE!
That, combined with the pathological need for everyone to drive something bigger than the guy next to them makes driving in Nevada akin to a Mad Max movie, with soccer moms instead of Tina Turner.
July 13, 2005 at 8:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Freakshow (anonymous) says...
I've heard it said by natives that the leading cause of death in Florida is left-hand turns. I doubt it, but I'll bet it's close.
July 13, 2005 at 10:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chrisgladfelter (anonymous) says...
I'm amazed at how many people have no idea how to merge. There's no better place in town to watch a bunch of merge-a-phobes than the intersection of 23rd and Iowa. Once as I drove through the intersection, heading west on 23rd, the driver infront of me STOPPED to let a guy in the merge lane go ahead. Of course, the two idiots spent about 5 seconds playing the "you-go-no-you-go-no-go-ahead-you-go-no-I-insist-you-go" game.
July 13, 2005 at 11:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pissykitty (Melissa Lynch) says...
I believe Florida has 5-7 out of the 10 deadliest highways in the US. The rest are divided between Missouri and California. Missouri I see, and California too because they've never even HEARD of black ice, let alone survived an enounter with it. One thing I noticed most when I lived in town was how much everyone drove like they were the only one on the road. THE only, single, solitary person on the road. In Illinois they drive like they OWN the road.
Sorry for the annoying Illinoians, by the way. We learn how to drive during rush hour in our local suburban "downtown" areas. It's a life-and-death dance of one-way chicken and try-to-avoid-actually-stopping. Those of us who actually pass to receive a legal liscense are little better than shell-shocked when we get out of Driver's Ed.
Luckily Chicago recently made it illegal to drive and talk on the phone without a hands-free device. Heck, we allow SMOKING in our bars... its a curious difference, n'est-ce pas? Oh yeah... before I forget, Lawrence made the front page of the Chicago Tribune a couple of days ago about the smoking ban. I wonder if they'll consider passing a "hands-free" dealie down there soon?
July 14, 2005 at 1:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Swamphawk (anonymous) says...
Seriously, Florida is the worst. I live there now. Prior to moving to FL I had zero accidents in 10 years of driving. In my first year in FL I have had two. The second with a 90 year old lady (birth date in 1915 from police report). To add to the problem of elderly and uninsured, unlicensed illegal immigrants is that the whole state is being taken over by the northeast. Nobody down here is a native, and the overwhelming majority of people are old and from NY. Freakshow has described their driving styles. I feel comfortable saying that FL is definitely the worst.
July 14, 2005 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cvillehawk (anonymous) says...
Anyone who says Lawrence is the worst hasn't been around. I hated driving in Dallas quite a bit, and Missouri interstates are horrendous affairs - we recently drove through the state and I nearly had to sedate myself when we got to the Illinois border.
July 14, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jd (anonymous) says...
Dallas is definitely the worst. If you use your turn signal there, they will use it as an excuse to f#@k with you - e.g. purposefully move to the lane you're trying to get into and keep you from getting onto the off ramp, etc. Amazingly aggressive.
July 14, 2005 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chrysanthalbee (chrys anthalbee) says...
there is one situation where i don't want to see a turn signal, and i am guessing that sometimes this is the only time some people use one.
scenario: plainly obvious that one lane is closed ahead.
with said knowledge i get into the lane that is not closed to await my "turn" in line. as i approach the point where two lanes become one, another driver speeds past all the people waiting and puts on a turn signal to cut into the line.
i have been known to straddle the two lanes to obstruct one of these assholes.
July 14, 2005 at 11:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Swamphawk (anonymous) says...
I just walked across the street from lunch and three drivers in a row misused their turn signals. The street is three lanes with the middle being a suicide/scramble turn lane. One individual signalled left and turned right, one signalled right and didn't turn, and the third didn't signal and turned left. Three of four crossing, not bad.
As for using the signal when you shouldn't or unnecessary, I always laugh when someone signals coming out of a parking lot. or when going around a bend, or when at a T with a one way street.
July 14, 2005 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
thetom (anonymous) says...
I grew up in Florida so I can vouch. The thing about NY drivers is they're assholes, but they're SMART assholes. Never any question where they are comin from.
SInce ya'll know its all relative, I got to tell you that Lawrence has the best driving of anywhere I have lived. Roundabouts & all.
As far as blinkers go, I use them but I trust no one. My wife calls them tickers, as in "Use your fuckin' ticker, asshole"!
Aw, I shouldn't make fun of her, eh?
July 14, 2005 at 12:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
memoirs_of_a_sleepwalker (anonymous) says...
Aside from lack of common courtesy and decorum regarding people who refuse to use turn signals, here's some other things that often make me chuckle or groan when driving in this town:
1. Stoplights. I've never seen such production when the light turns green. People inch forward and forward as the light glows red, and upon green, they blast forward, tires sqealing, in an effort to leave the person in the parallel lane in the dust. I realize that this happens everywhere, but due to the fact that Lawrence is much smaller than other places I've lived, I'm more in tune with it here. I used to think that it was just hypermasculine dudes in gigantic trucks or--on the contrary--min-trucks with tinted windows, but I've also noticed soccer moms in brand new minivans leaving the stoplight as if they're a NASCAR driver. It's funny, because my car is 15 years old, and isn't one to attract drag racers, yet I often find myself next to Speedy Gonzales. It's gotten to where I stare straight ahead at the stoplight, never make eye contact with the car next to me, and always let them blow by me when the light turns green. I hope that this displays my unwillingness to race down Bob Billings or Clinton Parkway. Does it have something to do with the more open spaces on the west side of town, intermingled with the quiet desperation of the housing divisions?
2. The left lane used as the slow lane . . . no explanation neccessary.
3. The tailgater. As I said, my car is 15 years old, but it still moves fairly quickly when it needs to do so. Yet, I've run into this in town as much as I have on K-10 or I-70 . . . I'm going the speed limit, or even 4 or 5 miles over, and yet someone has to consitently be 5 inches from my ass. What is crazy is when Speedy has the fast lane to pass in, but they refuse to do so. Does anyone remember the hit video game in the '80s called Spy Hunter? I've often wanted to be like the spy car, which has the abilty to oilslick or smokescreen the trailing enemy off the road.
I could go on, but I'll stop here. Let's regress (progress) back to horses and wagons; cars often bring out the worst elements of the human condition.
July 14, 2005 at 12:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chrysanthalbee (chrys anthalbee) says...
m_o_a_s: spy hunter is absolutely my favorite game
July 14, 2005 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OtherJoel (anonymous) says...
"i have been known to straddle the two lanes to obstruct one of these assholes."
Yeah, I did too. Then some idiot still went around me at about 80, half driving on the shoulder and damn near taking my mirror off. Since then I've been trying to just roll my eyes and let it go.
I agree memiors - tailgating is bad here. Also coming from the East, I'm no stranger to it in city traffic -- its necessary out there when fighting for road space with the crazy cab crivers (I don't know if Freakshow was one of them, but many fit the stereotype), but it does get on my nerves on the highway. I occassionally employ the surprise brake tap maneuver, which works fairly well. One day I'll probably do it to a lunatic road warrior in a Hummer and get plowed off the road. Unfortunately the most aggressive drivers are also the same people who are insane enough to pull out a gun or intentionally hit you with their car.
July 14, 2005 at 1:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Freakshow (anonymous) says...
I pride myself on being a very courteous driver. I'm generally a courteous guy. That said, pushing a hack through NYC requires a certain level of aggression. But I bathe daily, and may well have been one of the only drivers in NYC that wasn't a member of an Al Qaeda cell.
I used to enjoy the startled looks I would get when I yelled "STUPID DOODOO HEAD!" at some idiot from Jersey in an SUV. Creative, child-like insults always jar people out of the trance, and it's nearly impossible to throttle up to macho violence when the guy just called you something you haven't been called since you were six years old.
July 14, 2005 at 3:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cvillehawk (anonymous) says...
"used to enjoy the startled looks I would get when I yelled "STUPID DOODOO HEAD!" at some idiot from Jersey in an SUV. Creative, child-like insults always jar people out of the trance, and it's nearly impossible to throttle up to macho violence when the guy just called you something you haven't been called since you were six years old."
That, I must admit, is pretty damn funny.
July 15, 2005 at 9:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
thetom (anonymous) says...
Freakshow:
Sure, you SAY you're not Al Qaeda.
July 15, 2005 at 9:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gccs14r (anonymous) says...
"...and it's nearly impossible to throttle up to macho violence..."
What a sad indictment of our society that "throttle up to macho violence" is a valid phrase here. I'd guess that it doesn't translate well, which is a good thing.
July 16, 2005 at 12:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )