Blinkers in a Turn Lane.

I do not think it is safe or acceptable to assume anything when driving - My dad said one thing that stuck with me when teaching me to drive "You are the smartest person on the road - only you know what YOU are doing - don't be the dumbest and assume you know what anyone else is going to do - always KNOW what you are doing and you will be fine." I have been driving for 12 years and I have not yet been the driver in an auto accident, I attribute it to keeping what my dad told me in mind as well as driving defensively.

I agree with you that it's dangerous and lets you know what the car is doing BEFORE it's too late. I always use mine out of habit now.

My husband says it's redundant. I usually do though, just out of force of habit. I don't feel I need to, i'm just on auto pilot.

yes. I do. Dedicated turn lane or not.

I also turn my headlights on when it's raining!!! That is a pet peeve of mine - people who don't turn their headlights on!!!

Good question, M.!! Makes people think about their driving habits!

I have several friends here in Texas + my daughter who did not use a turn signal in a designated turn lane and were written tickets that involved a hefty fine.

It depends on the state whether it's required in a dedicated turn lane or not.

Because I drive through a LOT of states... I turn mine on out of habit. ((I also don't cross double yellow lines as a general rule, although that's not true in every state either))

Here in WA... it's not required. And it annoys the bejeebers out of my friends who are locals when I turn mine on. Their rationale is that it's distracting and makes them look around to make sure they're in the correct lane (we have a lot of 1 lane must and 1 lane okay to turn double lanes). My rationale is that I've never gotten a ticket for having my blinker on ...but I HAVE gotten a ticket for NOT having my blinker on in a dedicated turn lane.

If I'm making a turn, I use my turning signal. If I'm the only one on the road and nobody's behind me, I STILL use the turning signal. Just habit, I guess...

Here is another point for your side. Blinking lights are much more likely to get attention than steady lights. So if someone is not paying attention, distracted or what not, then the blinking light is a warning.

I usually do turn on my turn signal when in the turn lane.

Actually, not having your headlights on in the rain is illegal on both Missouri and Florida. Don't know about the other states.

When you intend to change lanes or directions it's a law to use your blinker to indicate the change. You can get ticketed for failure to signal if you're caught by police.

This is such a no brainer and a habit that I learned in driving school that I'm always surprised and annoyed when people don't use their blinkers. There's a reason it's a law. It's dangerous when people don't use them.

I do, and I appreciate when others do. Not that I think it prevents accidents in this particular situation, but sometimes from the back of the line, you're too far from the intersection markings to actually SEE if it is a turn lane or not. If everyone in the lane has their blinkers on, it can be really helpful to the folks in the back who can't see the arrows painted on the pavement under the cars.

HTH

PS... tell your hubby, if the car is running, the battery is charging, so no worries about wasting it on a blinker :)

I do. You know, in a world polluted with useless information, I think that knowing (for sure) someone's intent to turn is a GOOD thing.

LOL. I fell in love with my husband because he ALWAYS uses his turn signals - this was an early sign to me that we courteous and conscientious of those around him. We lived in a small town and most people didn't bother to signal. For this reason he stood out and I appreciated it.

Yes, PEOPLE USE YOUR TURN SIGNAL!

I ALWAYS use my turning signals when in a turning lane and I HATE it when others dont. Such a pet peeve of mine

When the lane is a dedicated turn lane I turn off my blinkers once I'm in the lane. The sound doesn't both me but it usually bothers my granddaughter.
If there is a choice of whether or not to turn, such as in a right lane, I do use my blinkers even if there is no one behind me.

It is extremely rare for someone to not turn when the lane is signed and designated as a left turn only lane.

Haha, I was going to post about this the other day! I was on my way home from work, and I was the only car in the turn lane (4 in front of me, a few behind me) that had a blinker on. I couldn't believe it. I HATE bad drivers in general, this is just one of the many parts of it.

I admit to hating the ticking sound, so unless I'm first in the turn lane of an arrowed light, I don't use it. Otherwise, I use the turn signal on all other turns.

I'm terrible about this, though not as bad as I used to be. I figure, if I'm in a turn lane and I follow the rules of the road, even if I realized I didn't need/want to turn, I would anyway, as should others in that situation.

Yes, legally you need to have your blinker on in a turn only lane. I just am working past my self-righteous youth where I believed I didn't need to because I was in the turn lane.

The problem is that IF someone is in a turn only lane and they decide to go straight instead, using a turn signal is probably really low on their priority list.

I think anytime you are turning anywhere, you should put on a signal, period. But have you ever noticed, like, at the mall, when someone wants a parking spot, they definitely put on their signal then. I guess lots of people only do it if they want to, or if it is of a benefit to them. Kinda like stopping at a red light, or not.

I signal wherever and whenever I am making a change whether it be in a turning lane, switching lanes on the freeway etc. I think its the safest and most courteous thing to do. I think you should signal EVERY time.

SO TOTALLY one of my biggest pet peeves!
My husband doesn't use his a lot in the turn lane (like a lot of others), so I always say "Oh honey, are you gonna turn?" lol

I ALWAYS use my signal (aka, blinker). It's not an optional piece of equipment, it's there for safety reasons as other drivers can't read your mind. I currently live in a state where virtually NO ONE uses one. Lane changes on the freeways are so scary and there are accidents daily slowing down traffic but this state I live in seems to not care. Also, ironically, it has some of the worst road rage rates in America--maybe something to do with no blinkers in use? Possibly.

By physically being in a turn lane you are telling every vehicle around you that you are planning on turning. I do not think they are necessary when I am in a designated turn lane that has no other options such as going straight or turning. I get tired of hearing the signal sound and often turn it on to move into the turn lane then turn them off.

If I find myself in a turn lane accidentally I turn on my blinker to signal I am attempting to change lanes out of the one I am currently in. There is not confusion this way.

If they are in a turn lane they are turning.

Yes. If I am turning I use my turn signal whether it be turning from a turning lane or from a dirt road. I am a creature of habit.

I think it's much more important to use your blinker BEFORE you enter the turn lane. That's when a lane change is actually happening.

I see a lot of people use their blinker while in a turn lane--great! But at the same time, many of them have just drifted into the turn lane and didn't bother to use their blinker until they were already in the lane. Well duh.

LOL - My motto when driving: "I'll get there when I get there."
Your buddy needs to worry about more important things, ya think?

Texting/talking while driving--that's a whole different ballgame!

You should absolutely use your blinker when in a turn lane. Because sometimes people will pull into such lane, and then need to get back out of it. Blinkers help everyone around you understand your intent. It should be used anytime you are turning the wheel of your vehicle. It can only help prevent misunderstandings, and using one proves that you are a conscientious driver. Obviously I'm a complete nut when using my blinker, and it drives me nuts when people don't use them. Especially when making a right turn into a drive. Sorry for the vent. :) But please, use your blinkers!

ALWAYS.

Dedicated turn lane or not. In Southern Maryland, there are dedicated turn lanes that also allow you to go straight if you are an idiot. There are a lot of idiots here. My light goes on regardless of the sound or any other annoyance. My life (and especially those of my kids and husband when they are with me) are far more precious to me than a sound bothering me.

I believe it's the law everywhere.

My lights also go on when it gets too dark automatically...it's raining today, so if I get in the car to go home and they don't turn on, I know how to turn them on myself too. I just have to remember to turn them off :).

If I am getting INTO a turn lane, I should indicate such and already have it on for the turn. If someone didn't have it on, he/she likely didn't indicate the merge in the first place.

Further, if you are seeing the traffic from the front, this can help you decide if the turn YOU want to make is safe, especially in an unfamiliar part of town. You might assume it's a through lane (not all roads are equal) if they don't indicate the turn.

I would rather give people too much info than not enough.

Unless I forget to use them I always use my turn signal.

if I'm the only one around, no. Otherwise, yes.

Sooo, how about a funny story: my mom was at a party & asked this question...."If you're approaching a street sign with a posted reduced speed for a curve, is that speed simply a recommendation or an enforcable speed?" Too funny! The lawyer said "law, you have to abide by it".....& most others said "baloney, it's a recommendation, not a law". :)

We have a few spots near by where you have one left turn lane and one turn left or go straight lane and it make me nervous when I want to turn from the middle lane but people in the last lane don't have their blinker on. It's only been signed this way for a little over a year and before that I saw a lot of near accidents with people trying to turn from the middle lane and people in the left lane going straight. YIKES!

I'm a Houstonian and driving is a contact sport here. I have finally decided the rationale must go something like don't let the other drivers know what you are doing so you have the element of surprise on your side and you maintain the upperhand. Therefore, turning on a turn signal under any circumstance is considered giving the other drivers the advantage. Ruthless driving rules the roads around here. Personally I use my signals always but I think it's rare in this town.

As an aside I have gotten kidded by my husband because I have turned on my signal to get into our driveway. It's very much a habit and a good one to develop since none of us are mind readers.

I always turn my blinker on. The only time I don't is when I am in a left turn lane that allows U-turns...I want the driver behind me to know that I am not turning, I am U-ing.
L.

I was a truck driver for a year and blinkers are a big deal to me. They are important to communicate with other drivers. You definantly don't want any miscommuniction while driving around something that large. I've seen not using a blinker cause a fatal accident while my husband and I drove cross country, so yes I always use my blinkers and it really irks me when others don't.

Blinkers were invented to help you signal intent. I use my blinker before I move into the turn lane, then leave it on until I've completed the turn onto the next road. Getting angry because you're letting the people around you know what you're doing instead of letting them assume you're going to turn because the arrows on the ground say that's what you should do, is silly. The blinker lets the people around you know you haven't fallen asleep at the wheel and indeed, intend to turn.

I am a firm believer in turn signals and get annoyed when people don't use them. We're supposed to be able to trust that we're all operating by the same rules, that you're not gonna cross the solid line and you won't cross the dotted line without alerting those around you.

I use my signal to enter the turning lane, but then, I turn it off. Once I'm there, people can assume that I'm turning. Having it on at that point would be like having a signal to tell people that I won't be changing lanes. I don't get annoyed with people who keep their signal on in the turning lane, but I turn mine off. I get really annoyed when my husband turns his signal on AFTER her gets into the turning lane.

I use a blinker whenever I am turning, or even changing lanes, regardless fo where I am ....sometimes, i forget and even use it going around sharp bends in the road as a reflex, LOL! When in doubt turn it on, it is to protect yourself and other drivers, so eveyone is sure what everyone else is doing.

Tell your friend to chill, while you are driving the "wasted battery" is recharged by the alternator. Defensive/cautious driving is good for everyone on the road.