**Full Disclosure: This is a sponsored post which also contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I get a teeny-tiny percentage at no cost to you. All opinions are my own.
Using the turn signal on your vehicle is an important part of car safety. Using the turn signal lets other drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians know when you are changing lanes, making a turn or slowing down. However, many people don’t use their turn signal, for one reason or another. So, before I share some of the more common reasons many drivers don’t use their turn signal, let’s look at when you should use a blinker!
When to Use Turn Signals – Before we get into the reasons people don’t use their turn signals, let’s highlight the times turn signals should be used:
- Changing lanes
- Leaving a parked position
- Turning at a stop light
- Turning at a stop sign
- Turning onto a street
- Turning out of a street
No one is around them – Some drivers think that there’s no reason to inform anyone of their intentions if there’s no one around. In 2015, John Sullivan, an Associate Research Scientist, at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, conducted an extensive study on the use of turn signals. The study concluded the drivers are 5 times more likely to use their turn signal on a major or minor surface road than on a road in their neighborhood.
Their turn signal isn’t working – Some drivers out there simply don’t use their turn signal because it isn’t working. While this is possible, most of the time, the turn signal will flash rapidly before it stops working completely. In this case, drivers either need to get their vehicle to a mechanic right away or have this article, from 2 Car Pros handy, which details how to fix turn signal issues in less than 20 minutes.
They think turn signals are optional – Contrary to what some drivers believe, using their turn signal is definitely not optional. All drivers are required to use their turn signal, whether they are driving on a deserted street or a congested highway.
They don’t have enough time – There are times when a driver forgets to turn on a certain street or get off a specific highway exit. In these instances, the driver will need to either change lanes or make a turn immediately. These are dangerous actions, resulting in an accident because the driver behind them was caught off-guard.
They are only turning right – Some drivers seem to be better at using their turn signal when making a left turn, as opposed to making a right turn. In a way, this does make some sense because turning left is much more dangerous than turning right. This is because left turns require drivers to not only reduce their speeds, but also cut across opposing traffic. While it’s true that everyone drives on the right side of the road, it is not an excuse to neglect using a turn signal.
Head over to East Hills Jeep to find a car that fits your needs!
Leave a Reply