Signalling your turns: it’s not actually optional.

Let me begin with a disclaimer: this blog is not directed at you. I’m sure you’re an excellent driver. And, even if you’re not, that doesn’t really affect me unless you live in or around the Greater Moncton Area or intend to visit here in the near future. No, this blog is directed at drivers in said area. They are uniformly not excellent drivers.

I’m thinking maybe the entire Moncton drivers’ ed community forgot, en masse, to teach this small but important lesson to every student from the past, oh, say, 30 years. I’m thinking that, because that actually sounds more likely than the alternative: that so many people are all so incredibly stupid and careless.

So let this function as either a refresher or an introduction to the fine art of signalling your turns.

The typical steering wheel and dashboard of a car looks something like this:

Now, I can see why some people might be confused. Looking at the wheel straight on, you might think the wheel is the only instrument there. You may need to suspend your disbelief for a second, but take a leap of faith and believe me when I tell you: it’s not.

I’m sure I don’t need to point this out, but the steering wheel actually turns (this being the mechanism by which you can steer your vehicle). So, if you turn the wheel ever-so-slightly, look at what you suddenly notice:

There’s another lever back there!

See it? Here, let me make that a little clearer:

Now, car manufacturers aren’t trying to trick you or confuse you by hiding it. It’s located back there so it’s convenient to reach while your hands are on the steering wheel. Try it out next time you’re driving: reach out just one little finger and… flick! Up or down it goes, easy as can be.

This special lever, among other functions, controls your INDICATOR LIGHTS.

• If you push the lever DOWN, it causes your LEFT rear light to flash, indicating to drivers around you that you intend to TURN LEFT (or MERGE into the LEFT LANE, as the case may be).
• If you push the lever UP, it causes your RIGHT rear light to flash, indicating to drivers around you that you intend to TURN RIGHT (or MERGE into the RIGHT LANE).

Why bother using these signals? Because, when you do, OTHER DRIVERS KNOW WHAT YOU PLAN ON DOING WITH YOUR LARGE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS VEHICLE.

The benefits of this are myriad, but primary among these is that the driver into whose lane you’re merging will know you intend to move over and therefore, at least theoretically, won’t smash into you when you do.

It also allows other drivers to plan their own moves by having advanced knowledge of your future moves.

For example, if I’m stopped at an intersection, waiting to turn right, and you’re driving along in the direction I’d like to be going in, I won’t turn because I don’t want you to hit me. However, if you don’t intend to keep going straight– if you, in fact, intend to turn before you get to the spot at which I am waiting– why not let me in on that little plan, so I don’t have to wait for you?

Is your move a secret? Is it a surprise?

I don’t like secrets. And, unless it involves a present for me, I don’t like surprises, either.

I realize most drivers have other things on their minds while driving– like talking on their cells or driving 10 km below the speed limit to piss off other drivers– but it takes one finger and about three-quarters of a second. It’s easier than bending the lid back on your cup of Tim’s.

And by doing so, while it’s clearly too late to save MY sanity, you just might save the sanity of some other driver out there.