Turn Signal

I want to pose a question to everyone here regarding how consistently and responsibly you actually use your turn signals.

Personally, I make a genuine effort to be a responsible participant on the road, ensuring I’m disciplined about signaling my intentions whenever I’m turning or navigating through a roundabout—which, if I’m being honest, is the part that stresses me out the most.

I truly cannot wrap my head around how people can exit a roundabout without using their blinker, especially when they can clearly see other drivers waiting specifically for that signal to know which way they are heading.🙂

It is an incredibly pathetic habit, and frankly, I think the Department of Transportation should launch a massive public awareness campaign just to address this one issue.
And if you want my take on the absolute worst drivers on our highways—those who treat turn signals as optional equipment—it has to be the Italians! They are easily the most disorganized drivers out there because they almost never bother to signal.

What’s even the point of using a blinker when you're entering a roundabout? You’ve got exactly one direction to go... you just merge in while the lane is clear, and everyone behind you already knows what you're doing. It’s a different story once you're actually exiting.

It drives me absolutely nuts when people either don't use them at all or they wait until they're already mid-turn to flick them on...

Personally, I get mine on pretty early and I'm consistent about it. I even find myself laying on the horn for the folks who don't bother—apparently, they think the driver behind them has psychic powers and can just sense exactly when and where they plan to turn.

He was only talking about exiting a roundabout.

Generally speaking, I always turn my blinker on well before I start turning.

As for the roundabouts themselves, the ones in my town are easily some of the smallest you'll ever see in the US. Honestly, they feel like they were only put in to satisfy some bureaucratic regulation.🤷

It’s hard to even get the signal on in time because by then, I’m already halfway out of the circle.

The rotor is just one example of how things fall apart.
It happens when people stop paying attention—you know, those drivers who don't even use all four signals, or the ones crawling along at a snail's pace without ever flicking on a blinker to let anyone pass; there are all these little nuances in traffic where that single signal dictates the entire flow.
Then you have the crowd for whom a turn signal means absolutely nothing; to them, it’s just some unnecessary extra step.
Imagine how much safer and more civilized our roads would actually be if everyone just used their indicators properly.
At its core, using a blinker is really about acknowledging that other people exist on the road, isn't it?

I usually pop my blinker on whenever I feel it’s necessary or if I just want to give the folks around me a heads-up. Personally, I don't see much point in signaling before entering a roundabout, since you're pretty much always heading in the same direction anyway, and you usually pick your lane well before you hit the circle. But once I'm exiting the roundabout, I’ll definitely use it. Honestly, I use my turn signal almost all the time. The only times I don't is when there’s nobody else out there to signal to—like when I’m driving solo on a quiet stretch or just turning off somewhere where there isn't a soul in sight. What’s the point then? It doesn't help anyone, and I don't really need it.

It drives me absolutely crazy when drivers cruise down busy streets, like the major avenues in Chicago or other high-traffic areas, and just change lanes without even thinking to signal. 😠

You use your turn signal when exiting a roundabout. Every single time.
When you're turning or merging, you flip that blinker on. Always.
The whole point is to bake it into your muscle memory until it's second nature.
And having a solid habit is just as vital as hitting a perfect angle on a shot!

Keeping your eyes peeled while driving can cost you sweat, blood, and tears if you aren't careful. Don't forget that.
I’m honestly waiting for the Department of Justice to launch a "Blinker Campaign."
Seriously, I've been watching the traffic patterns ever since I started writing about this, and here is my takeaway:
-In a roundabout with five cars, you'll be lucky if even one of them uses their signal.
-On the open road, it's slightly less pathetic—maybe two and a half out of five people actually bother.

That’s just what I've observed firsthand while out in the world. From the commute to work, to heading home, to running errands at Target, or driving the kids to soccer practice... it's the same story everywhere.