this post was submitted on 13 Apr 2025
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No Stupid Questions

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I use it literally everywhere out of habit, I got made fun of for using it when pulling out of my moms driveway once lol

The only reason I won't possibly use it is when I'm in a turn only lane at a red light and don't want to listen to it for 3 minutes

Most people I find only use it 75% of the time at best.
I'm 2.5 years into driving and am curious if it's just what semi-new drivers do or if I'm the odd one out.

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[–] pineapplelover@lemm.ee 72 points 1 week ago

I use it all the time and I judge people who don't.

[–] shaggyb@lemmy.world 71 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yes. Don't listen to people who tell you not to.

The indicator is for communicating your intent to change the position (which lane you're in) or direction (turning in or out of a road, parking space, etc.) of your car.

The safest thing you can do as a driver is to be PREDICTABLE to other drivers. The indicator communicates necessary information for other drivers to predict your actions.

Not using one when changing the position or direction of your car is inconsiderate and dangerous to other road users. It is also illegal.

Use them. Please.

[–] zqps@sh.itjust.works 29 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Not just to drivers.

There's nothing more annoying as a pedestrian than a vehicle whose driver has seemingly decided to run into you because they 1) didn't think to use their signals and 2) mostly just checked for car traffic until you're right in front of their bumper.

[–] shaggyb@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago

Very much this.

I was hoping to imply that with the phrase "road users" but I wasn't explicit about it.

Cyclists too. If you can't keep a cyclist safe you shouldn't be allowed in a car.

[–] TastyWheat@lemmy.world 66 points 1 week ago

Other drivers cannot read minds, so use the blinker.

Its why it's there in the first place.

[–] AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 56 points 1 week ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Using it 75% of the time is harder than using it all the time, because it means you’re consciously thinking about it each time instead of doing it reflexively.

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[–] MoreFPSmorebetter@lemmy.zip 45 points 1 week ago

...how else would people around me know what direction I'm about to move 2+ tons of metal???

I can't stand how often I see people changing lanes or taking turns with ZERO blinker usage. Selfish short sighted fucks.

[–] obinice@lemmy.world 43 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Indicators?

Yes, only pillocks don't use their indicators. They're an essential method of communication between vehicles and for pedestrians, and an essential safety feature.

I cannot stress this enough, people who don't use their indicators are massive twats and shouldn't be on the road.

They're a danger to themselves and everybody around them.

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[–] Limonene@lemmy.world 42 points 1 week ago

Turn signals are not optional.

[–] whotookkarl@lemmy.world 42 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Use your blinker, return your cart to the corral, and mind your business

I'm sure I've missed it sometimes over the years, but if you make it a habit it's harder to forget or ignore

[–] Flamekebab@piefed.social 39 points 1 week ago

I remember a driving instructor asking me who I was indicating for when we were practising in a suburb. I couldn't see any other cars but figured that if one appeared they'd want to know my intentions and it would mean it was one less thing to think about.

I fired that instructor.

[–] Glytch@lemmy.world 35 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Of course I do. My goal while driving is to be predictable so I can minimize the chances of causing an accident.

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[–] altasshet@lemmy.ca 35 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Got my licence a bit over 2 years ago. I ALWAYS use the blinkers. You never know when there's some other participant in traffic that you don't notice for which the information of what I'm about to do is important.

It annoys me to no end that a lot of drivers here won't signal for lane changes or turn offs.

[–] XeroxCool@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

The "unknown participant" is a great term for it. I use it alone on my neighborhood turns, particularly at night, because I can't properly see around the turn. One of them is totally in darkness, situated between street lights. If there's a pedestrian crossing, I'd like to give them a little warning. One of my cars has stellar fog lights and gives ample sideways light though, so I recommend using them under 40mph for turns.

Over 10 years of driving here.

[–] 5in1k@lemm.ee 35 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Always. Drive predictably it helps.

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[–] Barking@lemmy.world 34 points 1 week ago

I get really annoyed when people don't use them. My psychic powers are terrible and I like to not have people suddenly change lanes in front of me or cut me off on the road.

Blinkers are not just for special occasions or discos!

[–] MTK@lemmy.world 32 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Making funof someone for doing the responsible thing is childish and stupid.

As long as you are using them to indicate intent you are using them correctly. At worst you are being extra clear to drivers around you. If you don't use them though, at worst you are an unpredictable driver that might be involved in a crash.

Fuck the people that made fun of you.

P. S I use them any time I do something that isn't driving straight, i don't care if there are others around me, if it's a single lane, if it's obvious, etc. Every time I stray from a straight line I signal it.

[–] DjMeas@lemm.ee 31 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I use my blinker even when turning into my own driveway and the reason is simple:

The signal isn't for me. It's for others to know my intentions.

One major thing that makes driving with others safer is predictability and your blinkers can help with that.

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[–] jimmux@programming.dev 31 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It's actually easier to just use it every time. Deciding whether you need to is cognitive load that's better spent on other things.

[–] socsa@piefed.social 11 points 1 week ago

This. It should be automatic, and you can't have perfect awareness to always know with 100% certainly if there is another vehicle or pedestrian around which may benefit from that information.

[–] sith@lemmy.zip 30 points 1 week ago (5 children)

I don't drive a BMW, so yes.

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[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 30 points 1 week ago

I don't drive a BMW, so yes.

Yes, I use them even if there is nobody around as it’s good to keep the habit. I’ve noticed not many people use them in say a right only lane, but my logic is pedestrians might not know and so you should use it there too.

UK.

[–] CaptPretentious@lemmy.world 27 points 1 week ago

I use them 100% of the time. Which yes, includes my own driveway.

You should train yourself to use them automatically instead of a manual step. Like a reflex.

And if you're at a light and you plan to turn, you have that blinker going. Even if it's a long red light, even if you think no one is around.

[–] wjrii@lemmy.world 26 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I don't drive a BMW, so yes, I do use my blinker.

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[–] adespoton@lemmy.ca 26 points 1 week ago

I’ve only been driving for 33 years, but I try to signal every turn.

Because the signals are for those situations where you don’t see something you should have AND those situations where someone else didn’t see something they should have.

Takes a flick of the pinky to do something that could save you thousands of dollars and wasted time, or even save someone’s life. So why not do it?

[–] undefined@lemmy.hogru.ch 26 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Even when I’m a pedestrian I fucking hate anyone who doesn’t use a turn signal. Usually I’ll yield to cars because they’re faster, and as an impatient person myself I wonder who’d want to wait six years for someone to walk across whatever but I can’t do that when the idiots don’t use their turn signal.

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[–] VinesNFluff@pawb.social 24 points 1 week ago

Only sickos don't use their blinkers

[–] rc__buggy@sh.itjust.works 23 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Yes, I use it. Over a million miles and nearly 40 years driving.

Fuck the haters, use that thing.

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[–] CrazyLikeGollum@lemmy.world 22 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (4 children)

Yes. You're supposed to use it anytime you're about to turn or change lanes, including if you're sitting in a turn lane at a red light or backing out of a drive way or parking spot.

Not doing so makes you a road hazard.

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[–] monkeyman69@lemmynsfw.com 22 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Mirror, signal, manoeuvre. This is the way.

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[–] scytale@lemm.ee 22 points 1 week ago

It’s better to use your blinkers all the time than 90% of the time.

[–] SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 21 points 1 week ago (1 children)

What kind of person shits on another for using a turn signal? My guess is it is someone who forgets to use it frequently.

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[–] 2ugly2live@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Yes. I always use them. I hate when people don't. Oh, so you needed to come over? I would have slowed down if you told me. What are you slowing down for? Move- Oh. You're turning. Wish I would have known that. Dang, I need to pull out and make this turn. Let me wait until that car passes... Oh, they're turning.

It's such a small thing that makes driving safer for you and the people around you.

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[–] ZagamTheVile@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago

Yup. All the time. There's a road I drive several times a week that turns left. No intersection, it just makes a 90deg turn. I use it there out of habbit.

[–] RandomStickman@fedia.io 18 points 1 week ago

It's normal to use it pulling out of a driveway and in parking lots, don't worry about peer pressure and other people's bad habit

[–] anarcho_vroom@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 1 week ago

Yes. You're moving heavy objects with meat in them very fast. You should always clearly indicate your intentions.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 17 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Yeah; because I don't want someone to end up hitting me if I turn unexpectedly. I want them to expect it. I mean, I don't wanna be hit either way but you know what I mean.

[–] Zip2@feddit.uk 16 points 1 week ago

Always, because I’m not a lazy git or self-centered arsehole.

[–] OldManBOMBIN@lemmy.world 15 points 1 week ago (4 children)

I use mine so often that sometimes I accidentally turn them on in sharp curves.

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[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 15 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

Always use the blinker. Remember it's not a request, it's a warning. The only time you might not is if you have to make a sudden emergency swerve and don't have time and need both hands on the wheel. In this case, survival should be immediately followed by an apology wave.

When changing lanes in fast traffic, using the blinker will usually cause the car next to you to speed up. This is a feature, not a bug, as it opens a space behind them into which you can stick the nose of your car, ahead of the guy following them.

Adding in: if you routinely drive with your lights on, you will find that little extra visibility makes people slightly less likely to cut you off or more likely to let you in. Sometimes they don't mean to be assholes, they're just distracted, and being more visible helps. If you consider that "dingdingding" a reminder to lock it, it will turn off the lights and be safe.

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[–] MrsDoyle@sh.itjust.works 14 points 1 week ago

Always always signal your intention. I heard a woman complaining that her new car had lane control, which forced her to indicate when changing lanes. "It's so annoying, I mean it's obvious I'm overtaking, I don't need to indicate!"

Also, as a frequent pedestrian I appreciate when drivers and cyclists indicate and judge heavily when they don't. So frustrating to be waiting to cross the road and someone turns without indicating.

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I get mad at myself if I don't turn it on early enough. As I. If I go to change lanes and it only flashes once it really isn't enough notice for other drivers so I usually bitch at myself.

I may be the only person you meet who road rages against himself.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 13 points 1 week ago

I've never understood how a simple hand motion can be beyond anyone's skillset. It's just part of driving.

[–] FartsWithAnAccent@fedia.io 12 points 1 week ago

Yes, of course.

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