This particular rant will be yet another example of how we live
in the Age of Inconsideration.
I have to take a busy freeway to work. Its a freeway that has a
specific lane designed for egresses to and from the exits, in
addition to the usual merging lanes. Now, for those who don't
realize, CARS are designed with a certain feature to telegraph your
decisions while driving. Its called a TURN SIGNAL.
Today, on my way to work, I had merged into the speeding traffic
with the proper use of this turn signal. There was an opening in
the next lane, and I clicked my signal on (a very simple gesture,
takes hardly any effort at all) and I thusly merged successfully
into traffic. Upon coming to the next on-ramp, there was a shiny
blue car in that lane designated to entering and exiting the
freeway. I was sidled up next to it, about half way to its front
bumper. And that car tried to move in, WITHOUT SIGNALING!
I panicked for a second. But he moved back. I realized what he was
trying to do and slowed up a little. THEN he chose to signal, and
merged. But he didn't signal for long. The left blinker blinked
maybe twice before he got in. Which made it seem like he was
inconvenienced doing this.
He's not the first to have shirked that responsibility. He
needs to learn, as do many others, that the turn signal, in
addition to being a social politeness, is also a SAFETY MEASURE!
Shirking it, dismissing it, and disregarding it, not only makes you
a rude and despicable person, but it can also ENDANGER LIVES. I
don't care how rich you are or how nice your brand new car
is, there's nothing in this world of commuting and safety that
gives you carte blanche to disavow the proper driving
procedures, which are designed to PREVENT ACCIDENTS.
Geez, its a simple tap of the finger to move that lever attached to
the steering column. Do it often enough, and it just becomes
instinct when you make lane changes and such. DO IT! Get used to
it! And we can all be a little safer, and nicer, on the freeways.
And for those of you who already practice this procedure, BRAVO!
You make the world a better place.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Signal, stupid!
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Posted by Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:53pm PDT
Report AbuseI couldn't agree more. Why is it that nobody uses their turn signals anymore, like it's just too much trouble. I get extremely annoyed too with people who think that using your turn signal is optional, more of just a suggestion. They seem to think it's an optional feature on your car that you can use when you choose to like the stereo or air conditioning. I guess probably the reason people can't be bothered to signal is they're busy talking on their cell phones, eating a meal, etc. - multi-tasking. I used to see a lot more crazy things when I worked days and drove in morning rush hour traffic. I saw people doing their hair, putting on makeup, shaving, and in one especially frightening incident, someone reading the newspaper.
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Posted by Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:05am PDT
Report AbuseOne of my major pet peeve is traffic. People just don't use common sense anymore, and think they own the road. It is horrible!
Several years back before my husband passed away, we were on our mountain road headed home. 18 miles of twisted and hair pin turns, many sections with the side of a mountain on one side of you and tops of trees on the other side. There are only 2 small stretches where you can pass safely on this road. And there are a couple of more, places but you got to know the road. He had lived there longer than I have, but we both had traveled that road at least once a week for 15 years. Every time he tried to pass they would speed up, and of course we slowed down because a curve would be coming up and you never know when you would meet up with a logging truck-loaded. When you meet one of them head on, and there is no where to go, it makes a believer out of you, and that's a fact. Anyway, it happened several more times as he tried to pass. Thing was they were driving super slow like 15 miles an hour on the curves and you could take most of them at 45, but here again you got to know the road. It was obvious they were from out of town. Even in the passenger seat I was having a fit. I finally told Pete if he would get next to the driver's window I would reach over and yank that person out and give them a piece of my mind. Few seconds went by then he said to me, "I thought you were a Christian." LLLol, I looked at him and replied, Not today!
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