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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[–] MrsDoyle@sh.itjust.works 13 points 3 days 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.

[–] deadcatbounce@reddthat.com 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

There are specific directives for Audi, BMW and Mercedes which void their warranties should you ever even think such scandalous thoughts as using the indicators individually; not using them to say that you know you're parking in a stupid place, angle across a pavement but you're only buying some chocolate from that corner shop.

My car has lane detection such that my steering is 'corrected' if I don't use an indicator. It gets confused on country roads and often tries to steer into the hedge or ditch. Fucking thing. It can't be turned off long term, but only ever time one turns on the ignition.

[–] octobob@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (3 children)

Yikes. Lane correction legit freaks me out. I thought it could always be turned off long term but I guess not.

It would be a disaster using that in the city I live in (Pittsburgh). Like I'm sorry that our roads are based on deer trails from the 1800s that go through woods and winding up and down hills. With all the city traffic to go with it.

Downtown can be even worse. Like you legit have to break traffic laws to get around, there's no other way. If one of them cars "corrected" me on a tight narrow street when I go over the double yellow to pass someone on a bicycle, that could end terribly for everyone.

It's like the people that designed these cars only ever have to drive on perfect grids with multiple lanes or the highway.

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[–] TriflingToad@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

that sounds dangerous. My mom's car, a minivan which is big and scary to me, has a thing where it tries to stay in the lane for you automatically which was very scary the first time I tried to drive it lol

[–] deadcatbounce@reddthat.com 3 points 2 days ago

That's the thing I'm taking about!

It's a bit scary tbh. If you don't do (steer) what it says it shakes the steering wheel as if a wheel was seriously unbalanced or broken.

It's my first new-to-me car in a while. So I'm enjoying most of the new tech but not quite this bit!

[–] magikmw@lemm.ee 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I don't use turn signals when driving around a roundabout unless I'm exiting because I'm not psychotic.

But seriously, they are for signifying intent, not blinking idly, and they should be used plenty.

I put a turn signal on when I back into my underground parking spot when I'm literally the only person down there. Force of habit that I'm totally cool with.

[–] Mediocre_Bard@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

100% I use that bitch in parking lots.

[–] drmoose@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I use it even in my drive way. Good habbit is a good practice that makes operating any system easier and honestly just more fun. I know cars get a bad rap these days but it's an amazing technology that's fun to be a part of.

[–] jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 5 points 2 days ago

I don't drive anymore because I live someplace with transit and sidewalks, but when I drove I always signalled turns. Low effort, high safety.

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days 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.

[–] Papanca@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

So grateful to everyone in the comments who use them. Thank you all! Where i live most don't use them. I don't get why; aren't these people annoyed when others don't use the blinker?

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[–] jagged_circle 6 points 2 days ago

I ride a bicycle. I always signal by hand. It pisses me off when cars don't see me and dont signal. Almost been hit that way.

Let people know when your massive death machine is going to be changing direction.

[–] FartsWithAnAccent@fedia.io 12 points 3 days ago

Yes, of course.

[–] y0kai@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 days ago

Usually I use them, but not if I'm the only car on the road, and not in my city's roundabouts.

The roundabouts are abnormally small, so using a blinker to exit is confusing for everyone because I'd be signalling to turn for the exit I need, but the roundabout is so small that the wrong cars will think I'm exiting before them and pull out in front of me. When really, I'd be signalling for the exit immediately after them while trying to provide time for that exit's car to see my intentions.

Also people in this city don't understand roundabouts. I see people enter the wrong way semi-regularly, stop in the middle of the roundabout to let people in, use a left blinker to enter a roundabout that only goes around to the left, and treat every empty roundabout as a 4-way stop. Its pretty frustrating sometimes.

Sorry, we were talking about blinkers and, in some roundabout way, I got off topic lol

[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago

I got made fun of for using it when pulling out of my moms driveway once lol

I believe the socially acceptable retort is "if you don't like my driving, you can get the hell out of the car. If you're staying, you can shut up"

Until humans invent mind reading and we can all do it easily without a moment's hesitation, I will be using my turning indicator. Only idiots make fun of signalling.

[–] HeavyRaptor@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 days ago

Only if I don't run out of blinker fluid.

[–] Voyajer@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I use it to pull into my driveway because it's immediately after a sharp blind turn and I'd rather not get shoved into my own mailbox.

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[–] Cryophilia@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

My old house was one of a row of housing with assigned parking spaces in front, perpendicular to the road. Like in front of a store.

I was going to turn into my parking space. This behemoth of a truck was in front of me, going slow as molasses. I mean like 2 miles an hour. I could have stopped my car and walked home faster, but I was in the middle of the road.

The truck in front of me veered left, towards the parking spots on the opposite side of the road. I said "fucking FINALLY" and darted past them on the right.

Turns out they had finally found the spot they were looking for and had just swung wide to turn into the spot. On the right, not the left. They turned straight into me as I tried to drive past.

Ever since then I make sure to use my blinker even if I'm just turning into my driveway.

[–] unmagical@lemmy.ml 8 points 3 days ago

If you habitually use it on simple or clear turns or empty roads you will habitually use it when there are people around. That's a good habit to have.

Lights on always and signal whenever you're deviating from your current lane.

[–] anas@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

Oh I’m very happy to also use it in a turn only lane at a red light for 3 minutes

[–] XeroxCool@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago

Over 15 years driving, here. I use blinkers all the time. I feel weird if I change lanes without a blinker, even if I know for an absolute fact there's no one around me... Or even any that can see me. And I mean, I'll even use it when I do a little road rage for people camping in the passing lane and I pass them on the wrong side, cutting a little close when returning. That being said, a driveway is something I'd make a joke about among friends. It wouldn't make me judge you as a driver. I'd use the rest of your driving as my judgment material.

My 2 cents on a topic you didn't ask for: Do not hold down the passing lane. It makes me a little irrational, but only with a totally clear line of sight. There's plenty of dumber morons that suck at it, so camping sprinkles a little chaos into the hierarchy of the lanes. It does not matter how your speed compares to the limit.

[–] SSNs4evr@leminal.space 3 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I've been made fun of, signaling while offroading.

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[–] Coskii@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 3 days ago

Been driving for a few decades at this point. I use my turn signals for nearly all turns, and any moving merges. The more information I can give to other drivers, the more likely they are to act rationally.. which decreases the chances of miscommunications and accidents.

I don't always signal while in a turn only lane, as being in that lane should already denote my intentions, and while merging into heavy (stopped, bumper to bumper) traffic..

[–] prunerye@slrpnk.net 4 points 2 days ago

In my area, most drivers don't start the turn signal until they've reached the intersection or have already started the turn. Infuriates me to no end. This is also true for left turns at red lights; they don't activate their turn signals until they stop, sometimes not even until the green light, so you have no chance to change lanes before they block you.

[–] SpicyColdFartChamber@lemm.ee 5 points 3 days ago

Only when I remember to fill up on my blinker fluid.

[–] Irelephant@lemm.ee 3 points 2 days ago

No, I ran out of blinker fluid and the price is too high from the tariffs now.

[–] POTOOOOOOOO@reddthat.com 4 points 2 days ago

Where I'm going is none of your business.

In all seriousness I'm pretty sure I always do. Even when no one is around. Just good habits.

[–] fubarx@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

I use it everywhere because it signals intent. You never know when someone might pull up fast or walk into your blind spot. This is the only indicator they have that you're about to pull into traffic, or change lanes.

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