No Stupid Questions

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Yes, of course.

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.

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.

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"

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.

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?

Yes what the fuc

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.

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.

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.

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..

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.

Just use it all the time including turn only lanes. Deal with the clicking, it’s fine.

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.

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

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

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.

There are only 4 ways to communicate in a car what your intentions are to other drivers. Left blinker, right blinker, brake lights, and the finger. 5 if you count flashing brights but I'm convinced most people think it's just a fuck you for having headlights that are too bright, which might be the case, but I'm usually telling you there a pig ahead.

Hey, it's your life. If you want to use your blinker so that it is easier to get an opening, and so people are more likely to avoid hitting you, well, that's your choice.

Also, the results in here will be survivor biased. The people in wrecks because they didn't use their blinker are too busy dealing with insurance and repair times and rental cars to be on Lemmy. They are also busy having to remind people that they are the most important person on the road.

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.

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.

Basically everywhere. Not always when pulling in my driveway if no one else is around, but I’ve certainly seen driveways where you might even use it pulling out. I don’t use it pulling out of my driveway. It’s rare that I not use it otherwise, though. Very occasionally I’ll think I’ve put it on but discover while turning that I didn’t have it on. Might be my ADHD causing that.

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.