Time for one of my driving rants.  Bear with me (pun intentional) on this.

I was almost slammed into on my way to work this morning in the round-about on East Main.  I was turning from Idaho Maryland onto East Main, using the lane designated for that traffic function.   There was someone else in the round-about, but their right turn signal was not blinking, thus I figured they were making the loop.  That seemed like a safe assumption to make, since they were in the inside lane and didn’t have the indicator on their car flashing to show their intention to change lanes.

That’s what that little stick is on the right hand side of your steering wheel is for ya’ know.  I’m pretty sure turn indicators are required equipment on ALL motor vehicles.  They were a pretty good idea when they were first created in 1938 by the Buick company.  I’m betting people in the 40’s were as resistant to it’s use as they seem to be today.

I don’t understand the reluctance to use the turn signals.  I see their use declining more and more.  Lane change – no signal.  Left hand turn across traffic – no signal.  Right hand turn – no signal.   It’s almost as if these drivers were saying to the rest of the motoring world “It’s my car, I’ll go where I want and you can just guess!”

Of course there is the other end of the turn signal spectrum.  Those who drive down the road with their signal blinking away.  I can understand that to a certain degree, that little click-click-click seems to have gotten quieter and quieter every year since I turned 45.

I suppose there is so little left of common courtesy in this world I shouldn’t be surprised that no one wants to share the route they are planning to move their one ton of steel.  No, I’m just disappointed, and well insured . . . . . . .