Turn Signals – Driving with Intention

Turn signals are a source of significant misunderstanding within the driving world. I can’t speak for anywhere outside of North America as I haven’t observed drivers as much. Although, I did spend a total of six weeks in Cairo, Egypt visiting family and they don’t really have rules, per se. They are more like guidelines. In a city of 18 million people, it made driving an exciting adventure. Aside from highways with camels, trains, buses, cars and donkeys on the road, my global experience is fairly limited.

Driving like a pro

I learned to drive on a 16 lane beltway in Washington D.C. and that has made Canadian driving an easy, breezy delight. I haven’t been a perfect driver. I had a problem with speeding when I was young; I sought help in the form of financial assistance for my ticket collection and resolved that problem. I’ve also been in my fair share of car accidents, however, none were severe.

There was the accident where I was hit by a car and if you’ve read my book, I’m sure you remember the head on collision that brought my daughter into this world. But aside from that and a few other cars I totaled, it’s been smooth sailing. This turn signal discussion comes from a place of caring. Caring for you, for me, for everyone. It also comes from deep annoyance because I know that certain individuals just refuse to signal properly. So I feel rage within my depth of caring for your safety.

Driving-related action items

I have observed turn signal usage and as of late, I have started to turn my observations into hypotheses. The hypothesis I’m working with right now is that turn signals are extremely confusing. They have become mixed in with a medley of other driving-related action items and this has caused the demise of the true purpose of the turn signal. The turn signal is now living a life without purpose. Without contribution to society. That simply isn’t right and I am here today to stand up for the rights of turn signals.

I will begin by explaining the most prominent and complex procedure that a turn signal may be involved in. There are cues that we will look at; mental and physical cues. I believe that with a bit of explanation and photos for clarity, the perplexity of turn signals will be alleviated.

What is a turn signal?

Let’s define a turn signal in layman’s terms. It is a flashing light, at times referred to as a blinker, which indicates the intention of the driver to the surrounding drivers, pedestrians and scientific observers. It is used to as a signal of intention.

Signals are quite vast and may or may not contain specific information. Plant chemicals signal other plants; animals often signal other animals of impending danger and even in our bodies, we have cell signaling processes. Actual signals sent out by our cells to indicate intention. Our cells are very diligent drivers.

Signaling in a car could work just as well as in our cells. In order for that achievement to become a reality, we need to dissect the turn signal function and the five stages of turn signal success. A turn signal, as mentioned, indicates what the intentions of the driver are to those around them. Let’s look at the five steps in making a lane change. Each lane change should go through phases that include both a mental and a physical state of consciousness.

Five steps to turn signal success

1. Be mindful. Where are you? Think about when you need to change lanes. Do not preemptively change lanes. Think first.
2. Turn signal on in the direction of lane change. Do not move your head, steering wheel or major muscle groups. Flick the signal on and hold steady.
3. Shoulder check. Is there someone in your blind spot? Again, do not move any muscle groups that are not involved in this activity. Fingers have returned to their normal position. Body remains facing forward. Head turns slightly and as an added bonus, you may lean forward just slightly to ensure you can see your entire blind spot.
4. Move steering wheel in the direction of the signal. This is where your big muscle groups can kick in. Move your arm muscles to turn the wheel, stay aware of what’s around you and keep your signal on.
5. Turn off turn signal (if you haven’t made a 90 degree turn or your car is old and shitty). This is very important and often forgotten. It causes mass confusion and at times, even anger. We don’t want that.

Here are two photos to illustrate how to flick a turn signal up and down without moving the steering wheel. Enjoy these educational photos.

The confusion I have observed about turn signals is a misunderstanding that each of these five phases is meant to happen at once. They are not all one action item.  Each phase is a separate action. As a way to remember this, perhaps notice that each phase requires a different muscle group and cognition. You move and think simultaneously.

The worst lane change

The worst lane changers are described below, including a worst case scenario outcome and emotion felt from all people involved. Unnecessary, driving-related emotion.

You’re driving in rush hour traffic and although it is busy, everyone is still driving quickly. You are driving in the centre of three lanes. Middle lane; that’s you. You don’t want to cause trouble; you’re just kickin’ it in the middle lane and acting very Switzerland. You have no enemies, you mean no harm; you are beautiful and have chocolate.

Anxiety. Stress. Lane changers.

Just slightly in front of your car, you see another car start to ride the inside lane. They get closer to you. There is no signal but you feel anxious. You notice the car begins to move a bit erratically; slowing down, speeding up, inching toward you and then inching back. You might even notice someone looking in their mirror.

With each look their car swerves just enough to cause a response-swerve and anxiety from you. The person on your left is now panicking as well. You don’t know if the vehicle on your right is changing lanes or drunk. You have absolutely no information on why this car is veering toward you. You are now veering as well and everyone is worried.

You continue moving forward quickly and cautiously. Suddenly the car on your right decides they are going to move into your lane. They turn their steering wheel and flick on their signal in the same moment. You don’t see the signal because you’re in their blind spot and that signal is fucking useless anyway. The car begins to change lanes into you. You suddenly realize what is happening, lay on the horn and move to the right automatically so that you don’t get plowed down by the impulsive, ignorant lane changer.

Honk and bail

As soon as the lane changer hears your horn, they realize they are moving directly into you. You’ve started to veer, slow down and attempt to bail out somehow. The person behind you is in danger; the car on your left is on the median already and you’re about to hit the brakes. The lane changer is stunned by your presence, as SIGNALED by your horn, and they have no choice but to hit you or swerve aggressively back into their lane on the right. Guess what’s in that lane now? A parked car.

The lane changer is caught between two options and has a millisecond to decide which type of accident they would prefer. To collide head on with the parked car or to collide into the side of you. You are also caught between options. You could slam on the brakes and get rear-ended or ride it out and hope the lane changer somehow misses your car.

Driving catastrophe live streamed. You’re famous.

In the end, the lane changer hits both your car and the parked car because they end up on a diagonal. Your passenger side door is fucked. The lane changer’s car is totaled. The person behind you has also swerved causing mass hysteria during rush hour. And that other guy who used to be on your left is still hanging out on the median, watching this entire scene unfold and probably Live Streaming it on Facebook.

Replace the parked car with a moving car or a pedestrian. If you make a lane change without signaling to the people around you and you don’t have the open spot you think you do, you will cause a car accident. If you do have that space, you’ve essentially just cut someone off because your signal was useless. It didn’t signal anything except your ignorance, misunderstanding or laziness.

Turn signal cues

If you are in the first phase of lane changing (thinking), do not move your car. Do not signal and change lanes. Do not move your steering wheel.

If you are in the second phase of lane changing (turn signal), please remember these helpful tips to ensure you are successful.

Move only your finger/hand. Not your steering wheel. If you feel muscle sensation in your arms, neck, head or shoulders then use those sensations as a cue. They mean you are doing it wrong. When you turn on your turn signal, don’t move your car. This might mean you’re learning to turn on your signal earlier and that’s a learning curve. Be patient with yourself and start in a parking lot.

Mindful driving

• If your car begins to veer into the lane you’re planning to move to, you’ve done it wrong. You’ve allowed more muscular activity to occur. Chill. You’re over-working. Your car does not move when you use your turn signal.
• If you are having a hard time changing lanes and you have the thought ‘WTF! Why isn’t anyone letting me in?!’ then ask yourself if you have your turn signal on. I promise that the majority of your problems will go away and somehow magically, drivers will appear to be nicer to you. Really, they are acting the same in both scenarios. You’re just expecting a highway of mind readers and that’s so rare these days.
• If you are about to change lanes and there is a car in front of you (parked or moving), do not change lanes until you’ve been through phase 1-3 as individual steps. If your lane change plan doesn’t go well and you need to return to your lane, you need enough space for that. If the car in front of you is RIGHT THERE, you will hit them. You will attempt to speed up, change lanes, realize it’s not safe (as in, there is a car there) and jut back into your lane. The car in front of you may have slowed down. Or stopped. Smashtown. Population – you.

Driving with intention

In support of my hypothesis that we simply don’t understand turn signals, I will cite a few relevant points.

In the United States, you must have 100 ft between your turn signal and actually changing lanes. In some states it is 200 ft.

In Canada, when driving at speeds under 60 km/h, you should signal at least 30 m before turning or changing lanes. At higher speeds, signal at least 150 m from the corner or lane change.

Yes, these are different units of measurement. That’s how we roll. Select your preferred country and go with that. If you don’t understand the unit of measurement, you’re in the wrong country (another helpful tip).

Statistics. They’re concerning

If you follow the five steps to turn signal success, you will be taking a significant role in preventing car accidents. According to the World Health Organization, road accidents are on the list of top 10 global causes of death in the year 2000 and the year 2016 (when studies were published).

For twenty years, road accidents have been a leading cause of death worldwide. Twenty. Years.

There is a lot of movement and innovation related to smart cars. I touched on this in my article about Artificial Intelligence and the 5G/6G network. If the 5G network does become a reality (an actual reality, not just a faster version of what we have now), one of the goals is self-driving vehicles. In the same way as smart iPhone technology can turn your house lights on, adjust your thermostat when you’re almost home or play Eye of the Tiger every time you return home; your car would be programmable and in a sense, autonomous.

Self-driving cars might save us

I initially thought self-driving vehicles sounded like a disaster. I pictured a futuristic world of flying cars (in my head they fly), all driving under the speed limit and becoming an absolute victim of GPS. Like when you need GPS because you don’t know where you’re going and you give faith to the software, only to end up on a road that is under construction, closed or no longer exists. Or you’ve driven into a lake, as one man did when following GPS.

Now I think of self-driving cars in a similar way to the excellent transit systems that European countries have. You can hop on a train to get anything and even as a tourist; it’s simple and safe to navigate. The trains are clean, you don’t need a tetanus shot after and unless you miss your stop the train really doesn’t make a mistake. They are quite impressive. Trains.

Cars are cool

I will end with five neat facts:

1. The world’s first speeding ticket was issued in 1902 (to me).
2. A modern formula 1 car can drive upside down in a tunnel at 120mph.
3. If you take a straight path at about 60mph, you will arrive at the moon in less than a month. Very reasonable.
4. In some European countries, speeding fines are proportional to income. In Sweden, a man was issued a 1 million euro speeding ticket. He was driving 180mph.
5. The man who invented cruise control was blind.

Thank you for reading! Happy driving!