turn signals – The Wise Drive

May 28, 2020June 5, 2020

You Should Signal In Roundabouts (But Is It The Law?)

Q: I’m wondering about the rules for signaling when your car is exiting a roundabout. I rarely see people do this and so I went to the WSDOT website. The written instructions don’t mention signaling nor do the drivers in the instructional videos signal when exiting. Do you know why this is?

A: Do you want my opinion, or do you want the law? I just asked a dumb question; of course you want the law. But I’m going to give you my opinion anyway. I think you should signal your intention to exit a roundabout. However, as we all know, there is a big difference between “think you should” and “required by law.” Are you required by law to signal in a roundabout? That’s where things get tricky.

January 19, 2020January 16, 2020

Giving the Signal

Q: Do I have to use my turn signal, even if there is no one around? Do I have to keep my turn signal on when I’m stuck at a light at an intersection? After a while the blinking gets pretty annoying.

A: Is there a revolt brewing against the consistent use of turn signals? In the last few weeks it’s come up repeatedly in conversations I’ve had and in questions sent to me.

It seems like drivers wanted turn signals long before car manufacturers were willing to install them. In 1907 Percy Douglas-Hamilton applied for the first patent for turn signals. His system used lights shaped like hands, because at that time people used hand signals to indicate their turns. In 1914 Florence Lawrence invented a turn signal system. (Florence’s mother invented automatic windshield wipers; quite an innovative family.) Then there was the Protex Safety Signal Company in 1920, Edgar Waltz, Jr. in 1925, and Oscar Simler in 1929.

September 15, 2019September 12, 2019

The Right Way to Signal Right (on a bike)

Q: What is the correct hand signal for a right turn when riding a bike? Do you extend your left hand up or your right hand out?

A: Yes. At least according to the law. But before we get to that, let’s agree that signaling, no matter how you do it, whether you’re on a bike or in a car, is one of the bare minimum behaviors that we commit to practice when we’re on the road. If you’re not signaling, you’ve not only violated the written law; you’ve also violated the unwritten rules that define how other drivers will feel about you as a fellow human. Signals help other drivers understand our intentions, making driving more predictable and safe. Not making the effort to push on that little lever on your steering column or extend an arm is essentially like telling everyone else on the road that you think you’re too special to play by the rules. Okay, enough preaching. Back to the question.

March 17, 2019March 14, 2019

When Swerving For Cows, Yield to Oncoming Cars

Q: On a residential no outlet road, is it law that I must use my turn signal to make a right turn into my own driveway? If a residential road has no white centerline, can I be pulled over for supposedly driving up the middle of the road? In particular, when there is plowed snow on the shoulders of such road?

A: I’m wondering if this two-part question was prompted by a single law enforcement encounter. Or maybe I’m wrong about that and it’s just a debate among friends. If the questions did stem from a traffic stop, I expect that the officer would have already provided the answer to the driver in the form of a warning or a ticket. If it’s a debate, allow me to settle the argument.

February 28, 2018October 25, 2018

Traffic is Poetry – Turn Signals

Okay. This isn’t exactly a PSA. But I think the message will resonate with a lot of people, given how many emails I get about people failing to use their turn signals. Also, how often do you get to hear a traffic safety message in the form of a poem? Maybe you can share this with someone who could use a reminder.