[BenignDesign]

I'm saying there is no logical reason whatsoever for my failure to use turn signals. I just don't use them.

SHOULD I use them? Yeah.
DO I use them? No.
That's really all the deeper the thought process goes on this one.

This post has been edited by BenignDesign: 28 October 2011 - 08:15 AM

[lordofduct]

I used to pee on cars in rush hour traffic who did that.

I pee on your car B9!

[macosxnerd101]

BenignDesign, on 28 October 2011 - 10:37 AM, said:

I simply dislike pushing a magic lever up and down. It's the same lever that controls my windsheild wipers and I am forever wasting washer fluid by bumping the button when I try to turn on a signal.

I look at this like learning any new gadget. If you put me in front of an XBox controller, I wouldn't be using it proficiently. Give me a week, I'll be better. Give me a month (probably less), and I'll be proficient. It's the same with the lever. If you take a minute before you leave one day when you're not rushed to make sure you have the lever down, and make an effort to use it, you'll learn it better. Hell, if my dad can teach a bunch of 60-70 year olds to use computers to a certain measure of competency, I'm sure you can learn to use the lever for the turn signals.

To be fair as well, it's usually fairly easy to determine when someone wants to come over. They usually start hugging to the side of the lane they want to move into. You might see inconsistent speeds as well. It's those assholes that move right over that we have to worry about. I'm sure you're not one of those.

[baavgai]

Simply, not using a signal puts YOU in more danger. The essence of safe driving never relying on other drivers to be paying attention. e.g. You don't put into traffic assuming the on coming car will slow down, because someday they won't. If there was a way you might catch someone's attention, it's just that much safer.

Habituation is the key. I use turn signals when I am the only car on the road. It's just part of the ritual of driving. It's easier to always do it than to only do it only under certain circumstances. I always put on a seat belt, check mirrors, turn on lights even if seems silly to, etc.

It's not that I'm necessarily keen of following rules; I break the speed limit as a matter of course. It's just that driving is an inherently dangerous activity and anything that aids in surviving it is worth doing. I like you, B9, and don't want to see you road kill. If I've come off as harsh, it's only out of concern.

[supersloth]

fight the power benign design!

[modi123_1]

Does this mean we need to move from Occupy Wallstreet to Occupy Frontseat?

[BenignDesign]

Occupy Backseat. Nekkid.

[lordofduct]

That's how I was made!

[DarenR]

BenignDesign, on 28 October 2011 - 08:57 AM, said:

haha... causing accidents from spontaneous lane changes! You all think I live in the city! Out here, rush hour only happens around noon on Sundays when the Amish church lets out and we're all stuck going 3MPH behind a caravan of buggies.

You live near Lancaster or Reading

[BobRodes]

xclite, on 27 October 2011 - 09:49 PM, said:

Tons of studies have been done on the effects of cell phone driving and even if the conversation is VERY simple, EVERYBODY is affected by the distraction. In fact, even hands free kids don't remove the distraction, they just give you a second hand.

Well, let's do tons of studies on stereos, radios, passengers, cups of coffee, Egg McMuffins, needing to pull over and find a restroom, makeup fixing, map reading, and every other distraction in a car, and perhaps we'll find that EVERYBODY is affected by them as well. If not, then there's a case against phone use while driving.

That said, my girlfriend has brain damage because some kid was texting on the phone and t-boned her van. So when it comes to texting I agree. Taking your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, and your mind off your surroundings all at the same time is a recipe for disaster.

macosxnerd101, on 28 October 2011 - 04:25 PM, said:

BenignDesign, on 28 October 2011 - 10:37 AM, said:

I simply dislike pushing a magic lever up and down. It's the same lever that controls my windsheild wipers and I am forever wasting washer fluid by bumping the button when I try to turn on a signal.

I look at this like learning any new gadget. If you put me in front of an XBox controller, I wouldn't be using it proficiently. Give me a week, I'll be better. Give me a month (probably less), and I'll be proficient. It's the same with the lever. If you take a minute before you leave one day when you're not rushed to make sure you have the lever down, and make an effort to use it, you'll learn it better. Hell, if my dad can teach a bunch of 60-70 year olds to use computers to a certain measure of competency, I'm sure you can learn to use the lever for the turn signals.

To be fair as well, it's usually fairly easy to determine when someone wants to come over. They usually start hugging to the side of the lane they want to move into. You might see inconsistent speeds as well. It's those assholes that move right over that we have to worry about. I'm sure you're not one of those.

I prefer hand signals. With gloves with red lights in all the fingertips to use at night.

jon.kiparsky, on 28 October 2011 - 03:21 PM, said:

baavgai, on 28 October 2011 - 08:42 AM, said:

Turn signals are clearly optional in the minds of many.

Yeah, they can go get fucked.

Quote

Another, apparently little know Jersey driving law, is that you must have your head lights on if your wipers are on. It's are pretty good rule of thumb, if you think about it; raining too much to see clearly, then...

The rationale for this actually has more to do with being seen. Your headlights won't do much to help you pick out an oncoming car when the rain cuts visibility during daylight hours, but they'll ensure that the oncoming car can see you.

Don't the Swedish vehicles tend to have their headlights on any time the vehicle is on?

And then the French have yellow headlights and if you're running them at twilight the cops will pull you over, salute you, and tell you to turn them off...and maybe even write you a ticket.

[xclite]

BobRodes, on 28 October 2011 - 02:02 PM, said:

xclite, on 27 October 2011 - 09:49 PM, said:

Tons of studies have been done on the effects of cell phone driving and even if the conversation is VERY simple, EVERYBODY is affected by the distraction. In fact, even hands free kids don't remove the distraction, they just give you a second hand.

Well, let's do tons of studies on stereos, radios, passengers, cups of coffee, Egg McMuffins, needing to pull over and find a restroom, makeup fixing, map reading, and every other distraction in a car, and perhaps we'll find that EVERYBODY is affected by them as well. If not, then there's a case against phone use while driving.

Your conclusion doesn't follow from your premise, try again.

Just because other potential distractions aren't outlawed does not imply that already proven dangerous distractions should be made legal. You've made no argument.

This post has been edited by xclite: 28 October 2011 - 11:13 AM

[jon.kiparsky]

BobRodes, on 28 October 2011 - 01:02 PM, said:

Well, let's do tons of studies on stereos, radios, passengers, cups of coffee, Egg McMuffins, needing to pull over and find a restroom, makeup fixing, map reading, and every other distraction in a car, and perhaps we'll find that EVERYBODY is affected by them as well. If not, then there's a case against phone use while driving.

Yes, all of those constitute distractions. It might be useful to distinguish between a momentary distraction, like changing the station on the radio, and an ongoing one, like talking on the phone. Might also be worth distinguishing between an active distraction, like a phone - which is making noises at you, to which you must attend and respond - and a passive distraction, like a piece of map software that makes noises at you without demanding any response.
Obviously, some distractions are more effective than others, and the fact that there are many stupid things that drivers do doesn't excuse the jackwagon twitbag fuckwads who endanger the lives and saftey of everyone around them due to their own over-inflated sense of self-importance.
Once we've established that cell-phone yappers and happy-thumb texters who operate their phones while their cars are in motion need to be dragged out of their cars and beaten sensible, I'm happy to talk about Waddly McPukeface and his coronary sandwich. But the fact that some incompetent waste of skin thinks it's reasonable to fix his eyeliner while tootling down the road doesn't excuse some other incompetent waste of skin who's talking on the phone.

Look, if you were to open up your trousers and have a wank while you were driving to work, most people would consider that "distracted driving". I don't see a whole lot of difference between that and yapping on your chatterbox. Both of them are perfectly acceptable and normal behaviors that you don't indulge in while operating heavy machinery. Simple, no?

(yes, xclite said it more concisely, but whatever)

This post has been edited by jon.kiparsky: 28 October 2011 - 11:28 AM

[BenignDesign]

DarenR, on 28 October 2011 - 01:52 PM, said:

BenignDesign, on 28 October 2011 - 08:57 AM, said:

haha... causing accidents from spontaneous lane changes! You all think I live in the city! Out here, rush hour only happens around noon on Sundays when the Amish church lets out and we're all stuck going 3MPH behind a caravan of buggies.

You live near Lancaster or Reading

Incorrect, sir. Not all PA Amish live in Lancaster and Reading. Those are what my mother always called the "half-baked" Amish. Apparently they are not nearly as authentic, pious, toiling, and manure-scented as our Amish. I live in the little corner where PA, MD, and WV meet.

[modi123_1]

Ah... you must now allow the baked Amish gap to widen!

Spoiler

[Craig328]

BenignDesign, on 28 October 2011 - 12:43 PM, said:

Occupy Backseat. Nekkid.

Seen yer "boobies", recently. Not falling for THAT one again.


On a side note, I never cease to be amazed at the number of people I'll see, particularly on my way home from work, who are yammering away on their cells while they drive. A great many of them just left a place they'd been at for the previous 8-9 hours...that likely had a frickin' phone on their desk all day long. What is it about getting into a car that makes some people's brains go "hey, NOW it's time to make that call"?

Personally, I can't stand seeing people blathering away on a cellphone behind me in traffic. Those bitches make me nervous.