Turn Signals ARE the Law in NC (Marshall: home, living in)

[steve54]

Originally Posted by sandycat

To be honest, I've only been here a little over a month, and I'm surprised at how crazy people drive here. Many people drive way over the speed limit, they drive too close and most irritating of all is the fact that many (not all) don't use signals. It drives me crazy! It only takes one careless error to kill someone.

Listen, Y'all, a newbie here in NC - I've been here over 3 years and I'm used to the driving style - I like the excitement of going out in the car and wondering whether I'm going to end up in the ER or morgue. And as for turn signals - I used to use them in a previous existence but not anymore 'cos I'm busy on the phone, talking trash with my homey, trying to eat up my 3000 monthly minutes or eating a burger, or on my laptop. Sometimes I let my 4 year old steer my 2 tons of metal, he kinda likes it - or let my dog sit on my lap

I was reading in the N and O today that the Highway Patrol issued 450,000 tickets for speeding last year but don't worry cos y'all can go to the jammed up court and get off with it - 101 mph through fuquay main street at age 16 - no problem use your prayer for judgment continued and it's not even a slap on the wrist.
I was gassing up yesterday and next to me was a group of young hispanics all drinking beer in their car - today the first accident report is 3 young hispanics dead in accident , evidence of intoxication and speeding-

Being serious - the standard of driving and consideration for other road users here is deplorable. Police enforcement seems rigorous but limited. The courts seem overcrowded and presided over by some people you wouldn't put in charge of a public restroom. take , for example the recent case of the recidivist speeder who ended 3 peoples fives by way of driving into them whilst speeding and on bald tires and no license - no jail time just probation -a travesty if ever there was one

NC's a great place to live but very backward in some issues , the recent smoking ban vote being a good example of not very forward-thinking, recent high-profile corruption charges , cronyism, incompetent criminal investigations - the list is long . I know I can leave if i don't like it but that doesn't help the other people that are adversely effected by such issues. For now I'll take my chances. If you've only been here for a month your eyes will be opened even wider.
Live long and prosper

[steve54]

Originally Posted by donna78

Agreed, turn signals certainly appear optional here. Also, did you know that slower traffic keep right is a law? In England you will be ticketed for undertaking.
People seem to be too lazy to move the wheel so they just pick a lane and stay in it. This, in turn, leads to people weaving. Very dangerous!

I also agree that drivers here, while very bad, are much better than Florida. If you drive to FL, the minute you cross the state line people just seem to lose their brains. I don't know why.

What about the advanced manouvre of right turn straight into the left lane - whats that all about??

[nynraleigh]

Originally Posted by gamsauer

I recently went to Long Island and was amazed at the number of turn signals I saw. It was like Christmas with all of those flashing lights!

I am from Long Island, here 6 months in Raleigh, and yes, the use of signals to me is like putting your seatbelt on, you don't think of it, you just do it...I am amazed on how many drivers here in NC do not use turn signals...but I don't tailgate or speed so I stay far away from the crazies anywhere I drive...so you just have to be aware of what is going on around you...

[Desdemona123]

Originally Posted by gamsauer

This comes from page 69 of the NC DMV Driving Handbook!


Communicating

Communicating means letting others know what you plan to do early enough to avoid a crash. Any time you plan to slow dwon, stop, turn, change langes or pull away from the curb, you should signal your intention. Be in the habit of signalling your movement even when you do not see others on the road. Before you signal, you must first see that your movement can be made safely.

http://www.ncdot.org/DMV/driver_serv...DL_English.pdf

Even if they are on, you'd never get me trusting the fact that the are on. Nice, but pretty useless down here.

[scorp200]

Originally Posted by miamiblue

If you think people here drive crazy, don't go to FL! I thought I had died and made it to sane driver heaven since I moved here. More people use signals that I have ever seen having lived my whole life in FL up until now - I used to think I was the only person on the planet who used them down there. I guess I was just one of the few who actually read the driver's manual! Yeah, people do drive fast, but not nearly as crazy as what I'm used to.

Ha!!! I second this. They don't seem to exist in FL unless you're seeing someone from Canada leave theirs on in the left lane on a highway

And the cops don't use them either...

All I know is here the other day someone honked at me to go through a red light. Not make a right...go straight. Then they passed me and blew through it.

[ALT-X]

Originally Posted by jbognar

Oh yea? If turn signals are the law in North Carolina, how come I never see any of the state or local police using them?

You only have to use turn signals if your movement could potentially effect another vehicle. If someone is behind you or in close proximity to you then you need to signal. If their is no one near you or they are more than 4 or 5 car lengths away from you then you don't have to signal. Of course their is a large gray area.... Like if someone is far away from you but coming up fast, etc.... You just have to use common sense and use your signals when your movement effects other vehicles....

If you're in a lane where all you can do is turn left or right you don't have to have your signal on... A lot of people keep their signals on in lanes like these and you don't have to...

[citydweller]

"If you're in a lane where all you can do is turn left or right you don't have to have your signal on... A lot of people keep their signals on in lanes like these and you don't have to..."

Ahh, I noticed this while turning left onto Glenwood (towards the mall I think it was). I was the lone person out of probably 10.

[prius109]

Did anybody honestly think it wasnt a law?? Drives me nuts when people just suddenly slow down and turn without any signal. That causes accidents all the time.

[MikeJaquish]

If you see a car with a turn signal on in North Carolina, it came that way from the factory.

[prius109]

Originally Posted by MikeJaquish

If you see a car with a turn signal on in North Carolina, it came that way from the factory.

LOL,
but really people, everybody says that where they live is where the worst drivers are.. lets face it, there are terrible drivers EVERYWHERE. Why its so hard for people to put down their cell phones when driving is beyond me. NY had a law against using a cell phone while driving, and I miss that!

Ok, i have my shield up now, im ready for the brusin thats coming from all the people on this board that drive and talk on cells