Required side turn signals in North American cars (vehicle, SUV, brake)

[POS VETT]

Why even bother? Using turn signals is unAmerican.

[MX City visiting]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Which is already being done, and has been for several years.

The easy answer to why it's not done is that they're not required.

and the point of my thread is that why don't we require the use of them like they do in Europe for safety reasons?

[bus man]

Personally, I'd like to see side blinkers included on cars, because I agree that it makes it easier to see when someone's turn signals are on. I would think, though, that mounting them on the mirror would be distracting to the driver who is actually doing the signalling, because he'd have a flashing light right there in his rear-view mirror. But I've never driven a car so equipped, so maybe it's not an issue.

As for amber lights, I cannot even begin to imagine why all blinkers aren't this color. When you have the ones that are red, and you see them from behind, at first it looks like the driver is tapping his brakes.

[mustangman66]

I am very glad to have turn signals mounted on my side mirrors as when my rear blinker went out I was still able to signal and people could still see it. If I had not had the turn signal on my mirror I would have looked like one of these lazy D-bags driving around that never uses them.

[wintersbone]

Most people rarely use them so who cares.

[juggar]

I had them on my 2003 mazda tribute, small little amber lights right on the side of the car.

They were always irrelevant to me, I depend on the taillight ones working. The side ones were hardly visible/practical anyway.

For the past 8 years since i've had my license, side blinkers have never helped me in any situation.

To me they are niche thing, nice to have but should not be required.

[1973PINTO]

all my cars are so old I still have to signal by hand ....

[phlinak]

Originally Posted by MX City visiting

Why don't North American cars require side turn signals on all vehicles like they do in Europe and rest of the world? I think having side turn signals makes it safer and more visible because sometimes back and front turn signals may not be visible at all times. I know some vehicles do have, but most don't.

Europe already mandate side turn signals + only amber lights decades ago; don't know why North America is always behind when it comes to infrastructure and safety!

I absolutely agree with you.

It seems that American vehicles are always behind the curve and fight safety mandates when it comes to innovations like the three-point shoulder harness for all passengers and tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

The amber turn signals are another example.

[Keim]

Originally Posted by phlinak

I absolutely agree with you.

It seems that American vehicles are always behind the curve and fight safety mandates when it comes to innovations like the three-point shoulder harness for all passengers and tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

The amber turn signals are another example.

I prefer it that way. I like my vehicles with LESS useless crap the gov't requires me to pay for, not more.

[NickofDiamonds]

I was just thinking about the person that was in front of me on the freeway this morning who drove for 15 minutes with his left turn signal on and all the people who were signalling him to let him know.
It was quite the show !