From: goudreau@batgirl.rtp.dg.com (Bob Goudreau)
Subject: Re: Stereotypical frustrating drivers
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 92 17:10:58 GMT
Organization: Data General Corporation, RTP, NC.

In article <10907@rls.UUCP> randy@rls.UUCP (Randall L. Smith) writes:
>tmkk@uiuc.edu (K. Khan) writes:
>
>> Actually, what they're doing is getting a bunch of cars to pull up
>> behind them, thinking that the lead car is going to go straight, only to
>> have the idiot turn on his signal after it's too late for the people
>> behind to choose the other lane. Thus, all those cars are stuck behind
>> the turning car, possibly for the entire duration of the light. They're
>> pissed because the delay could have been avoided if only the lead car
>> had signalled.
>
>What?  People don't know they're in the turn only lane?  How many signs
>and road arrows or other indications does it take to clue you into the
>notion that you're in the turn only lane.  You really rely on other
>drivers for roadway information?

Who said anything about a turn-only lane?  Really, Mr. Smith, I wish
you would leave your vituperative sarcasm at home.  Mr. Kahn is
describing a real problem.  In many places (lots of older city roads
for example), multi-lane roads *have* no left-turn lanes.  I.e., you'll
have two lanes in each direction, and at the light, the leftmost lane
is used for both left-turning traffic and through traffic.  The royal
hose that Mr. Kahn is describing occurs when you approach the red
light in the left lane (with the intent of continuing straight on), and
see that the car already there doesn't have its left turn signal
activated.  "Ah hah", you say, "he's going straight, so I don't need
to switch to the right lane in order to avoid getting stuck behind him".
But when (or soon before) the light finally changes, he turns on his
signal -- *after* it's too late for you to escape.  Since these sort
of intersections usually have no separate protected left-turn signal
(left-turning traffic must yield to oncoming through traffic), the
wait may be substantial.


>Anyway, back to the elementary driving test stuff.  Even one of the
>questions on the written test that *anyone* should know is the MAXIMUM
>is 100 feet.  Why would there be a minimum when there are side streets
>and driveways that could be interpreted as the desired turning point
>within any minimum distance?

If Ohio law truly prohibits signalling for more than 100 feet in
advance, then it is a truly foolish traffic code.  At 65 mph, it
takes about one second to travel 100 feet.  Are people who signal 
their lane changes or intentions to exit on Ohio interstates for
more than one or two flashes breaking the law?  If so, the law is
an ass.  Even in city traffic, there are many opportunties to
make turns at relatively high speeds (say, 35 mph, at which you travel
100 feet in less than two seconds), such as taking a fork in the
road, or moving into the center turn lane (where one exists) in
preparation for slowing down and turning left.


>> OK, so *you* know that the car in front is going to turn. What about the
>> car behind you?  And the car behind that car which pulls up 30 seconds
>> later?  Should the turning driver have to watch for all upcoming traffic,
>> and repeat his turn signal for 10 flashes so that each car arriving will
>> know his intentions (as required by law)?  Or is your attitude that those
>> cars who arrived "late" don't deserve to know that the lead car is
>> turning? 
>
>Hardly.  My attitude is that any nitwit should know they are in the turning
>lane and that other drivers are terrible sources of roadway information. 

Again, please get off your turn-only-lane high horse.  Even where
there *are* left-turn-only lanes, the rightmost lane of the
intersection often serves double duty (for right turns and through
traffic).  And there are many more people who benefit from your
signalling than just the people behind you:  drivers of oncoming
traffic and pedestrians, to name two classes.


>Besides, it's not that tough (for most) to flip off the turn signal at
>*long* lights. 
>
>I stand by my desire to see all cars having turn signal limits of ten
>blinks before they automatically shut off.

For all the reasons listed above, this idea will harm both traffic
flow and traffic safety.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob Goudreau			Data General Corporation
goudreau@dg-rtp.dg.com		62 Alexander Drive	
+1 919 248 6231			Research Triangle Park, NC  27709, USA