Question on trusting other drivers.

[kairos12]

When you are about to pull out into a street, and you see someone in the lane you are merging to who has their turn signals on indicating they will turn, do you wait for their turn or do you merge when you see their signal?

I never trust their signal and wait to see them turn before I merge.

[Skittles]

1. I wait until they slow down enough for me to reasonably surmise they are indeed going to turn

yes indeed

[NorthCarolinaL]

2. I wait for the turn.

I have seen people either change their mind or just go straight for whatever reason. They also might not be aware that their turn signal is on.

[PoliticAverse]

3. I would wait for them to start to turn. I've seen too many turn signals left on inadvertantly. n/t

[hobbit709]

4. I bet on them doing the stupidest thing possible. I'm not wrong too often.

[struggle4progress]

22. +

[tanyev]

5. I never trust.

I am always amazed at how many people I see pull out into a busy street to make a left on the promise of a future opening. Most of the streets here in Plano are 6 lanes divided with a generous median. When there is an opening in the traffic coming from their left, people will pull out to the break in the median to sit and wait for an opening in the traffic coming from their right. But if they don't time it well, there they are with the back end of their car still hanging into at least one traffic lane. All it would take is for someone to get distracted for a second so they don't hit their brakes in time to avoid hitting the goober who couldn't wait to make their left turn.

[GoCubsGo]

6. Never trust other drivers EVER

And, that includes trusting them to recognize your turn signal. Mine gets ignored on a daily basis. My state has some of the worst drivers in the universe. I don't trust them on anything, not even for stopping at stop signs. I always assume every other driver on the road has an "It's all about MEEEEEEEEE!!!" attitude. Unfortunately, it is pretty much the case. I sometimes wonder why this state bothers with rules of the road and street signs. It's close to a free-for-all out there.

[AngryOldDem]

12. My state has some pretty bad drivers, too.

Speed limits, red lights, any kind of traffic regulation are suggestions, not laws, to these chuckleheads.

I'm having to drive through some pretty bad construction areas right now and I'm surprised that there aren't accidents on a daily basis because drivers are either inattentive or just plain discourteous. Since moving here I've come to really hate driving. And there's no public transportation available -- the bus I used to take to and from work got discontinued in May.

[GoCubsGo]

16. That's how it is here, too.

Only no public transportation at all.

People tear through my neighborhood at 40 mph or more. I am surprised no kids have been hit--that I'm aware of. They blow through the stop sign at the corner three times more often than they stop at it. No concept of "right of way", either. And, you could be coming down a road, with nobody behind you for miles, and people will still pull out right in front of you, instead of waiting for you to pass. I know at least one person who wound up totaling their vehicle because of that. He was lucky he and his daughter weren't hurt after they were forced to roll their vehicle into a ditch to avoid colliding with one such idiot.

My sister never believed me when I told her how awful drivers are here. She'd always tell me that they were just as bad where she lives (Phoenix.) Then she came for a visit this past fall. Her conclusion: "Yeah, you're right. They are worse here."

[AngryOldDem]

21. Today coming and going from work...

I counted at least five times when people ran red lights because they just couldn't stop for them -- too much of an inconvenience. Their need for speed -- they just couldn't bring themselves to slow down (going at least 60 in a 45 mph zone). I'm just waiting for the day when a t-bone accident happens right in front of me (or to me).

I feel I'm taking my life in my hands every time I pull out of the garage.

[Phentex]

13. Agree...

too many use a signal but have no intention of turning OR use no signal and turn at the last second. It's very odd. I go with your strategy, too.

[Wounded Bear]

7. I'm a wait and see type...

Basic defensive driving, which is to assume the other guy doesn't see you, so make sure you know what he's doing before jumping in front of him.

I was on the wrong side of this one a few months back. Street, major multi-lane with no parking strip. I changed into the right hand lane, and as I approached a driveway into a shopping complex, a guy pulled out in front of me. I of course laid into my horn and yelled some colorful language his way. Then I looked down and noticed that I had forgot to turn off my signal after changing lanes. It's not always intentional or gross stupidity. Sometimes it's a simple oversight. In any event, people get hurt and worse for it.

Yeah, I pretty much ignore the signal and wait for the other guy to commit to something.

[kairos12]

8. Good point. People can just forget about their signal.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

9. I always wait until they pass

They have the right of way in changing lanes or turning or not turning any time they want. And sure enough, lots of drivers have kept going despite their signal, either because they changed their mind as to which street they want to turn in to, or intended to turn into a driveway or street after my stopped car, or simply forgot to turn off their signal. I've had impatient drivers honk me from behind to urge me into the street but I'm not going to risk my hide for no reason. Fuck 'em.

[raccoon]

10. I never trust another driver's signal until they actually turn. nt

[AngryOldDem]

11. I wait until I'm sure they're making the turn.

Too many times I've seen people who 1) turn their signals on too soon or 2) change their minds at the last minute.

I trust no one, and furthermore, I am not a mind-reader, so I make sure they're committed to the turn before I do anything. I'm sure my hesitation pisses off people who are behind me, but it's my ass on the line, not theirs.

[DawgHouse]

14. I wait until they are in the turn.

Sometimes their signal is stuck or at the last minute they change their mind!

[BlueCollar]

15. l wait

Until I see them slow and begin their turn. I have no faith in anything but defensive driving.

[Marie Marie]

17. I drive by assuming that any driver,

any time can do something stupid. And I include myself in that category. You know, like you mean to turn then you think, oh wait, I have to hit the store and you change your mind and go straight. Can happen to any of us so, better safe than sorry.

And then there are those who are too busy eating, talking or texting to pay attention to driving.

[mackerel]

18. I've learned to wait

[Snobblevitch]

19. Trust other drivers?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha....

[onethatcares]

24. ha, ha, ha, ha, ha

x infinity.

all drivers except for me are stupid, blind, nucking futz, and totally dumber than the vehicle they have their asses in.

it's the only way to stay alive.

[SwissTony]

20. When my daughters got to the stage of starting to learn to drive

I told them to assume everybody else on the road was an idiot. If theyn prove not to be, that's a bonus. But in no way is it a given.

[A HERETIC I AM]

23. ^--- Solid advice. n/t

[trof]

25. NEVER trust another driver to do what's expected.

I damn near got rear ended by a driver who had their right turn signal on and so I turned right from the cross road onto a highway.
Turns out she wasn't turning and honked and gave me the finger when she swerved around me.

A minute or so later she must have realized that her turn signal was on and turned it off.
I hope she was embarrassed.
Since them, I NEVER trust the bastards.

[Inkfreak]

26. Me too, I'm a defensive driver.

And that's not to say I'm aggressive. I just expect no one else is paying attention or knows what they're doing. I realize this is NOT true, but if I drive like it is, I'll be more aware and safer. Worked excellent for many years now.

[Art_from_Ark]

27. They've got some pretty lousy drivers around here, too

Northern Tokyo Metro Area.

Even tough there may be no one behind me, and I'm driving at a fairly good clip, it's almost invariable that at some time during my commute, someone will pull out into the road right in front of me, and then take forever to accelerate up to a cruising speed (usually 30 mph). Sometimes they won't even go that-- this is, until they see the green light ahead of them changing to yellow. Then they put on a burst of speed to rush through the intersection after the light has already turned red.