Signaling

Right, this one is up here for both bicycles and cars. Hell, if you're on a scooter you should probably read this. I'd advocate it for walking if I could get away with it...Signaling your intention to merge or turn. That's right...turn signals. Apparently, a lot of people don't think about this. I say this because easily half of the people I see on the road everyday don't seem to have the slightest idea how to go about signaling the intention to turn. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not exempting bikes, they need to do it as well. We'll start off by just ignoring people who claim ignorance, they should be arrested. Why? Because signaling is an ENTIRE CHAPTER in the 2007 California driver's handbook. Now, just to be sure, I'll show you what it says:

Always signal:
• Your left or right turn during the
last 100 feet before reaching the
turning point. Caution —Even
though you signal, do not
automatically assume that the
space you wish to occupy is
clear.
• Before every lane change. Also,
look over your shoulder and
check your blind spot before
changing lanes.

• At least five seconds before
you change lanes at freeway
speeds.
• To let other drivers know your
plans.
• Before pulling next to or away
from the curb.
• When you change directions.
• Even when you don’t see other
vehicles around. A vehicle you
don’t see might hit you.

Right. So, we have all that? I swear, I'm tempted to start a driving school, just so that I can start every single class with the car version of the "Developers" speech. Only I'll say turn signals 39 times. They are such easy to use devices, can prevent horrible death, and only deathly stupid painfully ignorant or dead people would choose not to use them! Alright, everyone forgets every once in a while, that's being human, but you should at least TRY to kinda signal properly. Now, bikes are better at this(probably because they are more likely to die if they fail) but they need to work on it too. If you are going to turn signal it! Right or left, doesn't matter. Maybe then people driving cars won't feel justified trying to run you over?

So, to review: Use your turn signals! Copy that onto the board 100 times. Maybe we can all remember it!