Just a passing thought from a couple of years ago; hasn't changed much, still seems applicable. (My apologies if some of you have already been subjected:-):
"Signal-less?!" Driving through the streets of our fair city can be infuriating these days. I've noticed a strange and ever prevalent phenomenon which friends and family assure me is not limited to our region of the planet. You know those little lights in one's auto? The ones that blink off and on at the flick of a wrist? They are supposed to signal one's driving intentions so other drivers can plan for the future; the ones who really don't want their life flashing before them a couple of times a day in vehicular near-death experiences!
Those delinquents who seem to be "signals-free" are more likely to be seat belt-free, too. I figure they have a c'est la vie attitude which enables them to blithely carry on, regardless of whom or what wreckage trails behind in their wake.
Personally, I'd prefer a little more paranoia like mine. I always know the idiot in front of me is going to do something stupid like turn across all four lanes, in front of a huge 16-wheeler loaded with secret CIA shipments of spent-rod nuclear physicists or intercepted proof of Russian extra-terrestrials. Therefore, like a good Girl Scout, I am always prepared!
Maybe they all need a little defensive driving course. Those of us who do use our signals and seat belts would be turned loose on a race track. We'd have the latest in fast and safe cars loaded with twenty-first century deafen-your-ears sound equipment, industry-designed to rattle your car to pieces in a diabolical planned obsolescence. Those lacking the initiative to indicate direction would be in slower, older, less safe cars and have to follow in our wakeas we joyously imitated them in a joie de vivre, welcoming the chance to give them a taste of their own medicine. With the soundblasters going, we would be conscience-free, hearing nothing of their screams and discourteous epithets hurled in our direction.
In my dreams, drivers who are responsible, somewhat experienced, and not in a hurry, safely weave in and out of traffic lanes, politely letting one another know of their planned manoeuvres, as in a well-choreographed dance. They gently tap their brakes, activate their turn signals within the mandated half block, double check their rear view mirrors, then change lanes, all within the dictates of the law. Like I said....in my dreams!
Recently, I called my local auto dealer to ask, "Have manufacturers quit making cars with automatic turn signals? Was this new cost-cutting innovation passed on to us, the consumers?" And, finally, "Do we all need to review the rules of bike-riding lessons and practice our left-arm-out-the-window coordination, so we won't look like lame imitations of a one-winged albatross, or rigid with our arms bent in invisible casts, forever locked in the right turn position?"
The gentleman assured me all new cars are equipped with those wonderful labour saving devices of direction. When I asked him for a ball park figure of how much the whole system costs, he spewed forth a myriad of parts, toting up imaginary figures: multi-function unit switchers, flashers, sockets, bulbs, at least one hundred feet of wiring. It all added up to a rough guess of about five to six hundred dollars.
So...how 'bout they just quit making cars with turn signals? Let's go back to the good ole days of plain, inexpensive bare-bones rattletraps. Save us all some money. The manufacturers could cut out miles of assembly line production; lay off workers who would still be able to buy new, since they'd be so cheap. Road rage would lessen as none of us would be expecting the other guy to have a clue as to what he was going to do; nor would we expect him to tell us if he did! Then we could attend "lowered expectations" driving classes.
Young drivers hardly ever use signals; most old drivers forget to use them; and everyone else either prays a lot or uses them in a vain attempt at compliance and hopefulness; praying and hoping that Bubba in the BIG truck behind us will PLEASE pay attention and NOT run us over!
In our high-tech world, computers tell us when we have email; cars tell us when we've left the lights on; televisions remind us of when a program is starting; dogs, if their owners order from the right catalogue, ring a bell to tell us they want inside.
If Detroit doesn't want to make cars without indicators and since psychic turn signals are just another dream, I think each car should come equipped with EEG-type leads for drivers to attach to their scalps. Leading into the dashboard, linked to the on-board computer system, the wires would detect even a hint of intent to change lanes, turn a corner, or hell, even stomp on the brakes! These "smart" cars would automatically activate the proper warning signals which would be of a magnitude in volume and appearance that even the most "brain-dead" could not ignore them. Since there would have to be retrofit kits for older cars (because of the laws requiring upgrades), we would all become instantly aware of what the other guy was going to do! Think of the saved lives! It would be revolutionary, a sort of Knight Rider "Kit" come alive!
Of course, we could all start a different revolution by returning to sane and safe, although boring use of signals. If they malfunction, we could roll down our power windows, yes, even where I live, where there's frequently Rocky Mountain blizzards, stick out our arms, and in an act of manual labour, tell the world "I AM GOING TO TURN! Won't you join me?"