is it necessary to signal before changing lanes?

[nugent]

today driving to work, i passed a dude in a z4 and changed into his lane -not close, a few car lengths ahead. he got his panties in a bunch and tailgated me onto the freeway for awhile. he tried to pass me on the right, so i switched into left lane, downshifted into 3rd and hammered it. needless to say, he did not try to pursue very long.

just wondering if the audience thinks changing lanes without signalling is insulting.

thanks.

[rcesimo]

It is.

[mwlmd]

Originally Posted by nugent

today driving to work, i passed a dude in a z4 and changed into his lane -not close, a few car lengths ahead. he got his panties in a bunch and tailgated me onto the freeway for awhile. he tried to pass me on the right, so i switched into left lane, downshifted into 3rd and hammered it. needless to say, he did not try to pursue very long.

just wondering if the audience thinks about changing lanes without signalling is insulting.

thanks.

In a BMW it is a insulting. In a 1997 civic it is expected. Incidentally, how did you find out he was wearing panties?

[nugent]

Originally Posted by rcesimo

It is.

in europe, where people drive with manners, you are probably right. here in the u.s., the rules may be different. thanks.

[johntomferg]

Just tell him "They were optional on this model."

It is a bit disconcerting for other drivers because you see someone do it and then you are a bit skiddish to be around them as you feel you won't get a proper warning (aka a chance to evade) should they not see you and change lanes.

The guys reaction to tailgate you doesn't follow this logic though... So maybe he was just having a bad day and acted a bit irrationally.

[xDrive35i]

Originally Posted by nugent

in europe, where people drive with manners, you are probably right. here in the u.s., the rules may be different. thanks.

Seems like you had your mind made up.

But yes, it is uncourteous to change lanes without signaling. If you are a safe distance ahead and do not impede on someone else's progress, any anger from the other driver is an overreaction--and his road rage might be more dangerous than your lack of signaling etiquette. That said, I'm not really concerned with who I piss off on the road. I have an agenda, and as far as I'm concerned while driving, it's the only one that matters. BMW drivers don't like it when BMW drivers treat them as they treat everyone else. Still, I don't care what car you drive, I need to be somewhere.

To answer your original question, it is necessary to signal at all times except in emergencies when immediate reflexes are required. You must signal at least 100 ft before an intersection in urban areas and 500 ft in rural areas. Every time you intend to cross painted lines, you must do your best to signal your intentions. Mostly, cops will not pull you over for signaling late, and usually they won't if you forget to signal, but you'll be mad at yourself the one time you get caught. Almost like J-walking, except you could hurt someone if you're being stupid.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by nugent

in europe, where people drive with manners, you are probably right. here in the u.s., the rules may be different. thanks.

No, it's irritating and insulting not to signal in the US too, even if you're a few car lengths ahead -- perhaps not as bad as not signalling when making a turn on city streets, but signalling is still appreciated even when merely changing lanes. If nothing else, it builds a good habit so that when you need to make a turn/lane change with a car right behind you (especially if you realize the need late and have very little time to complete it), you'll be conditioned to signal to eliminate or at least minimize the other driver's irritation rather than giving him/her a legitimate reason to be pissed off -- or ending up in an accident where you'll be found at fault.

Seriously man, how much effort is it for you? I'd try to appeal to your hopeful desire not to reinforce the BMW stereotype, but judging by the fact that you're seriously asking whether you need to use turn signals, went all "Nobody passes me" on the other guy, and then in the quoted post implied that not signalling may be caused by the US not being as polite as Europe (and that doesn't seem to bother you), you sound like someone who's part of the problem and not too interested in being part of the solution.

[the infamous...]

don't think it's necessary persay, but it's def courteous.
regardless, who's 2 say she wouldn't hav tailgated u even if u did use ur signal.

i jus think it was that time of the month.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by juddholland

I'm not really concerned with who I piss off on the road. I have an agenda, and as far as I'm concerned while driving, it's the only one that matters. BMW drivers don't like it when BMW drivers treat them as they treat everyone else. Still, I don't care what car you drive, I need to be somewhere.

Wow, not even sure where to start with this: the implication that BMW drivers as a group treat other BMW drivers differently on the road (or that they should), or the raging egocentrism on display here. Sorry to burst your bubble, but your agenda is NOT the only one that matters in the world, and if you always need to be somewhere else, leave a few minutes early. As for special treatment for BMW drivers, I guess if you want to be overly courteous to another BMW driver then by all means, but judging by your post it sounds like I'd have to drive a BMW to even have a HOPE of you not being an ass to me on the road.

[LAKEOM5]

yes

[M54ccibo]

Personally I cannot stand it when drivers choose not to signal their intentions. I try to maintain a decent separation between me and the car I am following. If I know someone is merging in front of me, I provide that same buffer. Tough to do here in So Cal, but given how rapidly this car stops vs. the majority of other vehicles on the road it is not just for my paint/windshield protection from debris but to keep from being rear-ended.

[Boss330]

Treat others the way you want to be treated and be polite.

There is a reason why cars are equipped with indicator lamps.

[nugent]

i'm signalling my intention to get out of this post.

[PatrickC23]

I hate when people change lanes w/o signaling, because I then assume they never do. I personally signal even when im alone, force of habit, but just me.

[Used2be]

Originally Posted by Patsc23

I personally signal even when im alone, force of habit, but just me.

Same here, but signaling isn't a defense against all mistakes. I was in the fast lane on the 101 in LA, and the car I was just about to pass to my right flipped on her turn signal and barged right in front of me. I had to lightly hit my brakes or I would have hit her. I gave her a mean look as I passed her down the road a mile or so, and she indicated that she had signaled and what was I mad about......? And neither she nor I were in BMWs.

[Rob///M5]

Originally Posted by nugent

i'm signalling my intention to get out of this post.

Haha. Some pent up aggression on this topic huh? Wow

[nugent]

Originally Posted by Rob///M5

Haha. Some pent up aggression on this topic huh? Wow

tell me about it. I think some people are boiling baby rabbits as we speak.

[stealth.pilot]

Obviously some people are going to be rule nazis.

My perspective is that I only signal if I believe there is benefit in terms of collision avoidance from signalling when changing lanes.

So if I am changing lanes and am going roughly the same speed as the car in front of which I will be merging, then I will signal, because he needs to know he should not close the gap.

If I am changing lanes and there are no cars around, I don't signal.

If I am changing lanes and there are cars around, but I have several car lengths between me and the car I will be merging in front of, and I am also going significantly faster than that car, then I won't signal because there i no danger of him hitting me. In this instance I don't signal because I don't need him to give me space, and it also doesn't pose risk if he were to press the accelerator while I am merging.

[SANguru]

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/signaling.htm

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by SANguru

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/signaling.htm

If you are going to follow the rules follow all of them including the speedlimits.

[SANguru]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

If you are going to follow the rules follow all of them including the speedlimits.

well this thread is not about the speed limit.. is it?

[MakeEmDrool]

Use turn signals? Next thing u know ur following all the rules of the road...screaming "look at me, I passed my drivers test". Im with mr. im-more-important-than-u.....where does it stop.....first ur showing other drivers respect and exercising rules of the road....next thing u know ur paying ur taxes and going out in public with clothes on. Cant let that happen!

Just signal for God's sake.....pants optional.