So this has been annoying me lately; drivers leaving excessive spacing when stopped for a red light. I get it, you don’t want to be right on the next guys bumper, you should leave space to escape if the guy in front stalls or somebody tries to carjack you. But 2-3 car lengths? It really bugs me when they do it in a left turn lane causing a back up to the travel lane resulting in overall congestion. Or, if they’re first at the light, they don’t pull up far enough to reach the road sensors that trigger a light change. I haven’t been able to isolate to a specific demographic, seems to be young, old, black, white, you name it. Maybe they’re just stoned at the wheel. I’m tempted to roll down my window and ask ‘wtf’? I’m in the Northeast US. Has anybody else witnessed this?

  • orclev@lemmy.worldEnglish
    15·
    2 days ago

    The only law in my state that requires usage of turn signals states this:

    No person may turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a highway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety, and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided, in the event any other vehicle may be affected by the movement.

    The key there is “direct course”. The direct course in a dedicated turn lane is the turn, so no signal is required. If it’s a turn or straight lane it is required as in that case the direct course is straight.

    • BassTurd@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      2 days ago

      You conveniently left out the rest of the law…

      (1) No person may turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a highway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety, and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided, in the event any other vehicle may be affected by the movement.
      (2) A signal of intention to turn right or left must be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning, except that such a signal by hand or arm need not be given continuously by a bicyclist if the hand is needed in the control or operation of the bicycle.
      (3) No person may stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle without first giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided herein to the driver of any vehicle immediately to the rear, when there is opportunity to give such signal.
      (4) The signals provided for in s. 316.156 shall be used to indicate an intention to turn, to overtake, or to pass a vehicle and may not, except as provided in s. 316.2397, be flashed on one side only on a parked or disabled vehicle or flashed as a courtesy or “do pass” signal to operators of other vehicles approaching from the rear. (5) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.

      • orclev@lemmy.worldEnglish
        12·
        1 day ago

        Yes because it’s irrelevant. The first clause failing means subsequent clauses don’t apply. Because a signal isn’t necessary it doesn’t matter how far back you don’t signal for.

        • LilB0kChoy@midwest.socialEnglish
          1·
          16 hours ago

          Wow! You’re wrong again!

          No person may turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a highway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety, and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided

          Even in your nonsense “direct course” argument “no person may turn a vehicle from a direct course” until such movement can be made with reasonable safety, and then only after giving an appropriate signal.

          That literally means you have to signal when turning from a direct course. The last part, “in the manner hereinafter provided” is inclusive. It means every one of those clauses applies.

          You are a great example of why people should be retested regularly.

          • orclev@lemmy.worldEnglish
            11·
            12 hours ago

            The clauses apply if the first one does which it doesn’t. Since you’re never turning from a direct course you don’t need to signal in the manner the following clauses describe. Since you’re never leaving the direct course, there’s no need to signal otherwise you’d need to use your turn signal every time you turn the wheel on your car even if you’re just following the road (which is what you’re doing in a turn only lane). You need to signal when entering the turn lane, but once in the lane you’re just following the lane (the direct course) and therefore don’t need to signal.

            • LilB0kChoy@midwest.socialEnglish
              1·
              12 hours ago

              Wrong again.

              Trooper Steve was asked by a viewer named Lisa, “Are turn signals required in Florida? I see them not being used all the time – and never being enforced.”

              Trooper Steve started by saying that the answer to first part is plain and simple.

              “You are required to use your turn signal anytime you are changing direction in your vehicle,” he said. “Florida Statue 316.155 talks very specifically about when you are supposed to indicate a turn or change of lane.”

              • orclev@lemmy.worldEnglish
                11·
                10 hours ago

                Turn signals are required, but not in a turn only lane. The question asked and answered wasn’t what’s being talked about here. Also it’s trivially demonstrable that turn signals are not required “anytime you are changing direction” in your vehicle otherwise you’d be constantly turning them off and on just driving down any random road as it curves back and forth. They’re required when you depart one lane for a different one. In a turn only lane you never depart the lane, it just becomes another lane. Finally quoting cops is a terrible defense as cops are per court decisions not actually required to know the law which is super fucked up, but that’s an entirely different discussion.

                • LilB0kChoy@midwest.socialEnglish
                  1·
                  10 hours ago

                  Wrong.

                  “You are required to use your turn signal anytime you are changing direction in your vehicle,” he said.

                  • orclev@lemmy.worldEnglish
                    11·
                    10 hours ago

                    Just going to ignore everything I said that proves you wrong? OK, you do you and keep being wrong, I’ll keep driving legally and keep my perfect driving record.

                    The only good thing about all this I suppose is I learned not needing to use turn signals in turn only lanes is a unique thing to my state, it seems like most other states do require them.

                    Anyway if all you’re going to do is keep saying wrong and re-quote the same debunked statement there’s not really anything left to say.