Blinking Lights
Though the forecast predicts weather in the 50s for the week, Christmas is upon us. We have been listening to some Christmas music from two of our favorite arists, Over the Rhine and Sufjan Stevens. I have been enjoying the seasonal drinks from Starbucks and the lighted tree in the center of town.
One thing I have not enjoyed is the busy shoppers out on the weekends. Parking spots have become rare in even the most remote place and drivers have gotten more crazy than usual. One of our main beefs about driving in New Haven is the lack of people using their blinkers. The roads here are much narrower than those of the expansive mid-west and driving demands the need for blinkers. It is a common occurance for people to be stopped in the middle of the road, causing major traffic back-ups and only later will we find out they are waiting to make a turn. But since no one knew they were turning no one let them turn. Cars will jump out in front of you trying to get their turn in before you speed by…with no blinker! The Christmas season asks us to rejoice in the birth of Christ and celebrate peace. I think we should add some stipulation about speading cheer through using your blinker.
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It drives me nuts when I see people not using their blinker! Steph accuses me of “overblinking” (e.g. using the blinker when my lane forks into two lanes, using the blinker when going to an exit ramp, etc) but I figure it can’t hurt to be communicative.
According to Dr. Adres (my drivers’ ed teacher), you must put on your blinker 100 feet before turning, unless you are on an interstate, in which case it is 500 feet before exiting. Also, there is no such thing as a single lane road. There is the driving lane and the parking/turning lane. Therefore, whenever you are turning right, you must first change lanes from the driving lane into the parking/turning lane. Once in the parking/turning lane, you can turn right (or in the case of a oneway street, turn left). Therefore, you’re blinker must be used two distinct times when turning right: once to change lanes and once to turn.
The only way you can “overblink” is when you ride for an extended period of time with your blinker on without resulting in an action (i.e. riding in the left lane on an interstate with your left blinker on continuously).
I nominate not using your blinker as the eighth deadly sin. Can I get a second? All opposed? Motion passes.