When You Are Planning To Make A Turn

Okay, let’s talk about turning. Specifically, the moment you decide to signal. I have some… thoughts.

We’ve all been there. You’re driving. The radio's playing. Maybe you're belting out a tune (badly, probably). Then you see it: your turn. The moment of truth. But when do you flick that indicator stalk?

The Early Bird Gets… Confused?

There are those drivers who signal approximately a mile in advance. Okay, maybe not a mile. But it feels like it. You're thinking, "Where are they going? Did they predict this turn three zip codes ago?" I secretly suspect they learned to drive from carrier pigeons.

Seriously. You see their blinker flashing. You think, "Oh, they must be turning soon." Then you drive past three more roads. Their blinker is still going. Now you're second-guessing your entire existence. Are you the one who’s lost? Should you be signaling? This driver's enthusiasm is making you question reality.

I’m not saying early signaling is wrong. But, personally, I think it’s a bit… much. It's like shouting "Surprise!" when you're still wrapping the present. The anticipation dies.

The Last-Minute Larry

Then we have the opposite end of the spectrum: the Last-Minute Larrys. These are the drivers who seem to think turn signals are purely decorative. They swerve into their turn, then belatedly flick the signal on, as if to say, “Oops, almost forgot! By the way, I'm turning... now!”

These are the drivers who inspire genuine fear. They make you grip the steering wheel a little tighter. They make you question whether you invested enough in car insurance. They are, to put it mildly, terrifying.

Honestly, what’s the point of signaling after you’ve already started turning? Are you informing the curb? Are you updating the asphalt? It's like announcing you ate the cake... as you're finishing the last crumb.

Don't be a Last-Minute Larry. Please. For the sake of my blood pressure.

My (Possibly Unpopular) Opinion

Here’s where I might lose some of you. I think the optimal signaling window is… fairly close to the turn. Not in the turn. Not a mile before. But close.

Hear me out. If you signal too early, people forget. They see your blinker and think, "Oh, a turn," then their brains move on to more important things, like figuring out what song is stuck in their head. When you actually turn, they've completely forgotten about your intentions.

If you signal too late, well, you're just being rude. And potentially dangerous. No one likes a rude (and dangerous) driver.

So, I propose a radical idea: signal when you're actually preparing to turn. When you're slowing down. When you're checking your mirrors. When it's clear you're about to commit to the maneuver.

Think of it like telling a joke. You don't start with the punchline. You build anticipation. You set the scene. Then you deliver the payoff. Your turn signal is the punchline. Time it right!

The Golden Rule of Turning (According to Me)

My golden rule? Signal when it’s most helpful to the other drivers. Not when it's most convenient for you. Not when you remember. When it will actually inform and assist their driving decisions.

It’s not about being a perfect driver. It’s about being a considerate one. A driver who doesn’t cause unnecessary confusion or near-death experiences. A driver who understands the art of the timely turn signal.

So, next time you're approaching a turn, remember this article. And maybe, just maybe, you'll signal at the exact right moment. Or at least, closer to the right moment than you did before. And that, my friends, is progress. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go practice my own turn signaling. I might be a slight hypocrite.

Drive safe! (And signal appropriately!)