In Memoriam, Turn Signals, Age 84

The use of turn signals by American drivers died last Wednesday. Their passing was not unexpected. Turn signals had been steadily derided since the late 80's when Americans had come to a consensus that lifting a finger several times a day was an imposition on their busy lives.

Turn signals were born in 1925. At the time they seemed like a clever method of indicating a driver's intentions, but as the years wore on, U.S. drivers increasingly became unaware of their own intentions.

Turn signals had earlier gone into a coma when BMW eliminated the up-and-down detents for the signal stalk, but the proximate cause of death was full gridlock in L.A. last Wednesday, a day on which it became impossible for any car to turn anyway.

-John Phillips
Car and Driver Magazine
June 2009

 

I'm very sorry to hear that. I knew that they had been ill for a good while, and in many areas they had pretty much been abandoned by their families, but I didn't know it was that serious.

I also think that they may have had Alzheimers. In this area at least they were prone to easy confusion. For example the left signal would be on and they would turn right or the right would be on and they would turn left. In some cases, for no apparent reason, they would both be on.

My deepest condolences. They will be missed by many.

 

BUUUWAAAHAHAHAHAHAH!

Good one Hondatech!

BZ

 

There was a very selective EMP a few weeks ago, as I left some nice twisties, hit Hwy80 and headed for Sacramento. It only took out everyone's turn signals, everything else was still working.

Darn UFO's I tell you (dons the tin foil).

[edit: here's a nice story:
My Sifu had some of her students visiting from Germany in her car, and one said "Oh look, BMW's do have turn signals!" but that was in or around Berkeley, so.]

 

AND then you get the FINGER when they cut you off!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I think mental illness is what killed them, maybe some disease contributed to the dementia....the forever left staying on for miles and miles........ followed by the lane drift but never fully commiting to the switch.....