Turn signals: A blink of the past?

Dec 2, 2009 2 min read

To the editor:

Welcome back to a lot of the snowbirds who filter down to the Fort Myers Beach area once it gets cold up north.

I just have one suggestion. Please use your directional signals, turn signals, blinkers or whatever you call them from whatever part of the country/world you are from.

The turn signal is one of the easiest parts of a vehicle to use while driving, yet so many do not flip it on when turning. It can save lives or at least save brakes. It’s frustrating when you have to jam on the brakes because some lazy bum doesn’t have the respect or knowledge to turn on a turn signal. A car waiting in the median lane without a turn signal on looks like an accident waiting to happen: Is the car trying to get back into traffic or taking a left? Is this because of laziness or because the person didn’t get proper driver’s education training when they were in high school?

Just in case the latter holds water, the directional signal is the little stick attached to the left side of the steering wheel. One finger can push it up for a right-hand turn or push it down for a left-hand turn. It’s common sense and common courtesy.

Thanks in advance to applying a little heads-up to your neighbor. We all have pet peeves. This is mine. If you don’t want to use it, I’ll reach into your vehicle, snap it off and stick it up your a**. That way you’ll know where it is the next time you turn want to make a turn with your vehicle.

John “Full-time resident” Smith

Fort Myers Beach