Turn signals and brake lights are critical communicative tools

The other day, Rich was walking down the sidewalk approaching a crosswalk. His intention was to use the crosswalk to cross the street. He didn’t hear any cars coming and planned to step off the curb at the crosswalk before looking both ways. What he didn’t hear was the bicycle coming up the street behind him.

It was a mighty close thing. The bicyclist swerved to the Left and Rich jumped back while he said, “Whoa!” The bicyclist said, “Sorry” as he kept on going hardly missing a beat. There was no accident, so Rich said, “No problem.” But if there was an accident …?

What Rich failed to do was to communicate his intentions. The rider on the bicycle probably could have done a better job of anticipating the possibility that Rich might step into the crosswalk. But that wouldn’t have changed the fact that Rich and/or the rider might have gotten injured if the collision wasn’t avoided.

Communicating your intentions is important if you’re walking down the sidewalk and if you’re driving down the road. This is why automobiles are equipped with devices drivers can use to communicate with other drivers (and pedestrians).

Cars come equipped with turn signals and brake lights. Turn signals indicate when a driver is intending to turn. If you haven’t checked your Rules of the Road manual lately, you should use your turn signal 100-feet prior to a turn.

Turn signals are mounted on the front and the back of a car. In fact, they operate on the sides of your car, as well.

If you’re planning to turn left ahead, you want oncoming traffic to know. You want the cars behind you to know. They should realize that, if you’re turning up ahead, you’ll probably slow down prior to the turn.

Brake lights are on the back of the vehicle. They come on as you apply the brakes approaching a turn, approaching a stop sign, approaching a red light or slowing for a child who is playing near the road. Whatever the reason, those brake lights alert drivers behind you that your foot is on the brake pedal and they can expect a reduction in your speed.

Of course, brake lights also come on when someone is about to step off the sidewalk in front of you and you have to lockup the brakes. In such a case, it helps if they’re paying attention while driving. Depending on how close they’re following, they may have to hit the hooks, too.

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