-Fall Car.Care

Reader’s letter signals that all is not well

Conlin

signals

A special thank-you to all
those readers who are also
Writers.

Ina recent letter from
Shelagh Kuse, a poignant,
two-part question was posed.

“Do vou have to signal a
turn,” Kuse asks, “if you are
in a dedicated turn lane?”

(By dedicated turn lane,
Shelagh refers to roadways
with markings indicating
and/or restricting, certain
movements as was discussed
last week regarding the
Upper Levels/Lonsdale inter-
change.)

Shelagh also states that it
seems “a tad redundant” to
signal if you’re in a turn-only
Jane.

Good question. Here's
the skinny:

Of course you have to sig-
nal, Shelagh!

There are two types of
drivers out there, the
Bonehcads and the folks who
know there are Boncheads
our there.

Signalling one’s intentions
with a litde, flashing, corner-
mounted blinker is the most
rudimentary of safe driving
habits.

It is important to remem-
ber that we signal not only to
the fellow behind us, but to
those perpendicular to and
directly opposite us.

Additionally, we signal our
intentions to sidewalk users
and to far sighted people a
couple blocks away who are
eager to know what’s hap-
pening off in the distance,
thereby planning their jour-
neys accordingly.

It is silly to assume that
everyone around you knows
when and if vou are in a cura
lane.

Does everybody see your
lane markings?

Certainly not the people
across from you and half-a-
black away, yet they'd like to
know where you’re going.

And even if everyone
could sce your road mark-
ings, do they understand
them?

Doubtful.

This is Bonehead City,
after all.

Nor can you assume that
every driver vou meet on
your day’s journey uses the
same roads you do.

While you and your
neighbors use the same desig-
nated left turn lane everyday,
Joe Tourist sitting across the
way there has no idea.

‘Nor will a novice. Nor will
a bonchead.

So you see Shelagh, you
signal nor simply because sec-
tion 172 of the mighty
Motor Vehicle Act says you
must, you signal to let every-
one around know that YOU
know what you're doing.

Remember the bonehead
I mentioned last week?

The one who plowed
straight chrough a designated
turn lane?

He didn’t signal.

You'll confuse people as to
your true intentions and your
level of intelligence by not
signalling your turn, desig-
nated lane or otherwise.

Thar said, the second part
of Shelagh’s question nearly
debunks my answer to the
first part.

Nearly.

What of “the unique situ-
ation you find at the corner

Prices so |
low, it’s f
scary! |

of 23rd and Jones (in North
Vancouver), by Carson
Graham School.”

That's a goad one.

The best Pve heard in a
long time.

When travelling west
along 23rd Street nearing
Jones Avenue, drivers are

confronted with a lane selec-

tion and miust pick one of
two lanes,

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1997 Pontiac

The right lane, also the
curb lane, is a designated
right-rurn or straight-through
(continuing along 23rd
Street) only lane.

The left lane, the potential
debunker, offers/demands
two options: A hard left onto
Jones or a shallow left — a
curve, really — down onto
Larson Road.

Shelagh erroneously refers

iNow v_°219 ¢ or is.oao S

m™ 36 month lease $3050 0.P, + 1st security + taxes. O.A.C.

GM and ue
while coplies last.

to the shallower, “gentler”
left as the “straight through
version” of left turn options.

So it tollows that she is
amazed when drivers signal
left vet only veer off slightly.

And, barring what the
mighty ’MVA has to say on
the matter, she’s right.

ly does looks odd.

The fact is, B.C. drivers

not only signal inconsistently

get a.

1997

at best, but each and every
driver seems to have his or
her own special way of inter-
preting signals, depending on
his or her self- fulfilling rules

for using them (or not).

So.

A blinker is required for
both left turns off 23rd.

Thanks again for the
excellent etter, Shelagh.

Be safe.

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