Turn signal woes (or how not to get hit by traffic)

[Wagtail]

It "could" be that they seen your turn signal come on and misconstrued it for a sign that it was safe to pass?

There are narrow, winding roads in my area that coal trucks travel, very slowly. They do have a better view of what's ahead than you would from behind them and will often turn there left turn signal on when it's safe to pass.

Similar to Tasmania. The odd time that I'm driving the tractor on the highway I'll have the 4-ways and amber 'whoop-whoop' going, keeping as far to the left as possible. (remember that we drive on the left here) As written, I generally have a better view of what's ahead and will use my right hand to indicate to anyone following to wait [pushing down motion] and then, when safe to pass [circular motion]. If I develop a 'convoy' behind me, I'll use the 'wait' signal until I can pull off and let them all by.

Most people have understood what I've indicated and I usually receive an appreciative 'beep!' and a wave, from those behind, as they pass.

 

[airbiscuit]

There is a company called badass lights that work with most manufacturers but are very popular with harleys and they create special flash patterns. Check them out they are pretty cool.

BrightA$$ Lights

 

[Tjdux]

BrightA$$ Lights

My bad. Thanks for correcting me

 

[TractorGuy]

I think you are confusing them on two fronts. One, the transition from flashers to turn signal is most likely confusing. Two, I think you are giving too much notice before you turn. If you run the turn signal for too long they may not think you are turning but have just inadvertently turned it on and forgot.

I would forgo the flashers. At the point you are about to turn make sure you aren't being passed and move the left tires near the center line and turn on the turn signal. Make durn sure your signals are working.

I would also be afraid to use those sequential arrow signals. I would confuse that with a signal to pass on that side. I would NOT think it was a signal you were turning.

 

[ultrarunner]

It is one of the arguments for roundabouts...

I was a passenger in a pickup traveling a country lane and the driver was behind a slow dump-truck and decided to pass...

Thing is the dump-truck was slow because the dump was following a tractor that was making a left into a field...

It was a disaster adverted... the pickup driver stomped on the accelerator just as the tractor was making the left and aborted into the field in the nick of time... the tractor would have been broadsided...

I always remember this as the lesson that things may not appear as they seem.... proceed with caution

The next time I was in the area the county had started putting in roundabouts...

 

[bcp]

Driving straight ahead is dangerous, too.

Car crashes into tractor

... both the car and tractor were traveling south, said Trooper Rich Lanning, with the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The car was traveling at about 50 mph, he said.

The driver of the tractor was transported, Lanning said. The driver of the car was not injured. The driver of the car would be cited for assured clear distance ahead, Lanning said. The tractor had a slow speed sign and flashing lights.

 

[Farmer495]

I've done a lot of road travel and haulage with tractor, rural roads and in small town. Lots of traffic and intersections as well.

I'll wager I have more miles on a farm tractor on a highway than most here, day and night, a lot of it done pulling loaded wagons that you can not see behind.

1) Signal well in advance of turn
2) Start crowding center line as you signal
3) Shoulder check and if BOTH lanes are clear put your left hand wheels JUST over the centerline.
4) Start to slow down to make the turn (watching for oncoming traffic)
5) Shoulder check AGAIN
6) If both lanes clear, turn left.


Secret is partially blocking the oncoming lane to make the drivers behind pay attention!

 

[airbiscuit]

I've done a lot of road travel and haulage with tractor, rural roads and in small town. Lots of traffic and intersections as well.

I'll wager I have more miles on a farm tractor on a highway than most here, day and night, a lot of it done pulling loaded wagons that you can not see behind.

1) Signal well in advance of turn
2) Start crowding center line as you signal
3) Shoulder check and if BOTH lanes are clear put your left hand wheels JUST over the centerline.
4) Start to slow down to make the turn (watching for oncoming traffic)
5) Shoulder check AGAIN
6) If both lanes clear, turn left.


Secret is partially blocking the oncoming lane to make the drivers behind pay attention!

Farmer Signal/Farmer Turn. It's what you do when pulling loaded wagons, although I endorse crowding the left lane more and more just before you make the turn.

 

[SteveM70]

If nothing's coming, why not just let everything by in advance of your left hand turn?

 

[arizona98tj]

If nothing's coming, why not just let everything by in advance of your left hand turn?

I apparently did a poor job explaining what happens to me so I'll try it again. I turn on the tractor's left turn signal....slow the tractor down, and then turn left into my driveway. While doing all that, a car from behind catches up to me and passes me doing 55 MPH (or more), ignoring the No Passing Zone sign, the solid yellow line on the highway, and the uphill grade of the highway. I've not held up traffic at all....quite the opposite, they simply blow by breaking multiple laws while doing so while I attempt to execute a left turn into my driveway. There is essentially no shoulder as the road bed is quite elevated and the inner bank of the ditch is very steep....so as someone suggested....pulling off to the right until traffic can go by.....that isn't going to happen.