How Are Your Blinkers?
The blinker, or automotive turn signal, is an excellent analog that we can use to understand our communication habits because it allows us to clearly see how our intent to communicate extends to the real world. Thanks to the simplicity of the device and the rules surrounding it, the moment we intend to send a message to our peers (i.e. the other drivers), we do so, and they receive the message as we mean it, according to the rules of the road. Blinkers filter-out the confounding traits of many other modes of communication (e.g. language, posture, tone, environment, etc.), thus rendering inert most of the external forces we can blame for communication problems except the natural complacency that comes with years of driving (and communicating), the blinker exposes our native habits of communicating in ways that might surprise us.
Buckle-up while we take a look at what our use of blinkers can tell us about — us.
The “Late Blinker”
Late Blinkers are the sort that begin changing lanes or turning, crossing halfway toward their destination lane or ramp, before engaging the turn signals. Depending on local laws and enforcement officers, this may or may not be legal, but it is always rude and dangerous because it does not give others the ability to adjust to the new situation as the driver fails to indicate intent until already occupying parts of two…
