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

[arizona98tj]

My driveway is located about 50 yds into a NO PASSING ZONE sign. I can recall at least 4 times during the last year where I properly signaled for a left turn into my driveway and found a vehicle passing me on the left. So, they violated the sign and the solid yellow line on the highway and even without all that, they were passing while going uphill...even without the signs and yellow lines, that is wrong as they cannot see oncoming traffic far enough away to avoid an accident.

I personally think the current implementation of hazard and turn signals on today's tractors suck. As someone said, you go from both rear lights flashing to one solid, one flashing when you signal for a turn. I've often times thought it would be safer if I ran without the flashers and used the turns signals only during a turn. Of course, I'm sure some idiot would sue me after running into me because I didn't have the flashers turned on. I started driving tractors back in the early '60s and can remember when the slow moving vehicle signs were pushed into law. Needless to say the drivers then and now are quite different.....today's are much worse.

 

[boggen]

flashers + hundred little spokes + discs + bolts + pieces of metal = *meh* were does one look easily and quickly and grabs person attention that stands out as in actual turn lights.

is there a *dum dum* sign = example road work with "slow" and other side "stop" sign. directing flow of traffic. a sign that physically spins. denoting turning direction.

there is slow motion triangle signs. but is there a sign that might rotate around showing direction? one direction = turning left, middle = front to back driving forward, other direction = turning right.

some sort of sign "do not pass" = circle with line through it or some such?

flashing lights *meh* me dum dum. to much other stuff.

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tend to see many farmers drive over center line on purpose when they can. and block folks from passing on purpose. making sure if someone tried to pass it would put the person passing into the ditch on other side. tend to see same farmers pulling over to side when safe to let folks know when they might be able to pass.

many times see farmers running over center line because they have to run over center line to get around a sign post /mail box / driveway culvert combo. i rarely see a farmer doing a weaving in/out around each and every sign/mail box, or less there is on coming traffic that requires to weave in/out.

 

[PILOON]

On my car I flash to indicate a right turn, look into passenger mirror and verify in w/s mirror and proceed to make that rt turn.
Nothing there, right!
Wrong, some bugger is passing on my right and when his windshield is abreast I pull back.
OK, so my car has a 2 vehicle blind spot, (all those air bags want big pillars but Hey, no recalls yet (KIA))
People are in such a hurry today that they want to be there before they leave.
I also have observed that women seem to be much more aggressive than in the past. (I look to see who is at the wheel)

 

[TCJatko]

In the course of the past several weeks I have almost been sideswiped 4 times by vehicles while trying to make a left hand turn off of a paved road. Today was the first time a semi truck tried to do it. I have been traveling with tractors on paved roads for years, but with the acquisition of more places to tend, I'm having to travel on busier highways more often.

The situation is always the same. I have flashers on. Vehicle gets behind me. I turn the left turn signal on 100-200 ft before the turn. When I start slowing down, or when I'm right about to turn left, they pass me. I always make sure to check because otherwise they would hit me. In one instance I a car fly around me after I had started the turn! I had to jerk back into my lane to avoid hitting them.

I think the problem is that people are so concerned about getting a chance to pass me that they no longer even look at or notice the light pattern. They see me slowing down and think "GREAT, a chance to pass!" They don't notice that the lights have gone from just flashing to one side flashing and other side not.

I don't think hand signals would be any good. Me pointing or gesturing to my left would probably entice the drivers to pass me more, with them thinking that I'm saying for them to pass.

I've thought about just not using the flashers and just rely on the SMV emblem(s), that way when the turn signal is put on it'll be apparent to the drivers that are following. Or possibly turning off the flashers for a few seconds before I turn the signal on, so that it grabs attention that the pattern has changed.


Just looking for any pointers or suggestions by folks who may have had or are having the same issues of what I could change or do better.

The only sure-fire way is to pull to the right and let all traffic pass before getting back on the road and making the turn.

 

[SteveM70]

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.

 

[AGRIMAN]

Well, sometimes the motorcycles can also be part of the problem. My neighbor had one that just could not wait for him to slide over and give him some extra room to pass. The guy went to dart around him, but he came up short. He caught the edge of the covering disc on the harrow just enough to knock him off balance. Both him and the motorcycle went sliding across the highway into the ditch. Nothing hurt but his pride.

My son was going down the highway driving one of the big self propelled sprayers which takes up about 3/4 of the road. It has enough ground clearance that you can just about walk underneath it without hit your head. A guy came up behide him on a motorcycle and obviously noticed a chance to do something dumb and drove completely underneath the spray. He shot the front side like a rocket and never looked back.

 

[aczlan]

My son was going down the highway driving one of the big self propelled sprayers which takes up about 3/4 of the road. It has enough ground clearance that you can just about walk underneath it without hit your head. A guy came up behide him on a motorcycle and obviously noticed a chance to do something dumb and drove completely underneath the spray. He shot the front side like a rocket and never looked back.

Someone tried to do that around here while driving a van full of Amish a few years back, it ended badly.

Aaron Z

 

[AGRIMAN]

My driveway is located about 50 yds into a NO PASSING ZONE sign. I can recall at least 4 times during the last year where I properly signaled for a left turn into my driveway and found a vehicle passing me on the left. So, they violated the sign and the solid yellow line on the highway and even without all that, they were passing while going uphill...even without the signs and yellow lines, that is wrong as they cannot see oncoming traffic far enough away to avoid an accident.
QUOTE]

The same happened here to a friend of mine. He was on the highway with his tractor and round baler. He went to make a LH turn into the field, which is 3/4 the up a hill. A guy in a pick up came up behide him and just couldn't wait so he went to pass him going up hill on a double solid yellow line.

Once my friend started to turn, the guy had nowhere to go. He took the ditch and ended up jumping the driveway (never touched the tractor). The guy wasn't hurt and was very apologetic until the law showed up, when he tried to say the tractor ran him off the road. The officer did not listen to much of it before he started point out all the tickets his was about to get.

 

[Tjdux]

I would say, that the speed of the flash when you put your turn signal on would help.

I'm not sure what they're called but I remember reading about Harley motorcycle drivers that install a kit to pulse the tail lights and headlights to best get the attention of drivers.

My thoughts were if you installed a similar kit on just your turn signals only, and let's say you set it to where it would fast flash when you hit your turn signal on that might grab the attention of drivers more that the signal speed has changed there for that your signal has changed.

And I second the motorcycle bit.

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.

 

[Tjdux]

Also i was taught to just pull on the right shoulder and then turn left after everybody passes.

Its dumb but safe.

 

[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.