Front Blinkers ???
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 3
From: Slidell, Louisiana
Picture this: You're riding down the road ,approaching an intersection, theres a car on the right waiting for you to pass so he can pull out behind you. you put your right blinker on so you can pull into the gas station right after the intersection. you sure that cars not gonna pull out in front of you.if it never happened to you, you haven't been riding long enough.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
My riding buddy does it all the time and Im at a loss as to what to do.
Im a pest bugging him to remember, hell at one time I had to pass him and get in front *very busy section of road*.
He understands how dangerous it is but still forgets. I think Im going to cut the wires to his front signals.
Im a pest bugging him to remember, hell at one time I had to pass him and get in front *very busy section of road*.He understands how dangerous it is but still forgets. I think Im going to cut the wires to his front signals.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 501
Likes: 136
[QUOTE=captjon37;6721131][COLOR="Black"][B][I][INDENT]Why would you turn on your blinker before the intersection?
If you have a car behind you, and you plan on turning right, into the gas station after the intersection. and theres a car at the intersection, what do you do? (not to sound like a dick).
If you have a car behind you, and you plan on turning right, into the gas station after the intersection. and theres a car at the intersection, what do you do? (not to sound like a dick).
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
[QUOTE=cobaltt;6722023]
I would flash my brake light and try to get the attention of the car behind me, using the turn sig in that situation is asking for trouble. 
[COLOR="Black"][B][I][INDENT]Why would you turn on your blinker before the intersection?
If you have a car behind you, and you plan on turning right, into the gas station after the intersection. and theres a car at the intersection, what do you do? (not to sound like a dick).
If you have a car behind you, and you plan on turning right, into the gas station after the intersection. and theres a car at the intersection, what do you do? (not to sound like a dick).
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,265
Likes: 99
From: Northern VA
cobaltt - while I agree with you (and got pissed on a few years ago for it), you aren't going to change anyones view on front blinkers. Just like they won't convince you that you need the biggest/brightest front signals money can buy.
To answer your question - I wouldn't signal before the intersection, but let the vehicle know I'm slowing by riding the brake lever (a back-off module also helps get their attention). Once in front of the intersection, hit the signal.
Around here, drivers use their signals 50% of the time anyway so it isn't a surprise anymore...
Here's some reading material to a thread I replied to where I stated front signals aren't that important to me. I think all 3 scenarios/actions is putting a lot of faith in the other driver. But that's just me. Your results may vary.
To answer your question - I wouldn't signal before the intersection, but let the vehicle know I'm slowing by riding the brake lever (a back-off module also helps get their attention). Once in front of the intersection, hit the signal.
Around here, drivers use their signals 50% of the time anyway so it isn't a surprise anymore...
Here's some reading material to a thread I replied to where I stated front signals aren't that important to me. I think all 3 scenarios/actions is putting a lot of faith in the other driver. But that's just me. Your results may vary.
To me, the most important thing whether on a bike or in a car is SAFETY. I'd rather be alive tomorrow, than have my bike look "cool" today. To answer your question above, I'd have to say we need front turn signals for the same reasons we need them on a car...to let the "other guy" know what are intentions are. Here in MA, we have alot of merging intersections where you come to a stop sign just wanting to continue straight, but the traffic coming towards you can either also go straight or they can bear left where your waiting to see which direction they're going to take? If they go straight, you can proceed from the stop sign...if you proceed while they're bearing left...LOOK OUT! Although you can't trust a blinker as someone might have just forgot to shut it off earlier, most of the time these drivers coming towards you will put on their right blinker to let you know they're not bearing left & that you can proceed from your stop sign. Confused?...read it gain slower!
Front turn signals also help "clear the road" for our bikes as well. Say your going down a road & you want to take a left onto another street where a car has just pulled up to the stop sign where you wanted to turn. With no front signal, he has no idea you want to turn down this street he's leaving...forcing you to have to ride around his car as you pray that he doesn't pull out. Or...you put your left blinker on as you slow to turn, he sees this,pulls out & now you have a wide lane to make your turn instead of another car being there.
Last scenario...your traveling down a 45 mph road & want to take a left. You know as well as I do that 45 mph roads means drivers are traveling 50-55 mph. Well, one driver coming from the opposite direction just happens to be "flying" down this road, sees your bike up ahead with no blinker on, this tells him your just going straight, he has no reason for caution then slams into you as you make your turn. Or...you put your blinker on, he's now more alert because he sees this orange light blinking ahead of him & figures your going to make a turn somewhere soon & instead of "flying" now proceeds with just a little more caution than before.
I'm all about safety & "making myself known"...yah, they are ugly (especially my wingspan ones) but do I think we "need" them...absolutely!
Front turn signals also help "clear the road" for our bikes as well. Say your going down a road & you want to take a left onto another street where a car has just pulled up to the stop sign where you wanted to turn. With no front signal, he has no idea you want to turn down this street he's leaving...forcing you to have to ride around his car as you pray that he doesn't pull out. Or...you put your left blinker on as you slow to turn, he sees this,pulls out & now you have a wide lane to make your turn instead of another car being there.
Last scenario...your traveling down a 45 mph road & want to take a left. You know as well as I do that 45 mph roads means drivers are traveling 50-55 mph. Well, one driver coming from the opposite direction just happens to be "flying" down this road, sees your bike up ahead with no blinker on, this tells him your just going straight, he has no reason for caution then slams into you as you make your turn. Or...you put your blinker on, he's now more alert because he sees this orange light blinking ahead of him & figures your going to make a turn somewhere soon & instead of "flying" now proceeds with just a little more caution than before.
I'm all about safety & "making myself known"...yah, they are ugly (especially my wingspan ones) but do I think we "need" them...absolutely!
Last edited by Baeseman1; May 16, 2010 at 09:51 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 104
From: Mississippi
Picture this: You're riding down the road ,approaching an intersection, theres a car on the right waiting for you to pass so he can pull out behind you. you put your right blinker on so you can pull into the gas station right after the intersection. you sure that cars not gonna pull out in front of you.if it never happened to you, you haven't been riding long enough.
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Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 501
Likes: 136
I am not trying to change anyones mind on the matter. just trying to see other peoples views of the pros and cons of front blinkers. i think one mistake, leaving your signal on at the wrong time, can cause a driver to pull out in front of you. at least i know they can never tell the cop " he had his blinker on".