Transcription

All right it’s the warning for other drivers to know what you’re thinking what’s your next move out there. But actually activating that turn signal while many people on the road just aren’t taking that very simple step all. New tonight, Megan Thompson looking into how one study claims it’s causing more accidents than cellphones it’s even easier than turning on your car. Of all the technology and vehicles today the blinker is pretty basic.

ABC15 viewer Dan emailed operation safe road saying, I’d like to see a crackdown on this problem, as it’s an epidemic. Going on to say, I’ve been so close to accidents due to not using the single instrument, that every car comes with. The reality of it is, is if somebody uses a blinker and the other driver sees it the accident would never happen.

Doug Zanes with Zanes Law, showing us a study done by the Society of Automotive Engineers. As the study showed, the numbers are huge. The number of accidents caused by people who fail the user turn signals correctly are significant. It found that drivers across the country don’t use their blinker nearly half of the time and they estimate it’s the cause behind two million crashes each year. If I’m not using my blinkers the other drivers on the road have no idea what I’m doing.

This data from 2012 and we all know cell phones are more widely used now, but Zanes says it is still one of the top reasons why accidents are happening. Me saying while drivers are lazy is really probably a huge simplification of the problem and it really probably comes back to distractions and all the other things. that go on and a blinker is just something else that you have to remember to do. Zanes says it’s not only crucial for other drivers but motorcyclists too. There are many times there’s an accident because the driver didn’t see the rider, but using that blinker is a flashing warning. At least it gives that rider an opportunity to see what you’re doing and protect himself or herself and get out of the way. So what drives you crazy? You can send us an email, like this viewer did or give us a call to our operation safe roads hotline. I’m Thompson for operation safe road.