Pet peeve of the day

People who don't indicate, or people who indicate inappropriately.

I understand that road traffic laws vary throughout the world, but common to them all is that there is a given set of rules and regulations that each and every driver are required to conform to. All of these "rules of the road" as it were, have been put in place in order to a) help facilitate the flow of traffic, and b) to aid in keeping you and those around you safe. Even so there is a frightening number of drivers out there who seem to think that these rules do not apply to them, that somehow they have transcended the need for earthly guidance and that the network of roads, streets and highways must have been built for them alone.

For this post, I will talk about indicators and the fact that people are apparently either a) unable to operate them, or b) unaware of their existence. There is a third alternative, but let's look at these two first. If people were indeed unable to operate the lever that toggles their indicators on I don't believe they could possess the mental faculties necessary to pass the tests to obtain their licenses, so let's assume that it's not "a". However, if they are unaware of their existence another problem becomes apparent; road traffic laws clearly state that all vehicles must be equipped with indicators, and that their use is mandatory in certain situations (changing lanes, getting off on a sideroad, exiting a roundabout and so on). So, every person to take a driver's course are informed about this to great length, and failure to obey these rules will result in a failed attempt at passing the tests. So, clearly the third alternative must be the answer; people can simply not be bothered, or they just don't care about anybody else in traffic as long as they get to wherever they are going.

And then there are those who use their indicators, but use them inappropriately so that their use is irrelevant and might as well be omitted. Many drivers seem to think that turning their indicators on as an afterthought while being well into their turn, or at the same time as they are starting their turn is sufficient. Both are clearly wrong, and neither is helpful to those around you. The correct and proper use of indicators would be to turn them on before you plan to make your turn - ideally three seconds ahead of the turn. This serves a few important functions; among which are: a) it will inform those on the road around you that you're planning to make a turn, and in which direction you plan to go, b) it allows those around you to adapt and react to the maneuvers you're going to make, and c) it might allow those ahead of you to get onto the road if you're getting off onto a sideroad for instance. C is particularly helpful in roundabouts.

Why do some drivers find it so hard to uphold a few simple and sensible rules put in place to aid and protect every person moving about in traffic?