National Survey Reveals Why Drivers Don’t Use Turn Signals

A new national survey reveals that 57% of American drivers admit they don’t use their turn signal when changing lanes, but what is most startling are the excuses drivers gave.

According to Response Insurance, a national car insurer, 42% of those drivers say they don’t have enough time, 23% admit they are just plain “lazy,” 17% don’t signal because when they do, they forget to turn it off, 12% admit they are changing lanes too frequently to bother, 11% say it is not important, 8% say they don’t signal because other drivers don’t, and perhaps most disturbing 7% say forgoing the signal “adds excitement to driving.”

The Company identified several driver-types when it comes to ignoring turn signals – Impulsive, Lazy, Forgetful, Swervers, Ostriches, Followers, and the Dare Devils.

“The bottom line is that most drivers are failing to see the importance of using their turn signals,” noted Mory Katz, Chairman & CEO of Response Insurance. “But, they are doing so at their own peril – and the peril of others – since their unanticipated actions cause crashes.”

The just released Response Insurance National Driving Habits Survey also indicated that men are more likely than women to forgo their signal when changing lanes (62% vs. 53%), as are younger drivers (ages 18-24), 71% of whom report they don’t signal, as compared to 49% of older adults (ages 55-64).

Response Insurance is a direct to the consumer auto insurer focusing on insuring safe, responsible people. The Company regularly provides to the public news and information regarding driver safety and transportation issues. They issue safety tips, reports, analyses, and conduct original research as a public service. This Response Insurance National Driving Habits Survey of 1,000 adults was conducted 8/18-21/05. The survey has a margin of error of + / – 3%