(4 minute read)   So here I was driving on the highway, where else but in the left lane, right! I was following a couple of cars, and it was that moment to decide whether to pass these cars through the middle lane, as it was available. It was then that the car in front of me switched to the middle lane and passed the car in front of it. As a dutiful driver, I figured I’d give the now leading car, in the left lane, the opportunity to switch to the middle lane, so I can pass them. So, I turned my left turn signal ON.

You may think to yourself, “Wait, why would you turn your left turn signal ON when you are already in the left lane of a highway!?” I’ll get back to answer this question.  There was no change of lanes from the car in front of me, so I switched from a left blinker to a right blinker, changed to the middle lane to pass this car that I am somewhat annoyed with at this moment.

As I passed that car, I looked at the driver. I know what you are thinking………… No, I did not make any nasty gesture at the driver. I am always curious as to the age of the driver, for if it is an older person, I try to remind myself not to be annoyed at them. As you know, I am getting up there in age myself and hope others would be patient with me as my driving skills deteriorate. If this was a conversation with my wife, she’d be tempted to say something like; “Deteriorate more than what it already is!?”

The driver was a man in his twenties I would say. He actually had his hand on the signal bar, but with no turn light blinking. He was leaning over his right shoulder checking traffic. Now, my interest peaked and I thought, “Why does this guy not have his turn signal ON? I would have given him the time and would not passed him from the middle lane”, then further thought, “Maybe he does have his signal ON but the bulb is out.” So I watched intently, while keeping my eyes on the road ahead of course. Another car did exactly what I did, then there……. I saw the right signal lights blink on his car, and he switched to the middle lane.

At this point I was no longer annoyed at him, I simply felt bad for him. In today’s culture, drivers are taught that a turn signal is to be used when you turn. Check this out as you drive. I’d say 80% of drivers press their brakes as they turn on their right/left blinker. In many cases the brake lights are ON before the signal. So what’s the big deal?? The big deal is; we are not using our communication skills/tools properly, while driving and otherwise.

So this poor young man is literally handcuffed from informing those around him that ‘He wants to get out of the left lane’. Only they are cultural handcuffs not real ones. ‘He does not know better’ is his handcuffs.

Communication is supreme, is vital and is crucial. Without it, oh so many bad things happen day in and day out. Wars have started and can start because of lack of communication. Our words, our tone, our body language, our conjecture and our silence are an unholstered  gun. If there’s a gun laying around, people approach it with intentionality, hold it with respect, and aim it with full awareness and purpose. Otherwise accidents happen. Approach your communication in this same manner and the chances of a misunderstanding, a miscommunication or a full out war, drop and drop drastically.

The turn signal’s main purpose is to inform those around you that you have the INTENTION to turn in the indicated direction a bit up the road, and not ‘I am turning now’. This gives those around you ample time to decide whether they need to slow down or maybe have a chance to change their lane, so as not to be affected by your slowing down as you prepare to turn a bit up the raod.

Oh, and about the left turn signal while in the left lane; it is intended to catch the attention of the driver ahead of you, in case they did not notice you behind them, and it communicates your desire to pass them. Hopefully that will initiate the; “Since you asked nicely, let me get out of your way so you can pass me.”

If I can only utilize the skills/tools of communication to effectively keep you informed of my intentions, and if you do the same, oh the world we live in would be more fantastic than what it already is. We can change our culture one act at a time. Start with the blinkers, but never stop there, just keeping looking for one more thing to improve communications with others.