8 ways Boomers use their turn signals (or don't) that driving instructors use as "what not to do" examples

Have you ever been stuck behind someone on the freeway who left their turn signal on for the last 10 miles?

Last week, driving up the 405, I watched a silver sedan cruise along with its left blinker going for what felt like eternity. The driver seemed completely oblivious. After about five minutes, I realized this was probably someone from my parents' generation, and it got me thinking about all the turn signal habits I've noticed over the years.

Look, I'm not trying to pile on here. Every generation has its quirks behind the wheel. But after chatting with a driving instructor friend over coffee in Venice last month, I learned that certain turn signal behaviors have become legendary teaching moments in driver's ed classes.

And surprisingly, many of these cautionary tales feature drivers of a certain age.

So today, let's explore eight turn signal habits that have become the stuff of driving school legend. Consider this your guide to what not to do, whether you're 25 or 75.

1) The eternal blinker

This is the classic. You know the one - the turn signal that stays on long after the turn or lane change is complete. Sometimes it goes on for miles and miles, clicking away like a metronome while other drivers wonder if there's a secret turn coming up that only they know about.

I've mentioned this before, but awareness is everything when you're driving. The eternal blinker usually happens when drivers can't hear the clicking sound anymore or simply forget to check their dashboard. Modern cars have gotten quieter, sure, but that little arrow on your dash is still blinking away.

The fix is simple: make it a habit to check your dashboard every minute or so. Better yet, train yourself to manually turn off your signal after every lane change instead of relying on the auto-cancel feature.

2) The non-signaler

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, we have the driver who treats turn signals like they're optional equipment. No warning, no indication, just sudden movements that leave everyone else scrambling.

You've seen this at grocery store parking lots, freeway merges, and especially at four-way stops. The car ahead suddenly veers left, and you're left wondering if they forgot signals exist or if they're trying to keep their route a secret.

What makes this particularly dangerous is that it removes predictability from driving. Other drivers can't anticipate your moves, which increases everyone's stress levels and reaction times.

3) The premature signaler

Picture this scenario: you're following someone who signals left, so you prepare to go around them. But then they pass one street, then another, then another. Finally, three blocks later, they actually turn.

This creates a boy-who-cried-wolf situation. Other drivers stop trusting the signal, which defeats its entire purpose. I once followed someone through downtown LA who had their signal on for eight blocks before turning. Eight!

The general rule? Signal about 100 feet before your turn in city driving, or about 5 seconds before changing lanes on the highway. Any earlier and you're just creating confusion.

4) The half-hearted tap

This is the signal that flashes exactly once, maybe twice if you're lucky. It's like the driver is saying, "Well, technically I signaled."

But here's the thing - a signal needs time to be seen and processed by other drivers. That split-second flash while you're already moving into the next lane doesn't count. It's like whispering "excuse me" as you're already pushing past someone.

Your signal should be on for at least three flashes before you start your maneuver. This gives other drivers adequate time to see it, process it, and adjust accordingly.

5) The wrong-way signal

I'll never understand this one, but it happens more than you'd think. The driver signals right but turns left, or signals left but goes straight. It's like their hands and brain are having two different conversations.

A driving instructor once told me this often happens when people are distracted or when they're thinking about their next turn instead of their current one. They're already mentally at the next intersection while their body is still navigating this one.

This is why mindfulness matters even in something as routine as driving. Stay present, focus on your current maneuver, and make sure your signals match your intentions.

6) The parking lot abandoner

You know how some people seem to think traffic laws don't apply in parking lots? The same goes for turn signals. Suddenly, in the Whole Foods parking lot, signals become extinct.

But here's what many drivers forget: parking lots are actually where signals matter most. Speeds are low, visibility is limited, pedestrians are everywhere, and cars are backing out of spaces. Without signals, it's chaos.

I've seen more near-misses in beach parking lots here in Venice than on any actual street. Why? Because everyone assumes everyone else can read their mind about which space they're aiming for.

7) The lane change faker

This driver signals for a lane change, starts to move over, then changes their mind and swerves back. Meanwhile, the car behind them in the target lane has already hit the brakes, and now everyone's confused.

Commitment issues shouldn't play out on the highway. If you signal and start a lane change, follow through unless it's genuinely unsafe. That moment of indecision creates ripple effects that can lead to accidents three cars back.

Before you signal, check your mirrors, check your blind spot, and make sure you actually want to change lanes. Don't use your signal to "test the waters" and see if someone will let you in.

8) The simultaneous signal-and-turn

This is perhaps the most defeating of all signal sins. The driver hits their signal at the exact moment they begin turning. At that point, why even bother?

The whole purpose of a turn signal is to signal your intent before you act on it. It's supposed to be a heads-up, not a play-by-play commentary of what you're already doing.

Think of it this way: if someone threw you a ball and yelled "catch!" at the exact moment it hit you in the face, would that warning have been helpful? Same principle applies here.

Wrapping up

These turn signal habits might seem harmless or just mildly annoying, but they actually represent a bigger issue: the erosion of driving communication.

Turn signals are essentially the only way we can talk to other drivers. They're our shared language on the road. When we misuse them or skip them altogether, we're basically refusing to communicate, and that makes the roads more dangerous for everyone.

Next time you're behind the wheel, ask yourself: are my signals actually helpful, or am I just going through the motions? Are they clear, timely, and accurate?

Because at the end of the day, good signaling isn't about following rules or avoiding tickets. It's about being a considerate human being who recognizes that we're all sharing these roads together.

And maybe, just maybe, we can all learn something from those driving instructor cautionary tales, regardless of which generation we belong to.