Why do seven out of ten drivers not use their turn signals?

Oh, noble turn signal! Rhythmic companion on so many journeys! Practitioner of automotive courtesy! Always prudent! Always bright! Always blinking with admirable modesty! Today we mourn you! You have been turned into a relic of the past. You, little mechanical arm that once illuminated our intentions on the road, that protected us, that anticipated our movements, have been relegated to darkness and apathy. A mass of drivers who rely on the gift of road telepathy, who cross the navel of the world, have condemned you to ostracism. Why on earth should they signal their maneuvers, if the rest of the drivers can just try to guess them?

The decline in the use of turn signals is not only noticeable on the road but is also reflected in several studies. The 2019 Behavior Observatory study conducted by Autopistas, part of the Abertis group, analyzed the behavior of 69,700 vehicles traveling on the AP-7 highway between Salou and Puçol, with alarming results. 53.1% of vehicles did not signal their intention to overtake, and 67.1% did not signal their return to the original lane. Three years later, in 2022, a similar study on the AP-68 confirmed that the situation was worsening. Seven out of ten drivers did not use their turn signals. That is, only 33% of light vehicles signaled correctly. Internationally, the data points in the same direction. Observational studies conducted in Canada in 2013, on a sample of 5,600 vehicles at urban intersections, revealed that one in four drivers did not use their turn signals. Their use was lower for right turns than for left turns and decreased when traffic was heavy. A significant aspect of this study was the contagion effect: when the vehicle in front didn't signal, the likelihood of the following vehicle not signaling increased. In Sweden, a 2023 study showed that only 60% of drivers activated their turn signal before beginning a lane change. In contrast, 33% activated it after starting the maneuver, when the signal had already lost much of its warning function. Seven percent never activated it. Surveys conducted in the United States by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety between 2016 and 2019 revealed drivers' reasons for not using their turn signals. The most frequent response was the perception that "there's no one around." The second most common reason was the feeling that "it's already obvious where I'm going." Other reasons cited included being in a hurry, inattention, and forgetfulness. In another 2012 survey, released by insurance companies using data from Harris Poll, 23% of drivers admitted they didn't use their turn signals simply because they "didn't feel like it." 42% said it was because they "didn't have time" or because "the maneuver is quick." A study by Discovercars.com last year reveals an interesting finding. They observed 1,493 cars at six European intersections for an average of thirty minutes for each vehicle brand. The results show significant differences between manufacturers: BMW drivers were the least likely to use their turn signals—19.3% didn't—followed by Mercedes-Benz drivers, at 14.7%. The difference between BMW and the other brands was statistically significant. The gradual abandonment of turn signals perhaps reflects an increasingly individualistic society, where personal convenience takes precedence over shared responsibility. If even a gesture as minuscule as slightly moving that index finger is perceived as an excessive burden, then the situation, which requires a little more involvement and collective effort, cannot be very hopeful.