While one good turn deserves another, it doesn’t necessarily signal the end

Now given, I haven’t been driving much over the past six months, but regardless I haven’t heard about drastic changes to the rules of the road.

In fact, I see the same guy studying the same BMV Rules of the Road quite often when I go to lunch.

And I haven’t had time to ask Rob or Nick York whether turn signals had suddenly become an option on new cars and trucks sold in Greencastle.

But certainly, the local use of turn signals has never been the second-nature application that it should be, virtually an involuntary response.

And although I can’t explain why, I find myself hitting the turn signal without even thinking about it. Whether there’s traffic or not – and there seldom is – I even find myself flipping on the turn signal to turn off Highwood Avenue into my own driveway. And the other night I caught myself about to use a blinker to veer off my driveway to the left for my parking spot under the leaning tree of ash.

Yet that’s totally incongruent with traffic I’ve been encountering lately. Local drivers, from my observation, are more likely to skip the turn signal altogether than put it to use, despite its presence in the name of safety, respect and consideration of other drivers.

Honking horns and socially unacceptable fingers not withstanding, let’s get this straight, use of a turn signal isn’t meant to benefit or placate you. It’s meant to validate your driving choice, letting those around you know what you and your vehicle are about to do.

You know, one good turn deserves another.

After all, failing to signal even a lane change on the interstate can give the police just cause to pull you over. And that has led to more than one drug bust along I-70.

One of the worst places for this aversion to turn signals to rear ugly its head is where Avenue B faces the eastern exit at McDonald’s. If you’re trying to pull out of McDonald’s onto Percy Julian Drive, you know what I mean, especially when there is another vehicle looking at you face to face, westbound on Avenue B without a turn signal in sight.

You’re supposed to be a mind reader, I guess, to determine if he’s headed left, right or straight at you.

Earlier this week it happened to me again, and I was bound and determined this time not to move until the guy in the big white SUV made his desires known.

I sat in my Jeep, content with the surroundings of its 298,000 miles, turn signal blinking out a rhythmic beat as the radio belted out, appropriately enough, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by the Rolling Stones. Yeah, I was locked in for the long haul.

Several opportunities to turn left came and went as I stared down the barrel of the white SUV in front me. Oh sure, traffic was backing up behind me, sweet teas and nuggets in hand. But what’s a few honking horns and socially unacceptable fingers among friends?

Finally, my immobile adversary flashed his headlights, which I assumed was either the universal sign of surrender or a suggestion that I go ahead.

And go I did, quickly turning left out of McDonald’s while expecting the white SUV to come flashing across Percy Julian into the restaurant entrance behind me.

But as I looked back, I saw the SUV make a lazy left, going south on Percy Julian.

Moments later – literally seconds – lights flashed and a Greencastle police car came out of nowhere to pull my old friend over.

I had to chuckle at this unexpected turn of events.

For if you try sometimes -- as The Rolling Stones sang -- you might find you get what you need …