Hi.
Today, at 10:30 this morning, I was driving south on Keitzke, at Neil Road. I noticed a Washoe County Sheriff turning left towards the freeway.
He was not using his turn signals to make the left turn, nor did he use them to turn onto the freeway.
Last week I noticed the same thing occurring with an NHP trooper down in Douglas County. I called the watch commander, as it's really disconcerting to see law enforcement officers not using their singals to make lane changes, turns, etc...
As a former truck driver, I learned a long time ago the reason, and purpose for turn signals, and have made it a practice to do so in my private driving ever since.
When I spoke with the NHP watch commander, he informed me that since they don't use their turn signals, they no longer ticketed for it-- a sense of hypocrisy, as he put it.
I proceeded to explain to him my background, and frustration of having to drive around people who don't use their signals, for anything. I have no idea who's going where, until they try to do so, and quite frankly, as I'm sure you know, it can get pretty damn scary, real fast! And what's worse, is that they start yelling, using sign language of all sorts to let you know that they wanted to be where they thought no one was, until they saw you-- the driver.
I get that we get busy, too many activities while driving-- eating, talking on the cel phone, listening to the radio, ad infinitum. However, as a former truck driver, I've also seen what can happen when two people not paying attention hit one another. And neither used a turn signal.
As a tax payer, I am grateul for the job you guys do. God knows that without you, we'd be living in a far worse society, or anarchy to the nth degree. However, as a taxpayer, I expect to know that when I'm around your deputies, I can feel safe because everything is done to ensure it. This morning, I felt a whole lot less safe because he was not using his signals, either before, or after be got on the freeway. Nor did he use them getting off of the freeway, until he turned left at 341 towards VC.
Perhaps he is an excellent driver- I know law enforcement officers get tons of driving practice/training. But seeing an increasing number of police, sheriff, and NHP Troopers not using their turn signals is really making me wonder. It's bad enough that the public doesn't use them, but when you guys stop, where to next?
I for one have been considering writing to automakers for the sole purpose of having them no longer put turn signals on vehicles.
The license plate of the deputy this morning was: 040.
I'd really appreciate it if your watch commander, or leuitenant would make monthly reminders to the officers on using their turn signals- consistently.
I'm sure it'll piss off more than a few deputies. I can still remember how irritated I was when I was first informed that I needed to do so, some twenty three years ago. But for the safety of drivers surrounding your deputies, please..... begin using the turn signals again.
Best Regards,
SteveB.