I don't want to jump the gun but...

 

...isn't that the best way to dodge the bullet?

Blinkers - still standard equipment

Blinkers have been standard equipment on vehicles for many years. A large majority of the population knows this to be a fact. However, the portion of the population that understands the function of the blinker appears to be getting smaller.
 
In England, turn signals are referred to by their purpose - 'indicators.' They indicate to everyone around a particular vehicle that it intends to change its course to the left or right.  This is extremely helpful information - especially at 80 m.p.h.

In the U.S., however, turn signals are referred to by what they actually do - they blink. 
       "Is that light working?" 
       "Yep. See, it blinks.  Now try the windshield wipers."
Apparently, this is all we think those lights are for - to blink and to flash.  Like Christmas tree lights.
       "Let's decorate the car by putting little twinkly lights on it.  Aren't they pretty?"

Some drivers feel the lights are pretty enough to leave on at all times.  You know the ones, driving down a 20 mile stretch of straight-as-an-arrow highway.  And we are stuck behind them as their rear end lights up in 5 second intervals -  blink, blink, blink, blink.

And then there are the drivers at the other end of the spectrum that don't use the lights at all.  They think we are all mystery buffs that enjoy the element of surprise.  They lull us into a false sense of security and then all of a sudden hit the gas and zoom in a new direction.  "Surprise! Wasn't that fun?"

Let's leave the twinkly lights for holidays and the surprises for birthday parties.  We may get philosophical and ask, "Where are we going with our lives?"  But with archaic paper maps and talking GPS apps, we know exactly where we are going with our cars. Don't keep the destination a secret from everyone else - blinkers have a purpose - USE THEM .