A nifty idea that hasn't worked out

Traveling recently on I -90 from Chicago on route to our lake cottage in Wisconsin, I counted on one hand the times any driver alerted me to changing lanes. Even then, the vehicle was, in most cases, halfway into my lane before the signal came on.

Drivers today are so adept that they glide effortlessly from lane to lane and, presto, appear in front of you, often just a few yards ahead. And this goes for cars, SUVs, pick-up trucks, buses and even semis. The law requiring use of turning signals is an anachronism. And if someone doesn't like your speed they give you a close encounter of a frightening kind.

So, let's say farewell to our turn signals. They were a nifty invention. We've gone back to hand signals, it seems, mostly of the one-finger variety.

Martin Deppe

Chicago