Evolving meaning of turn signals

This is in response to Martin Deppe's Oct. 16 letter headlined "A nifty idea that hasn't worked out."

Martin suggests, "let's say farewell to our turn signals."

Indeed, the use of turn signals, while still required by Illinois law, has acquired a whole new meaning, especially to anyone who travels the highways during (c)rush hour. At peak times on the roads, its no longer a "turn" signal or a "lane change" signal, it's now a "squeeze me out" signal. Signaling was originally intended to be a safety notification to other drivers. However, in today's competitive, "I'm the most important person on this road!", "I'm a taxpayer -- how dare you get in front of me!" world, lane change signals have become a signal to the driver in the target lane to "jump on the throttle and squeeze me out, or I'll be in front of you!"

Don't even get me started about the ones who make rights turns from the left lane, left turns from the right lane, and other stupidity.

David J. Dachtera

Joliet