I've written college papers on the subject; I've argued with people about it; I'm in the process of filming footage for a "documentary" ...I've become generally adamant about promulgating the use of one's blinker. Why get so riled up over such a triviality? Well, hopefully when broken down and expounded upon, I can convince you as to why it is quite the opposite of a triviality. (A quick stipulation - this pertains generally to California)

I have never universally rebuked an action like I have been with people not using their blinkers. I could attempt to trace the origins of this deep disdain - linking it to some psychological vetting of my father's death...or whatever - but, I generally see it cultivating when I moved to Roseville, CA. First, let me give you some brief, chronological insight into my 24 year geographical history (aka-everywhere I've lived since I was born): Truckee, CA; Nevada City, CA; Grass Valley, CA; Lake Wildwood, CA; Auburn, CA; Santa Barbara, CA; Santa Cruz, CA; San Francisco, CA; Long Beach, CA; Tarzana, CA (San Fernando Valley); Hollywood, CA; Roseville, CA. I've been driving ever seen Nevada City, so I've driven for extensive periods in a plethora of cities. I got to know the drivers' characteristics; the city's idiosyncrasies. And let's not forget my extreme passion for driving.

So now that precedent is set, I can safely say Roseville is an up-and-coming, but wannabe version, of L.A. It's not a remotely fun city; it's full of terribly rude and self-centered people; the drivers are horrible; it's a wannabe "rich" city. Steering away from my anti-Roseville hate speech, the drivers in this area have opened my eyes...to many things.

Drivers: you have blind spots, you don't see all. You can't honestly tell me, otherwise you'd be the first, that you have never looked in your side and/or rear view mirror, and maybe even over your shoulder as well, and then merged only to re-look at your rear/side view mirror to discover someone inexplicably right behind you. Then thinking to yourself - did I just cut that person off without knowing it; or did they just merge from behind me at a coincidental time; or were they just going 100 mph?

Ok, let's say that's not even the case...for you...somehow. Because you're just such a perfect driver...right? But what does not using one's blinker actually disseminate, whether it's out of apathy, ignoring the law for various reasons, to cut someone off, or out of a lack of courtesy? What about the safety of others? Just because you know you're a great driver does not mean others around you can react as well as you can. Why not show people a little courtesy and let them know your intentions.

Roseville is the king of insane soccer moms who drive their kids around in their chromed out SUVs while illegally talking on their cell phones. What do these actions teach their children - that it's okay to disregard some laws, if they're trivial or aren't enforced, or that it's not a safety issue...I mean, I'm struggling to come up with, and type, reasons because they're so irrational and use no real form of logic.

Let's take a hypothetical, but not hyperbolic by any means, look at some consequences of actively choosing/deciding to not move your left hand mere inches away from its standard position. You're on a three-lane highway, in the slow/far right lane, and you want to get into the middle lane. You look in your rear and side view mirrors, as well as over the shoulder, and notice there is no one in the lane next to you, and there is no one coming up that would prevent you from merging. But unbeknownst to you is someone in the fast lane who was at a particular angle in which you couldn't see them when searching to merge, and you feel it was okay to merge without your blinker because no one visible was around and you inadvertently pull in front of them. What happens next obviously depends on the driver(s) involved, but it can range from no reaction, to extreme retaliation. Besides that, it most likely created some anger, frustration and possible, temporary road rage for the affected driver.

I could go on and on, but I'll just pose this question: how hard is it, really, to use your blinker?

In the words of my license plate frame (well - me): Your blinker is there for a reason. Use it, douche. And pray you don't cut me off while not using your blinker.