Why Don’t Drivers Here Signal Turns?

TURN SIGNALS AREN’T OPTIONAL, ARE THEY? Jan DeHaven asks “what ever happened to signaling while driving in Albuquerque?”

Her letter says “I was born and raised here, moved to the Pacific Northwest area and come back frequently to visit family. Each visit I have observed that signaling here in Albuquerque while making a lane change or turning a corner has become obsolete. How come? Was a law passed that indicates ‘no turn signaling required unless you feel like it?’ ”

She says “Albuquerque ‘used’ to (be) home to some of the best drivers in the country, but now no one bothers to signal, much less observe posted speed limits. OK, OK, driving down some quiet side street, no signal used while making a turn, well maybe. But on Interstate 40 or Interstate 25 going 65-plus mph and all of a sudden you get someone (who) decided to make a lane change in front of you, LOOK OUT! Not acceptable. Even Albuquerque’s finest don’t signal. What happened here?

“I still love visiting the city I was born in. But the drivers make it unsafe, nerve-wracking and frustrating.”

ONE MORE TIME ON THOSE OUT-OF-STATE PLATES: First they were portrayed as transplants too lazy/cheap to register their vehicles in New Mexico. Then as active military personnel who are not required to change their license plates with every reassignment.

Now, two more readers weigh in on the abundance of out-of-state plates in the Metro area.

Ron Oakes, a New Mexico native and San Diego resident, emails that some out-of-state plates may very well be current, it’s just that those states don’t have the same registration stickers New Mexico does.

“In the original article, it was mentioned by the reader writing in that he noticed that the Texas plate did not have a sticker. I’ve observed that for several years, the State of Texas does not issue stickers for the rear plate like most other states, but instead issues stickers that go into the front windshield — usually on the lower, right-hand side. Therefore, a car with a valid Texas registration will not have a sticker visible from the rear.”

That sticker is because Texas actually inspects vehicles to ensure they are road-worthy. What a concept.

And Bill White in Rio Rancho emails “I read about the ‘exceptions’ to the 30-day law concerning out-of-state license plates with interest and doubts. Yes, there are a few exceptions to the 30-day law as I’m retired Air Force and am fully aware of the military — and student — exemptions, but let’s not underestimate the number of new residents to New Mexico who are intentionally and blatantly violating OUR law and thereby avoiding paying New Mexico taxes.

“I recently was sitting in traffic behind a car with a Florida license plate,” Bill continues, “and it was very obvious the owner had scratched out the expiration sticker in an attempt to hide the fact their registration in Florida had expired. I live in Rio Rancho and have observed far too many expired out-of-state license plates — meaning not even current in the state represented — or know people living in my subdivision, Northern Meadows, who are and have been living here for far more than 30 days with no New Mexico license plate, robbing my adopted state of over 30 years of tax revenue that is desperately needed.”

Bill says “the law enforcement agencies around the state, especially the Albuquerque/Rio Rancho area, need to pay more attention to these ‘tax evaders’ just as they do speeders and tailgaters. If in doubt, PULL ‘EM OVER and ask their status and reason for having out-of-state plates. I don’t know how much revenue is being lost by these tax evaders, but New Mexico needs and deserves their tax revenue to help pay to repair and update the very roads they are now driving on for free.”

TWENTY-NINE TRAFFIC DEATHS IN MARCH: According to the number crunchers at the University of New Mexico who tabulate traffic fatality information for the state’s Traffic Safety Bureau, 16 of those deaths were in vehicles, six on motorcycles, one on a bike and six on foot.

Through March there have been 95 road deaths in New Mexico; alcohol was a factor in 42 of them. Of the 62 people killed so far in vehicles, just 19 were wearing seat belts. Of the 10 killed on motorcycles, just one was wearing a helmet.

Assistant editorial page editor D’Val Westphal tackles commuter issues for the Metro area on Mondays and West Siders and Rio Ranchoans on Thursdays. Reach her at 823-3858; road@abqjournal.com; P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103; or go to ABQjournal.com/traffic to read previous columns and join in the conversation.
— This article appeared on page A4 of the Albuquerque Journal