A Malaysian motorist has amused netizens after leaving a handwritten note on her car to explain that her left turn signal was broken, so other road users would know she wasn’t simply forgetting to signal.
Taking to Threads, user @__nyism__ shared her experience after the left turn signal stopped working due to a burnt-out bulb. Ironically, she admitted that she is usually quick to get annoyed at drivers who turn or change lanes without signalling.
She knew exactly how other drivers might react
Recalling her usual reaction to drivers who fail to use their signals, she wrote:
“I always curse at people who enter junctions without signaling, ‘DID YOU BUY A CAR WITHOUT A SIGNAL INCLUDED?!’”
However, finding herself in the same situation left her worried that other motorists might mistake her for an inconsiderate driver.
Speaking to WORLD OF BUZZ, she clarified that the faulty turn signal was simply caused by a burnt-out bulb.
The motorist said she lives in Pasir Gudang and works in Mount Austin, Johor Bahru. Since she had to leave home at around 7am to send her son to school, there were no workshops open at the time.
Instead, she decided to head to work first and look for a workshop near her office.
Her handwritten note did the explaining for her
Determined to avoid angry honks and hostile reactions from other road users, she came up with a simple DIY solution.
She taped a handwritten note beside the malfunctioning light, which read:
“Sorry!! Left signal is broken. Don’t scold me. On the way to get it repaired.”
Fortunately, according to the user, much of her journey to work involved turning right, which meant she did not have to rely as heavily on the faulty left turn signal.
However, she said driving on the highway was more challenging as she stayed in the left lane and had to be extra careful and constantly alert on the road.
Netizens found her solution relatable
She later shared an update confirming that she had safely reached a workshop to have the faulty turn signal repaired. But the post quickly went viral, garnering hundreds of comments from amused netizens who found her approach both honest and relatable.
Some motorists also admitted that they had used similar handwritten signs to alert other road users when dealing with unexpected vehicle problems.
She said most motorists and riders were understanding after spotting the note.
“From what I saw, most other riders and drivers were actually alert. The riders saw my notice at the back and moved to the right side because they were afraid I would suddenly turn to the left!,” she said.
Some motorists had funny suggestions
According to her, several people advised her to use hand signals, while others came up with a much more unconventional suggestion.
“Most of them advised me to use hand signals, and some very funny ones asked me to use my leg and stick my foot out of the left window as a signal!,” she said speaking to WORLD OF BUZZ.
She also recommended that other motorists facing similar issues use a handwritten note alongside hand signals, as vehicles can approach from all directions.
Netizens’ reactions
“I SAW YOU JUST NOW NEAR MOUNT AUSTIN, RIGHT? BUT I ONLY MANAGED TO READ ‘Sorry!! Left signal’!”
“HAHAHAHAHAH SO SMART, SIS. Before we get cursed/scolded, it’s better we take the initiative first!”
“You can even tie a torchlight to a broomstick, sis.”
“I’ve done that before, both left and right indicators suddenly stopped working. During rush hour after work, many shops were closed. Couldn’t use my hand to signal either, the distance between home and work is pretty far so I just stuck a massive piece of paper on!”
What would you do in this situation? Let us know in the comments!
