There are three types of blinker theory in SoCal:
1: Don't use them at all, because they will speed up to try and cut you off, cuz everyone needs to be first, depriving you of that honor! 50% of all traffic, 100% of BMWs and Honda racer wannabes do this.
2: Turn them on AFTER you start to change lanes - that way they don't have time to speed up, and if they hit you then nobody can say you didn't signal! 40% of traffic, any SUVs not using technique #1 do this.
3: Turn them on well in advance (about 1 mile before you want to change lanes), wait till all the idiots who want to be first have sped up and passed, then change lanes when an opening appears. Don't slow down to gawk at all the idiots who passed you and ran into the tail of traffic up ahead and totalled their cars! 10% of traffic, most MBs do this, including me, for every lane change or merge. :p