Most newer cars (anything made in the last 8 or 10 years) have what's called a 'lane change feature' - You touch the turn signal stalk for the direction you want but don't press it hard enough that it's 'clicked on' . . . . just touch it and release it and that gives you three flashes of your turn signals and it shuts itself off. You'll never be driving for miles and miles with your signals flashing ever again!
Don't feel badly - I'll bet 50% of drivers don't know their car has this feature, so you're not alone - I just pointed it out to my brother in law a few weeks ago and he knew nothing about it. You can tell those who do . . . . their signals flash exactly three times whenever they change lanes
Don