Not Using your indicators?

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

UnderPressure wrote: »

I dont understand this comment are you really trying to tell me that not using the is safer? If you have to question wether or not it is indeed safe or not to use them then I suggest it is you who understands little about safety, other motorist and pedestrians do not have a crystal ball to predict your movements that is the job of the indicator!!!!!!

Again the only reasonable thing I can so is agree to disagree..........................

Making the concerted effort to observe fully your surroundings in deciding whether or not to use indicators is much safer than indicating out of habit. One forces you to become observant, the other does not.

The indicator is just a flashing light. It indicates intent, nothing more. Anyone making a life/death decision based on that signal is a fool.

Col7777

My youngest daughter took lessons a few years ago and her instructor told her not to use indicators if no other traffic was around, my daughter indicated and the instructor asked who she was indicating to, my daughter said she indicated because she thought she had to, the instructor said there was no need.
On that though I was behind a police car on a road junction and there was lots of traffic and he never indicated, I was behind him for a few miles and he turned as I did and again never indicated, I could see he was too busy talking to his mate.

cyclonebri1

The real worrying thing about this thread is that there is obviously a section of the motoring public that think they are so super observant and of above average driving skill that they think they cannot make a mistake. The man who never made a mistake never made anything is an old adage that springs to mind and applies here. .
Some have probably never considered the blind spot, the speed a biker closes distance and that they only have a 100 degree field of visionand no eyes in the back of their heads, plus when looking in the rear view mirror they are not looking forwards or sidewards.

Must be lots of them about, I find a few everyday and if nothing else it is dammed annoying. Sad to think most folks opinion of the standard of their own driving is so inflated:(

neilmcl

There's also an issue of drivers thinking that using indicators automatically give's them the right to pull out without checking, ie, I'm going to indicate and pull out regardless, seems to me a lot of buses like to use this approach. I saw a guy indicate and pull-out blindly last night on the A1 feet in front of a car transporter that nearly ended up in his passenger seat.

This is precisely what happens when drivers indicate out of habit.

mikey72

neilmcl wrote: »

There's also an issue of drivers thinking that using indicators automatically give's them the right to pull out without checking, ie, I'm going to indicate and pull out regardless, seems to me a lot of buses like to use this approach. I saw a guy indicate and pull-out blindly last night on the A1 feet in front of a car transporter that nearly ended up in his passenger seat.

This is precisely what happens when drivers indicate out of habit.

If he hadn't indicated either, it wouldn't have been a lot better though.

Strider590

^^ Where I used to live, the bus drivers had been told by their company to indicate 3 times and then simply pull out regardless.

But they may have been a knee jerk reaction, to an employee that was complaining about car drivers when he received a disciplinary for consistently running late (example).

Stigy

neilmcl wrote: »

There's also an issue of drivers thinking that using indicators automatically give's them the right to pull out without checking, ie, I'm going to indicate and pull out regardless, seems to me a lot of buses like to use this approach. I saw a guy indicate and pull-out blindly last night on the A1 feet in front of a car transporter that nearly ended up in his passenger seat.

This is precisely what happens when drivers indicate out of habit.

As far as buses go, it is in the highway code that other motorists should give priority to them. Therefore, them indicating is saying just that I'd imagine "I'm moving out, just to let you know before I do it regardless of whether you intend to let me or not". Rule 223 on looking online at the Highway Code. Obviously where safe to do so.

neilmcl

Stigy wrote: »

Obviously where safe to do so.

That's the key point though. There's been plenty of times when either I've been alongside a bus or approaching when I've seen them indicate and begin to pull out in the same action. They may have priority but they must also follow the same rules as everyone else.

johnfarquhar74

Stigy wrote: »

As far as buses go, it is in the highway code that other motorists should give priority to them. Therefore, them indicating is saying just that I'd imagine "I'm moving out, just to let you know before I do it regardless of whether you intend to let me or not". Rule 223 on looking online at the Highway Code. Obviously where safe to do so.

I'm not sure if we've had a few accidents in Edinburgh with buses but they've changed their tact up here slightly.
The bus used to have a sticker on the rear offside reminding drivers of the relevant rule in the 'code', but as this was advisory and not law, I assume some drivers didn't let the bus out, so the stickers were replaced with a 'Please let me out' and a pictograph of a smiling bus and a thumbs up. Obviously this still didn't work so the council started removing the bus stops that were of a layby type, recessed from the main carriageway, and now a lot of buses, when they stop, also stop the traffic behind them. Cars now have no choice but to let them pull away because if you are overtaking the bus, you will more than likely be on the other carriageway and heading towards oncoming traffic!

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Stigy wrote: »

As far as buses go, it is in the highway code that other motorists should give priority to them. Therefore, them indicating is saying just that I'd imagine "I'm moving out, just to let you know before I do it regardless of whether you intend to let me or not". Rule 223 on looking online at the Highway Code. Obviously where safe to do so.

The highway code is not law though.