Is it just me, or is indicating going out of fashion?

almillar

You don't need to indicate if you move left UNLESS your leaving the motorway.

I was taught this. Makes sense - you're meant to pull out, pull back in, no need to indicate twice.
I would never criticise anyone for doing it though. I was also on a test once where I had to get out of the outside lane to let faster traffic through, and pulled in without indicating. I was told at the end of the test, despite 'pulling back in', that I should have indicated because it would have been useful to the road user behind me, so I would always say there's no harm in doing it.
Yes Strider, you should indicate to change lanes, and if you're in one that only goes one direction, you don't really need to indicate. You talk about the numpties that just sit there with their indicators on, half asleep. I don't mind them, they're not as asleep as the people that don't indicate at all (or only just before turning). If I see these people, I'll purposefully leave my indicators on, and try to position my indicator in their mirror if I'm behind them, to see if a flashing light will wake them up! Pure laziness.

[Deleted User]

NBLondon wrote: »

One could argue that if the driver was in a filter lane with a green arrow; s/he can only turn right from there so is not obliged to indicate. (Can't remember the HC on that subject but I'm sure someone will correct if I'm out of date.) So the cyclist is the one more to blame. In my experience, the sort of cyclist who dives through on red places more faith in their speed than in what any car might be indicating anyway.

Strider590 wrote: »

Here's a good point, I indicate to change lanes, but I don't sit with my indicator on if there is only one direction I can go.
I find myself laughing at drivers who are in lane, can only go one direction and as they approach the junction they indicate anyway. To me this says "hey im half asleep, im not really paying attention, just doing sh*t automatically".

When I was learning to drive, one of the test routes had a green arrow filter lane for turning left. I was still told to indicate.

You are not just indicating to other cars, pavement walkers crossing the road at that junction need to know what you are intending to do too.

Strider590

Deleted_User wrote: »

When I was learning to drive, one of the test routes had a green arrow filter lane for turning left. I was still told to indicate.

You are not just indicating to other cars, pavement walkers crossing the road at that junction need to know what you are intending to do too.

It's taught because if you always indicate, you can't fail for it. As a new driver you don't have the road sense to know when you do or don't need to indicate.
But there's an old saying "you learn to pass your test, then you learn to drive".
Going on to do an advanced driving course is where these techniques come into play, watching, observing and acting in accordance with the conditions.

I never forget when I was learning to drive, I had a close call and the instructor had to stop the car. The reason was another car on my left, indicating when they shouldn't have been (indicating right to go straight over a roundabout), I was so concerned with what he was doing that I didn't see a car stop in front of me.
Unnecessary indication simply creates confusion, indicating should make you stand out as your about to manoeuvre, but if everyone drove about with indicators flashing we'd never know what the f*** was going on.......

jase1

Strider590 wrote: »

As a new driver you don't have the road sense to know when you do or don't need to indicate.

Problem is, most experienced drivers don't seem to know either -- or at least, if they do, they don't care.

Default should be to indicate if you are not 100% sure you don't need to. End of discussion as far as I am concerned.

aileth

mttylad wrote: »

Nah, there is no need to indicate any more - becuase the !!!!!!s that are crossing the road are not looking anyway. They all have massive headphones on and can't hear you either.

Did you not know? If you have headphones on and wander into the road, you're immune to any damage. The headphones generate an aura which shields you and makes all the cars bounce off you, that's why you can be so cocky and confident strolling across a busy road with them in

Snich76

If I was a policeman, I would spend all day giving tickets out to people for this, driving without due care and attention. And it would be a good day!

DKLS

I cant decide whats worse at the minute not indicating at all or indicating wrongly, whatever my psychic abilities are failing me, especially when it comes to MPV owners who seem to have adopted the habits of mid 80s BMW and Audi drivers.

zagfles

NBLondon wrote: »

One could argue that if the driver was in a filter lane with a green arrow; s/he can only turn right from there so is not obliged to indicate. (Can't remember the HC on that subject but I'm sure someone will correct if I'm out of date.) So the cyclist is the one more to blame. In my experience, the sort of cyclist who dives through on red places more faith in their speed than in what any car might be indicating anyway.

For a start, it wasn't a filter lane, both lanes could go straight. Secondly, even it it was, that doesn't mean every other road user knows it is. How is a pedestrian crossing the side road expected to know it's a filter lane?

I once nearly go run over crossing a side road by some idiot turning left without indicating - she used that excuse "it's the only way she could go" (straight on was buses only) but HTF was I supposed to know, I couldn't see the signs from where I was.

Just because it's obvious to traffic going in your direction that you have to go a particular way doesn't mean it's obvious to everyone else.

alastairq

It's taught because if you always indicate, you can't fail for it. As a new driver you don't have the road sense to know when you do or don't need to indicate.
But there's an old saying "you learn to pass your test, then you learn to drive".
Going on to do an advanced driving course is where these techniques come into play, watching, observing and acting in accordance with the conditions.

Jeez, didn't I post that information some time back?


Anyway, not only will I never again indicate, I have installed a Cloaking Device as well.......!

great for winding up trafpols, as the ANPR keeps squeaking excitedly, but nothing can be seen......................................

[Deleted User]

Don't get me started on mum trucks/brat carriers whatever you want to call them. They drive around like they own the roads, cutting up on roundabouts, not indicating etc with their "baby on board" and "keep back for sake of my children" signs in the back window.