Indicating

Tobster86

NBLondon wrote: »

I have noticed (In London) anyway that a certain percentage of drivers will honk before turning left if they see a pedestrian approaching the cross-street. Particularly council vehicles - as if they have been advised to do so from on high... Using Horn as indicator???

When you're turning into a junction, pedestrians who have started to cross have right of way.
Rule 170 with illustration:
https://www.gov.uk/using-the-road-159-to-203/road-junctions-170-to-183

I don't know where that stands with 'waiting to cross' or 'about to cross', probably the same unclear palaver as with zebra crossings. When on foot I like to make eye contact and show my intentions to motorists, giving common sense a chance to prevail; and appreciate the same back when I'm driving.

Of course, many people don't take their eyes off their iPhone when crossing the road. Mobile phone laws ought to apply to all road USERS (crossing it is using it, and being on the phone at the time isn't safe).

Car_54

Tobster86 wrote: »

When you're turning into a junction, pedestrians who have started to cross have right of way.

No, they haven't. They have priority.

"The rules in The Highway Code do not give you the right of way in any circumstance, but they advise you when you should give way to others."

NBLondon

I must confess that I don't always stop at the kerb - I look over my shoulder as I approach the cross-street and if there is no traffic in a position to turn in, I can then start to cross without breaking stride. I don't just go by signals either - especially if a cyclist is approaching.


Equally, when driving, I watch for the text maniacs who are likely to blunder into the road without looking up - even before Rule 170 was modified.

zagfles

bigadaj wrote: »

Though you wrere presumably stepping out into the road, so should be looking for and waiting for traffic if necessary.

I was. Which is why I nearly got run over rather than actually got run over!

We nearly got run down by a plastic copper on a push bike a while ago, no hand signal to turn and she then started having a go that we'd stepped out, it's normally incumbent on all parties to act with care though as the one most likely to suffer then more important for the pedestrian to do so.

Which is why I was watching carefully and was able to dodge out of the way of the idiot. I'm not going to wait to cross a side road if no traffic is indicating to turn into the side road, but I am going to take care that some idiot doesn't do something stupid. Like turn without indicating.

Gloomendoom

almillar wrote: »

ElefantEd - I doubt there is, but the IAM test is based on the book 'Roadcraft' which is basically the police driving manual, so it's based on the way the police are taught to drive.
The problem with the advice 'don't indicate if nobody will benefit' is that it's for advanced, skilled drivers who are paying attention. It's fine for them, and of course it works but it's just a trick really to 'show off' to your examiner or whatever that you're paying attention.

I've had this argument with Mrs G who has passed her IAM test. My view is that it is the people that you haven't seen that will benefit from your indications the most, so indicate anyway. There are so many blind spots with modern cars that you really can't be 100% sure that there is nobody else around.

She now indicates regardless.