Why do so few drivers indicate these days?

Car_54

neilmcl wrote: »

He was trying (unsuccessfully) to be a bit of a clever clogs.

I was actually trying (obviously also unsuccessfully) to illustrate how some posters endlessly misquote the Highway Code, having last read it decades ago. If ever.

Iceweasel

Car_54 wrote: »

I was actually trying (obviously also unsuccessfully) to illustrate how some posters endlessly misquote the Highway Code, having last read it decades ago. If ever.

Very true.

David_Aston

I presume previous responders have pointed out,

"I know what I am going to do next, why involve some third party, who I don't know anyway!"

Also, those indicator stalks are really really heavy to operate!

[Deleted User]

DoaM wrote: »

I've noticed a lot more BMWs on the road these days.

Expensive cars less likely to stop for pedestrians.

PinkGladioli

I live near a roundabout with three exits, left hand lane is left turn only and right hand lane is straight over and right. At least twice a week I see a car get in the left hand lane and cut across traffic to go straight over, because of this I will only pull out from the next exit now if those cars in the left lane are indicating.

bigadaj

barnaclebill wrote: »

One road I use a lot is dual with centre barrier, there is a joining slip road so it becomes three lanes as the slip road does not end but carries on to the left.
Very often cars come down not indicating, I am in the left lane of the main road thinking will they pull out in front of me or are they staying in that lane, the left turn is not often used so I expect then to pull out in front of me so I slow slightly and sure enough most times they do pull in front of me without indicating or indicating as they pull out.
Why not come down the slip with their right indicator on to show they intend joining the main part of the road?

I think it's actually beneficial for many reasons.

My impression is that when joining a busy motorway at peak times, so traffic queuing or stop start, many people don't even bother to indicate, I always do and believe it makes people more likely to allow joining traffic to filter more easily, the American example of 'like a zipper' should be more widely used.

Iceweasel

bigadaj wrote: »

I think it's actually beneficial for many reasons.

My impression is that when joining a busy motorway at peak times, so traffic queuing or stop start, many people don't even bother to indicate, I always do and believe it makes people more likely to allow joining traffic to filter more easily, the American example of 'like a zipper' should be more widely used.

Don't forget it's the responsibility of the joining traffic to match speed and merge in with traffic already on the motorway/dual-carriageway.

Far too often I get drivers who just put on a right indicator and think they have some God-given right to barge across 2 lanes sometimes - not just join the traffic stream.

The M25 at 'going home time' is especially bad for that.

In Germany there are signs on many motorway junctions/slip-roads showing how to blend in turn.

I cant use the term 'like a zipper' and keep a straight face. :rotfl:

I spent too long in Arabic speaking countries to be able to use the word 'zip' freely.

Likewise no flying school teaching Arabic speakers will use the term 'air-space'.

Google is your friend to see why.

But not google translate as they will tell you it means - vigour. liveliness or energy.

GabbaGabbaHey

EdGasket wrote: »

I tried to tell my daughter she should always indicate but she says her instructor told her she doesn't need to if no-one is about! rolleyes

When I did the Institute of Advanced Motorists test, I was told that "always" indicating was an automatic fail, as it showed that you were not thinking about your driving, but instead were driving automatically, which goes against all the advanced driving tenets of taking a systematic approach to all hazards.

I still use Course-Mirrors-Signal-Brakes-Gear-Accelerate ("Can My Safety Be Given Away"), which was the IAM's extended version of Mirrors-Signal-Manoeuvre.

I use my indicators when there a possibility that it will provide useful information to other road users (which includes pedestrians, cyclists, etc), and I do not indicate when it will not. When there is any doubt, I will err on the side of indicating.

Shimrod wrote: »

That's a setting in the car you can change to make it back to 'old car' style. I can't find my manual at the moment, but if you have an idrive vehicle have a look under settings.

Not on my 2013 E93, there isn't. I've used Carly to change the "short" flash from 3 to 5 (on the grounds that I would rarely commence a manoeuvre until the indicators have already flashed at least 3 times), but the only way to cancel the indicators is to push the indicator stalk again in the same direction that you used to indicate. This is counter-intuitive, especially if you frequently drive a number of different cars (as I do).

Iceweasel

prowla wrote: »

I drive a BMW and I do indicate.

However, they have changed the way the indicators work, so it is confusing canceling to turn them off.

Old car (BMW):
To indicate left: push the indicator stalk down so it clicks into place.
To cancel: lift the stalk back up to central position.

New car (BMW):
To indicate left just 3 blinks: dab the stalk down lightly and it will spring back to central position.
To indicate left continuously: push the stalk down so it clicks and it will spring back to the central position.
To cancel: Erm, it's already gone back to the central position, so lifting it will make you indicate right! (What you can do is dab it down lightly like you would for 3 blinks and it'll cancel, or lift it lightly, but if you lift it too far, it'll start indicating right!)

Based on that, I guess some people just decide the indicators are too much hassle.

To indicate left continuously all you do is push the lever down gently until you meet the resistance and keep your finger pressure on it - it will then keep signalling until you take the pressure off.

If you go past the resistance point it will keep indicating until you actually turn the steering wheel enough for an approx 90 degree left orright turn - or until you gently touch the lever in the opposite direction.

I use the three flashes very often - to signal lane changes and overtakes - it's so simple to user.

The only time I would want it to indicate continuously is when I am intending making a turn at a junction for example.

Why would you need to have an indicator on continuously if you were not turning to the right or left?

Carrot007

Somthing else I have noticed that is odd is how some cars brake lights come on and then they increase in speed whislt the brake lights are on.

I think some people just hate brake pads.