Why do so few drivers indicate these days?

DoaM

neilmcl wrote: »

There's always one, congratulations.

Thanks ... glad to be of service.

London_Town

iammumtoone wrote: »

I am guilty :eek:

Thinking of my local area, there are is an occasion I don't indicate purely because no one else does so it hasn't really crossed my mind before.

On the approach to a roundabout, two lanes right side for going straight ahead and right, left side for going left.

If going straight ahead I get in right hand lane and don't indicate until I am past the turning left then indicate, if going right I indicate right, however if turning left I will admit to not indicating :eek: purely because I am in the correct lane and there is nowhere else for me to go other than left.

Your are correct it is wrong and I should still indicate I will do so in future (but will be the only one!)

Well done you for admitting this! I take your point about being in a lane where you can only go one way. That is a big example of the "not indicating" I see. However I still think it's right to indicate as it's a reminder to other road users what you're doing. It can only make things safer, so I'm glad you'll indicate in future.

Edited to add; yes, I'm often the only one indicating, but also I think it reminds other people to indicate, so it all helps make our roads safer.

neilmcl

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

That's bad advice (from you), I agree with the instructor. One thing as bad as not indicating is someone indicating out of habit and blindly start to manoeuvre without looking first.

London_Town

Marktheshark wrote: »

Audi A3 is not fitted with indicators, Well it must be true

The indicators on my Audi A3 get used alot - believe me!

EdGasket

neilmcl wrote: »

That's bad advice (from you), I agree with the instructor. One thing as bad as not indicating is someone indicating out of habit and blindly start to manoeuvre without looking first.

WHAT?! Where did I say to not look first? Mirror, signal, maneuver should be the order of the day.

Going back (a long time) my instructor said that you ALWAYS indicate for the 'invisible' road user i.e. even though you have checked mirrors etc. first you must indicate in case there is a cyclist, vehicle, or pedestrian that you missed so that they at least know what you intend to do!

neilmcl

EdGasket wrote: »

WHAT?! Where did I say to not look first? Mirror, signal, maneuver should be the order of the day.

Going back (a long time) my instructor said that you ALWAYS indicate for the 'invisible' road user i.e. even though you have checked mirrors etc. first you must indicate in case there is a cyclist, vehicle, or pedestrian that you missed so that they at least know what you intend to do!

You didn't but advice to always indicate regardless can lead to precisely this type of bad habit.

EdGasket

neilmcl wrote: »

You didn't but advice to always indicate regardless can lead to precisely this type of bad habit.

Sorry but there is no 'bad habit'. You check that it is safe to do your maneuver, then you indicate your intention to warn other road users, then you make the maneuver. There is no bad habit; only a good and courteous habit.

iolanthe07

Quite a few people round here haven't enough hands to operate the indicators because they're busy chatting on the phone, crooked in their elbow.

Nobbie1967

People only have two hands, one on the steering wheel, one holding the iPhone. How are they supposed to indicate as well?

Johnmcl7

When was this golden era of people using indicators? The only difference I see now is that it doesn't seem to be Volvo drivers getting all the jokes about not using indicators but in all the time I've driven, I've never seen this time when people consistently used indicators.

John