Why do so few drivers indicate these days?

iammumtoone

Cornucopia wrote: »

I don't think it's necessarily a good mantra (better than nothing, though). However, it is definitely what my Driving Instructor said, repeatedly, all the way back in 1990.

I wonder what the instructors say now, I suppose it should be mirrors, signal, mirrors, manoeuvre.

Cornucopia

iammumtoone wrote: »

I did say that if there are two options to travel after the lights THEN I do indicate, its only if its one way I don't.

Yes.

I was just reminded of how annoying other scenario is. It can also disrupt traffic and be dangerous as the blocked vehicles then all try to join the left lane in order to proceed.

If I had to suggest some rule for signalling at traffic lights, it would be: always signal a left turn (at least if there are any other vehicles or pedestrians around), and signal a right turn unless to do so might cause confusion, such as with the 2+ right turn lanes situation.

Cash-Strapped.T32

Seems to me the only real argument against always indicating (even if you don't know that anyone is there to see it), is that over time it might lead to the possibility of maybe becoming complacent - the presumed outcome being that the driver will then start to drive such that they just flick on the indicators and maneouver, without actually checking that it's safe to do so...

This seems to be such a backwards way of looking at it to me...
If such a person has become so complacent in their driving, they're a danger on the roads in many other ways than simply poor indicating protocol, right?

I'm always on a motorbike of one sort or another, and knowing that I can maneouver much quicker than cars, I try to make a point of being really on it as regards indicating - but I have to wonder how many of the car drivers that I see, who I assume just can't be bothered to flick a switch (and may cause me to take action I wouldn't otherwise have needed to had they indicated properly), are actually purposefully not indicating under the assumption there is nobody there to see the indication?

I mean, if car drivers are so prone to magically not seeing bikes at the best of times, then they won't know we're there to benefit from their indication, right?


@Mumtoone; I'm a little surprised too; I will usually indicate even when I'm in a lane that can only go one way - particularly if it's a traffic light controlled junction, or a give way situation.
I'm sure I've been guilty of forgetting in the past, but as a rule I do it.

Similarly, there is a roundabout near me that I travel on most days; I enter it as a 2-lane roundabout in the right-most lane. After two exits, a third lane appears on the right, and on the third exit the two left-most lanes both take you off the roundabout onto a short dual carriageway, leaving that new, third lane to continue around.

The lane-flow is such that to indicate left to signal you're exiting the roundabout from the (now middle) lane would be the same signal to state that I'm moving to the left-most lane. Indeed, the lane-flow is such that in order to continue round the roundabout, you would need to actively change lane to the right.

This is the only roundabout that I do not indicate left to show my intention to exit, as doing so would mean that drivers in the left most lane would see me as about to cut in-front of them, and by staying in my lane I'm automatically taken off the roundabout without any maneouver required other than to follow my lane.

iammumtoone

Paully232000 wrote: »

I think people still should indicate. There is a roundabout like that near me, left hand lane with a big left arrow on road, big left turn sign at junction. People still move off from the roundabout, in that lane, and pull right across the person in the middle lane, so now i never take being in the correct lane as gospel

Happens here too, people jump lanes as they got into the wrong one in the first place. To be fair a lot of the time people will indicate to change lanes, half the time they haven't looked before indicating which is another issue but my personal opinion is if you are in the correct (one way) lane on a multi lane roundabout/junction it is safer not to indicate otherwise people will assume you are about to cross in front of them.

I din't learn the correct way in my test as I never went near multi lane roundabouts/junctions. This was years ago I believe new drivers are now taken more into these situations. I never even joined/drove on a dual carriage way until I had passed :eek:

Strider590

Bad drivers are the ones that drive around in "auto-pilot", indicating automatically without thinking and probably doing a constant 42mph.

Bad drivers can't admit they're a menace, so they look to criticise the obvious things (like not indicating) in other drivers, they take their version of the highway code (my way code) and use this to judge others in order to make themselves feel less incompetent.

The "my way code" includes things that wouldn't have been in the driving test and which they've misinterpreted, so:
"overtaking is inconsiderate and rude"
"overtaking on hatch markings is totally illegal"
"using both lanes when one is stationary, is a criminal offence"
"indicators should be used at all times, except when they're actually useful for others (eg when overtaking a cyclist, or exiting a roundabout)"
"the horn is to be used as a rebuke when anyone does something you don't like"
"if someone uses their horn, it's not to warn you of their presence, they are being deeply offensive"

Car_54

iammumtoone wrote: »

I wonder what the instructors say now, I suppose it should be mirrors, signal, mirrors, manoeuvre.

A lot has changed in the last quarter century, including cars. Wing/door mirrors were once a luxury, now they are mandatory.

The Highway Code now says (and has done for a long time):

MirrorS - Signal - Manoeuvre

reeac

bigadaj wrote: »

I had this conversation with an instructor on a defensive driving course a few years ago, it's quite misguided.

I think teh instructor was an ex wagon driver, so experienced but wasn't really good at arguing a case. He stated the no signalling rule and asked why this was, I explained that the assumption was that it showed that people were checking their mirrors and surrounding traffic and conditions, I then stated I'd often still indicate.

He looked a bit confused, but my thinking was that I could miss something in a blind spot or elsewhere, and some form of initial indication of a manoeuvre would give warning and possibly allow others evasive action, or to beep their horn.

He didn't agree because that's not how he'd been trained, and he couldn't actually think for himself.

I agree with the point about blind spots ...that's why I always indicate. Beware, however, of indicating too early. I had a near miss once when entering a roundabout as the car to the right was indicating but for its next exit but one.

prowla

Car_54 wrote: »

At least two posters have told us that their mantra is "mirror, signal, manoeuvre".

Time to read the Highway Code - that's NOT what it says.

So, reading the Highway Code...

HC wrote:

Rule 161

Mirrors. All mirrors should be used effectively throughout your journey. You should

• use your mirrors frequently so that you always know what is behind and to each side of you
• use them in good time before you signal or change direction or speed
• be aware that mirrors do not cover all areas and there will be blind spots.

You will need to look round and check.
Remember: Mirrors – Signal – Manoeuvre

Car_54

prowla wrote: »

So, reading the Highway Code...

Exactly. MirrorS, not Mirror

FreddieFrugal

Does often seem to be an after thought.

It's more a case of manoeuvre-mirror-signal

As in, 'Oh, need to turn left here' (presses brake)
(looks in mirror) 'Oh, there's someone about to pile into the back of me' (flicks indicator stalk)