Why do so few drivers indicate these days?

facade

Like the majority of drivers around here, I use correct road positioning to clearly indicate my intentions, so there is no need for any other form of signal:

• Swerve violently onto the nearside pavement = I am about to tun right
• Swerve into the right hand gutter = I am about to turn left
• Stop suddenly in the centre of the road = a vehicle is approaching from the other direction (and is 500 yards away)
• Brake suddenly to walking pace = there is a very slight curve in the road in front.
• Drive up the exact centre of the road over a humpback bridge with 5 feet on either side of the car = I can clearly hear some one on the other side sounding their horn, I wonder why they are doing that???
• Stop 6" from the back of a 'bus but 2 feet over the centreline = I drive this road every day, and it is still a major surprise that the 'bus stops here for 5 minutes.
• Drive with my rear foglight blinding the car behind = there was a slight mist 3 weeks ago, and it may come back at any moment, so be prepared!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

neilmcl

Car_54 wrote: »

Exactly. MirrorS, not Mirror

Pedantic or what. I think we all know what was meant.

prowla

Car_54 wrote: »

Exactly. MirrorS, not Mirror

Erm, it never said which particular mirror before, so therefore you had to use your nouse to figure the appropriate one(s) before.

It's a mnemonic, not a precise instruction.

Strider590

FreddieFrugal wrote: »

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)

This ^^ is the result of people indicating out of habit.

It gradually becomes manoeuvre - mirror - oops signal

Iceweasel

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.

Which Highway Code are you referring to?

Look at this page:

http://www.highwaycode.info/rule/163

Iceweasel

Strider590 wrote: »

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"

Absolutely the perfect answer to this thread - no need for further thought, although I could add several more examples.

neilmcl

Iceweasel wrote: »

Which Highway Code are you referring to?

Look at this page:

http://www.highwaycode.info/rule/163

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

Car_54 wrote: »

Exactly. MirrorS, not Mirror

Cornucopia

Iceweasel wrote: »

Absolutely the perfect answer to this thread - no need for further thought, although I could add several more examples.

I will add one, probably the most important...

You cannot cherry-pick which laws of the road to respect and which not. They are all relevant and enforceable.

So, yes, do not impede someone's overtake. But also do not overtake if doing so will involve a speed well in excess of the speed limit.

The "hatch markings" one is conditional on the type of lane division markings used on the sides of the hatched area, and also the context. You must not overtake using hatched areas, if there are solid white lines on your side of the road.

consumers_revenge

It's cause they are all on snapchat or Facebook.

If they have one hand on their mobile and the other on the steering wheel there's nowt to turn the indicator on!

barnaclebill

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?