Why don't you indicate?

Mercdriver

MilduraS wrote: »

Indicating is the biggest debate in my household. I constantly ask my partner to indicate when he's driving. He was taught, like some others on here, that if there is only one way to go (i.e. in a lane that only turns left) then he shouldn't indicate because his intentions should be clear to other motorists. He argues that indicating might confuse motorists but I disagree. I've only recently started driving and if anything, I over indicate. As a life long pedestrian I didn't learn to read road markings until I learned to drive and instead I relied on those bright orange flashing lights to instantly warn me that a car is heading in my direction. Standing on the side of the road trying to figure out whether a particular lane is for turning left/right only or to go left/right isn't something non-drivers learn.

It takes so little effort to indicate that I do it religiously regardless of whether there is anyone else around. If it stops me hitting that one pedestrian I didn't see waiting to cross the road in the dark then it will have been worth it.

Are there other road users around when he says not to indicate - i.e. not just motorists but also cyclists and pedestrians? If there aren't then he is correct.

Over indicating is also a bad habit as it may mislead people about your intentions. If a left turn is obvious, it might mislead people to believe you are pulling in to the side of the road to stop. There is also the risk of indicating out of habit not as part of a systematic procedure.

MilduraS

The disagreements are about town driving so yes, there are usually pedestrians and cyclists around. If I'm in the middle of a junction waiting to turn right I indicate, he doesn't. If I'm in a left turn only lane turning left, I indicate, he doesn't.

Mercdriver

MilduraS wrote: »

The disagreements are about town driving so yes, there are usually pedestrians and cyclists around. If I'm in the middle of a junction waiting to turn right I indicate, he doesn't. If I'm in a left turn only lane turning left, I indicate, he doesn't.

But that might make people think you are stopping, parking etc. Indicating is about a change in planned direction. You wouldn't be planning to turn right at a left turn only junction/lane, so you are causing confusion, in my view.

Car_54

Mercdriver wrote: »

But that might make people think you are stopping, parking etc. Indicating is about a change in planned direction. You wouldn't be planning to turn right at a left turn only junction/lane, so you are causing confusion, in my view.

Your faith in your fellow drivers is touching, but probably misplaced.;)

Cash-Strapped.T32

Mercdriver wrote: »

Are there other road users around when he says not to indicate - i.e. not just motorists but also cyclists and pedestrians? If there aren't then he is correct.

MilduraS wrote: »

that one pedestrian I didn't see waiting to cross the road in the dark

Imo that's fine in theory, but it's the people who you *don't* know are there that most benefit from an indication, let alone the countless others that you know are somewhere around, but can't be tracking continually because you need to look elsewhere - and I don't see how anyone who is sat in a car can have 100% 360 vision (hell, nobody unencumbered by being in a car has that! )

societys_child

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

In the words of one person I spoke to “I don’t need to indicate because I know where i’m going”:huh:

That's the same people who believe the only use for rear view mirrors is to see where you've just been . .

arcon5

Nasqueron wrote: »

Last Friday commuting home on the bike had a guy nearly drive into me while I was filtering as he was intending on turning left and didn't bother indicating, probably saved his paintwork being alert to what he was doing and stopping. He'd have lost the insurance claim (was all on headcam)

You was overtaking (sorry "filtering) on the nearaide? And complaining you nearly hit a car turning in to a left street...?? Oh and then you complain about the idiot not indicating left and most likely he posting it on YouTube next.. :rotfl:
You and the non indicator have something in common it seems

NBLondon

Deastons wrote: »

If I was in lane 3 of a dual carriageway, I'd be frantically dodging on-coming traffic...

I was in Lane 4 of the A1 at one point on Saturday afternoon...

In theory - if you have made a safe overtake of an aware but slower driver they would expect you to move back at at a safe clearance but you can't assume that they are aware. I will always give the short tap (three flashes) even if I know they have seen me. And on the basis of driving London to Yorkshire and back over the weekend, and encountering the M11 and M62 branches of the Middle Lane Owners' Club on their Easter Parade that's definitely not a safe assumption.

I seem to be recall being taught that it isn't always necessary to indicate in a lane that can only go one way, but if there are pedestrians or cyclists about then it is a good idea to do so. There is one near me on the South Circular Road (a left only filter) where I don't always indicate but if I was approaching from the opposite direction, I wouldn't assume anything from the lack of indication either - I have seen plenty of cars who haven't recognised it's a filter lane and will go straight on before they realise they are about to run out of lane.

almillar

Yes but not all bus lanes are like that, plenty in London are bus only 24/7, so for a road with that sort of lane, with a bus that is going straight on, indicating is a needless distraction. Similarly during the hours of bus lane operation.

Nasqueron - you seem to ignore any other user that is allowed in the bus lane. I've already given examples. The bus indicating to pull out is beneficial to them. Not everything you see on the road requires action from you, or is useful to you, but it MAY be useful to someone.
If a bus in a bus lane, indicates right, and that causes you a moment's hesitation (yes, it would me too), that's just unfortunate. You have to share the road with others, so does the bus driver, and there are plenty of people that could benefit from it, so the bus should still indicate.

BananaRepublic

I find most people do not know how to indicate. They either do not bother, or they indicate after they have started turning, which is mostly pointless. It is annoying, as indicating can help other drivers adjust their speed in advance.

But for me the worst is the person who stays in lane one of a multi lane roundabout (the outside lane) but indicates right. I know this used to be taught to drivers, but it suggests they are for example turning right but using lane one which is dangerous and wrong. The problem is that some idiots do enter a roundabout in lane one and turn right. I!!!8217;ve had a few near collisions with such idiots.