Drivers who don't indicate

[Globalti]

Exactly! Or the driver who indicates at every turn when entering the estate where they live, even though there's not another moving vehicle in sight.

This kind of stupidity tells me that they don't know the Highway Code, they don't understand the purpose of the indicators and they haven't a clue what is going on around them. The indicators are there to warn other road users that you are intending to execute a manoeuvre that could affect them, they aren't some kind of magic talisman that gives you the right to turn or change direction, no matter how inconvenient or dangerous to other road users.

 

[Alien8]

Do you know what is even worse.

Cyclists who don't indicate.

Yes, must admit that irritates me far more. I remember waiting for a cyclist to come across me at a busy T junction, gave him extra time, though most would have pulled out and I missed a rare gap, only for the guy to turn left before he reached me, without even a hint of a signal.

Not indicating left turns is a good way of discouraging other road users from cutting you up - maybe the guy was just an experienced cyclist.

 

[Crackle]

Not indicating left turns is a good way of discouraging other road users from cutting you up - maybe the guy was just an experienced cyclist.

Can't see that at all, cut up on a left turn if you're already turning left. I can see plenty of other circumstances where as a cyclist I might not indicate or more likely indicate briefly but not on a left turn.

 

[Alien8]

Can't see that at all, cut up on a left turn if you're already turning left. I can see plenty of other circumstances where as a cyclist I might not indicate or more likely indicate briefly but not on a left turn.

Okay, you're coming down a road and want to make a left-turn - you stick your arm out.

Car coming towards you, wants to go right in to the same road, thinks okay I can just turn at the same time.

Car coming up behind you, wants to go left in to the same road, thinks okay I can just overtake and turn left.

In both cases the chances of being pushed to the kerb, hitting the vehicle or having to break hard to avoid them, is increased.

Indicating your left-turn gives them just a little bit more encouragement to drive over you.

Personally I tend to only signal left if there's someone waiting to pull out form the road I'm turning in to and there's no one else looking to make the same turn.

I'm all for bonhomie with fellow road users - but not at the expense of my safety.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Sorry, but cyclists not indicating is hardly as bad and as others have said there are good reasons not to in some cases. There is however no excuse for drivers not to indicate, and drivers not indicating can result in far more harm to other road users. Cyclists not indicating is merely annoying (most of the time).

 

[Black Sheep]

Sometimes the over use of indicators leaves me wondering as to the drivers competence. For instance the person that has just overtaken you on a single carriageway road then indicates to let you know they are coming back on to the left hand side.

to me, that just seems polite, you already know whats about to happen, but it seems more of a Thank you for letting me pass, may I tuck back in than a shoving round you.

Exactly! Or the driver who indicates at every turn when entering the estate where they live, even though there's not another moving vehicle in sight.

the nature of a housing estate, surely is that of a twisty road with parked cars and children playing, surely indicating, incase someone is backing off a driveway or children are crossing the road etc, its good practice and you are taught to do it on your test.

 

[Crackle]

Okay, you're coming down a road and want to make a left-turn - you stick your arm out.

Car coming towards you, wants to go right in to the same road, thinks okay I can just turn at the same time.

Car coming up behind you, wants to go left in to the same road, thinks okay I can just overtake and turn left.

In both cases the chances of being pushed to the kerb, hitting the vehicle or having to break hard to avoid them, is increased.

Indicating your left-turn gives them just a little bit more encouragement to drive over you.

Personally I tend to only signal left if there's someone waiting to pull out form the road I'm turning in to and there's no one else looking to make the same turn.

I'm all for bonhomie with fellow road users - but not at the expense of my safety.

Neither instance should stop you indicating your intentions. Your awareness of the situation and your road position should take care of your safety. I can't see any reason for not indicating except where it affects your control of the bike.

 

[Crackle]

Sorry, but cyclists not indicating is hardly as bad and as others have said there are good reasons not to in some cases. There is however no excuse for drivers not to indicate, and drivers not indicating can result in far more harm to other road users. Cyclists not indicating is merely annoying (most of the time).

I can't see that at all. I agree a car can do more harm but the rules are for all. The only reason you shouldn't indicate is if to do so would cause you to lose control of the bike. Not indicating just adds to the overall tension on the roads we already have and potentially conditions drivers to ignore cyclists on the grounds they never use the roads properly anyway.

 

[PaulB]

If a tree falls in a forest but there's no-one to hear, does it make a sound?

Same with indicating; only indicate if there's someone you're indicating to. If there's no-one around and the indicator goes on, the driver is driving automatically and not assessing each situation on its merits. It is as lazy to use indicators when there's no-one around as to not indicate when there is.

My old IAM teacher taught me that. And he's spot on.

 

[Alien8]

Your awareness of the situation, your road position, and not indicating left, should take care of your safety.

I can't see any reason for not indicating except where it affects your control of the bike.

Why's that? Oh, because of safety.

If you can't control your bike and indicate at the same time perhaps you should consider getting off and pushing in those instances?

 

[crumpetman]

Can you not be a good attentive driver AND indicate even when there appears to be no one to see it? Just because you cannot see someone else does not mean they cannot see your car.

 

[Black Sheep]

Paul, you are correct

but on the merits of a situation, if you are on your own, nothing about then you don't need to indicate

if you are in an area where there could be people who, should wait, in vehicles or on foot but you can't quite see them due to the physical environment, you should perhaps indicate?

for example, if the residential road you are turning off has a bend ahead, it is possible someone could be coming round that bend etc.

 

[crumpetman]

Your awareness of the situation, your road position, and not indicating left, should take care of your safety.



Why's that? Oh, because of safety.

If you can't control your bike and indicate at the same time perhaps you should consider getting off and pushing in those instances?

I rarely indicate on the bike because it would affect my control and most instances, indicating would not make any difference to the vehicles around me. My view is that I can ride at 20 + mph and change lane position to go around parked cars but keep both hands on the bars OR I can ride at 15mph and indicate every time I change position/lane.

 

[jimboalee]

Clearly you are not aware that if you own a BMW or any 4 wheel drive job you can apply for an indicator exemption certificate. Further if you own anything with Land Rover written on it you can request documentation to prove that you do own the road.

As a matter of fact, I do.

 

[Crackle]

Your awareness of the situation, your road position, and not indicating left, should take care of your safety.



Why's that? Oh, because of safety.

If you can't control your bike and indicate at the same time perhaps you should consider getting off and pushing in those instances?

They're not the same though are they. You chose not to indicate because you think it's safer not to do so, which I'm questioning, whereas, I only don't indicate when it really isn't safe for me to do so due to bike control problems. Such events are rare though, I can't think of one in the last few years, normally I'm making fairly strong signals on a bike.