I'm not going to indicate to the driver turning right ever again

[Accy cyclist]

That's it, no more letting the driver waiting to turn right know my intentions to turn left! Yesterday i was cycling downhill about 17 mph when a transit type van pulled up in the middle of the road indicating to turn to his right. I indicated my intention to turn left out of politeness. He took that as a sign i was slowing down so as i approached the junction to turn he also turned, nearly side impacting me! If i hadn't signalled he'd have thought i was going to carry straight on at the same speed.so he couldn't have turned in time. Why bother letting the vehicle facing you know your intentions when some take it as an invitation to cut across your path? If there aren't any vehicles behind you to let them know you're slowing down why waste your time?
This is the third time in a few months that this has happened to me, From now on i'll just turn left and sod them if they think i'm being lazy. It's better than being hit by the numpty turning right!

 

[Steady]

Indicating to turn left for me is very, very selective, and it has to be unfortunately and sometimes it just doesn't feel safe. Often it has no benefit for cars behind and only makes them feel like they don't have to give much distance because you're pulling in, so if they're passing at a safe distance then your speed slowing down should have no bearing unless they can't over take, then it's needed.

As for cars turning across? It only seems to encourages them to "nip across" first, or at the same time much the same way it does when you're in a car to be honest, there's always one who'll anticipate you to be slowing down enough for them to get across and then be so damn slow.

 

[Bonus]

Funnily enough I've had to start doing the same in my car. Often I'll be driving along approaching a left turn off a straight road and there's a car sitting in the middle of the road wanting to turn right down the same road. I know if I put the indicator on he will jump in front of me.

As long as there is nothing behind me then I just don't indicate until the last second. I'm afraid personal safety trumps correct road procedure in this instance.

Of course if I am some way from the junction I will flash my lights so that he can go before I get there. No lights to flash on a bike though. ;-)

 

[annedonnelly]

Doesn't the Cyclecraft book suggest not indicating left in most cases so as to not encourage left hooks? I only do it if someone is waiting to leave the junction I'm entering & there's nothing else around.

 

[raleighnut]

I think a lot of it is down to drivers perception that bikes are only travelling slowly and not realising that we can get to over 20mph on a flat road pretty easily.

 

[buggi]

It's selective for me too. I only do it if there is a car waiting to exit the side road and nothing on the main road.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Funnily enough I've had to start doing the same in my car. Often I'll be driving along approaching a left turn off a straight road and there's a car sitting in the middle of the road wanting to turn right down the same road. I know if I put the indicator on he will jump in front of me.

As long as there is nothing behind me then I just don't indicate until the last second. I'm afraid personal safety trumps correct road procedure in this instance.

Of course if I am some way from the junction I will flash my lights so that he can go before I get there. No lights to flash on a bike though. ;-)

Also yesterday i had a wagon waiting impatiently to turn right, So although we don't have lights i gave him a vigorous right handed you can go sign. He flashed me as he turned, to acknowledge my sign. Although i had to slow down a little i just wanted him out the way, i'm glad he turned right in good time before i got there!

 

[Katherine]

That's it, no more letting the driver waiting to turn right know my intentions to turn left! Yesterday i was cycling downhill about 17 mph when a transit type van pulled up in the middle of the road indicating to turn to his right. I indicated my intention to turn left out of politeness. He took that as a sign i was slowing down so as i approached the junction to turn he also turned, nearly side impacting me! If i hadn't signalled he'd have thought i was going to carry straight on at the same speed.so he couldn't have turned in time. Why bother letting the vehicle facing you know your intentions when some take it as an invitation to cut across your path? If there aren't any vehicles behind you to let them know you're slowing down why waste your time?
This is the third time in a few months that this has happened to me, From now on i'll just turn left and sod them if they think i'm being lazy. It's better than being hit by the numpty turning right!

Glad you are ok! I think you are right about not letting the approaching driver think he has time to go before you. Maybe just a last minute signal for anyone coming up behind.

 

[R_nger]

I think I'd wave to the van driver to go...I would prefer him in front of me after the turn.

 

[Arjimlad]

I have a left turn on a steep downhill part of my commute home.

I long ago gave up indicating for it unless there is nobody waiting to turn right into it. If there are just cars waiting to come out of the side road I will indicate for them.

I've had so many numpties turning in front of me who seem to think I am going at Miss Marple speeds. I then end up gurning through their back windscreens as I brake as hard as I can to avoid rear-ending the chumps.

 

[summerdays]

I don't see the point in indicating left unless there is someone waiting to pull out, and then only if they are going to be able to go. I find I slow down a little more if I signal whereas I'm out of their way quicker if I don't.

 

[mrbikerboy73]

I've fallen foul to this a few times. The vehicle waiting thinks "ooh I'll just nip across before the bike turns" but in reality, you both come close to a collision. Frustrating I know.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

Assuming there were no other vehicles, I think I would have been inclined to slow a tad and let the van get in front anyway. He's out of the way then.

 

[ColinJ]

I often don't signal left, for the reasons mentioned above. I would if a driver were waiting to emerge from the side road though.

I would probably let the vehicle go ahead of me though, because the driver is probably going to overtake anyway, or make the turn prematurely.

A couple of days ago I could have turned left in front of a car coming down a narrow lane on a local hill top. I had plenty of time to get in front, but thought that the driver would probably be annoyed and only push past me later so I waited for him to go by. I ended up having to brake behind him on a twisty turny descent through some woods because I was going much faster than him. In the end, he pulled over and let me overtake him, which was a first for me. (I was not dangerously close, but the driver clearly realised that a bike can be much quicker down that hill.)

 

[growingvegetables]

It's selective for me too. I only do it if there is a car waiting to exit the side road and nothing on the main road.

+ 1001