Road skills - do you signal left turns?

[BentMikey]

Here's a question for you. Do you signal left when turning left? I'm interested in not only what you do, but in what situations and why.

 

[piedwagtail91]

if it's on a straight road that i'm turning off then yes.if it's at a set of lights at a crossroads near home then no because evrey time i signaled left some pratt in a car coming from the other direction turns at the same time usually forcing me to stop to let him barge through or run the risk of being hit side on when i have right of way.
so i never indicate left at a crossroads if cars are coming towards me.

 

[toontra]

Almost always, in case there is a vehicle wanting to pull out on the left (if it's a T junction) or the right (if it's a cross roads) or if there are pedestrians about to cross the left turning.

It's just generally a good idea to let anyone around know what you are doing IMO.

It always irritates me, for example, when I'm waiting to pull out onto a main road from a side road and I wait for an oncoming car from the right which eventually turns left without having indicated.

 

[Elmer Fudd]

If there are cars at the 'T' / 'X' road junction I will indicate, otherwise no.

 

[summerdays]

Only signal left if there are cars waiting in the side road or to let traffic behind know that I am slowing slightly to go around the corner, or to let a pedestrian know... but they often don't bother looking.

 

[Panter]

Almost always, in case there is a vehicle wanting to pull out on the left (if it's a T junction) or the right (if it's a cross roads) or if there are pedestrians about to cross the left turning.

It's just generally a good idea to let anyone around know what you are doing IMO.

It always irritates me, for example, when I'm waiting to pull out onto a main road from a side road and I wait for an oncoming car from the right which eventually turns left without having indicated.

Same here................

 

[Membrane]

Here's a question for you. Do you signal left when turning left? I'm interested in not only what you do, but in what situations and why.

I indicate when there is traffic that might benefit from it. That traffic can be behind me (possibly also wanting to turn left), coming towards me (if they want to turn right), on a right side road (if they want to continue straight ahead), or on the left side road.

 

[asterix]

Usually. Especially as I am in France. However, on the roads round here there's hardly ever anyone to see it..

 

[Chuffy]

Always. It's a good habit to have.

 

[ash68]

yep, always. Mostly as a courtesy to other road users and peds.As mentioned before by Toontra it's annoying when car driver's don't indicate, so good manners are called for.

 

[andrew_s]

I indicate when there is traffic that might benefit from it. That traffic can be behind me (possibly also wanting to turn left), coming towards me (if they want to turn right), on a right side road (if they want to continue straight ahead), or on the left side road.

Beware of indicating for traffic that will arrive at the junction at about the same time as you.
Eg If a car following also wants to turn left, and you indicate left, some motorists will take your indication as an invitation to overtake on the corner which will very likely squeeze you into the kerb.

If there's any chance of that sort of thing, I take a leaf out of the motorist's book and indicate at the last moment when they don't have time to take action on it.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Depends. If I'm exiting a roundabout, my left hand is more usefully employed steering and being ready to brake. Otherwise, usually I do, unless there's no traffic anywhere.

 

[Terminator]

I will signal left if it is safe for me to do so.

 

[domtyler]

Never signal to go left unless there was a very good reason for doing so. Likewise for signalling right.

Reasons, firstly I prefer to keep my hands on the bars/brakes at all times, especially when making any kind of manoeuvre. Although I don't use hand signals I make my intentions clear through many other visual cues such as looking behind, changing road position etc. Finally, as has already been mentioned, explicit hand signalling can lead to 'funny' reactions from motorists.

 

[Cab]

Beware of indicating for traffic that will arrive at the junction at about the same time as you.
Eg If a car following also wants to turn left, and you indicate left, some motorists will take your indication as an invitation to overtake on the corner which will very likely squeeze you into the kerb.

If there's any chance of that sort of thing, I take a leaf out of the motorist's book and indicate at the last moment when they don't have time to take action on it.

Pretty much my attitude too. I do signal whenever appropriate, its a good habit to do, but I won't invite stupid overtaking by doing so.