The 'need' to indicate - ?

[simongt]

Some years back, a colleague and I had a discussion with our guv'nor about whether when driving you need to indicate when there's no other traffic about. We were / are of the view that it should be an 'automatic habit' regardless of traffic conditions. He felt that there wasn't any point, suggesting that it needed concious effort to decide whether to indicate or not.
As my driving instructor hammered into me in 1972 - 'mirror, signal, manoever - !'
Your thoughts - !

 

[T4tomo]

my driving instructor, circa 1986, used to say "why are you indicating when there is no-one to indicate to"

the counter to that would be there may be someone, car or pedestrian etc that you haven't spotted who would benefit from knowing where you are intending to go. I think I figured you wouldnt get failed for over indicating.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

All aspects of driving should form part of a systematic plan and a reaction to what is happening or likely to happen. No feature should be reduced to 'habit'.

 

[PeteXXX]

Indicate.. It's not hard.

 

[Biker man]

Some years back, a colleague and I had a discussion with our guv'nor about whether when driving you need to indicate when there's no other traffic about. We were / are of the view that it should be an 'automatic habit' regardless of traffic conditions. He felt that there wasn't any point, suggesting that it needed concious effort to decide whether to indicate or not.
As my driving instructor hammered into me in 1972 - 'mirror, signal, manoever - !'
Your thoughts - !

 

[Threevok]

I think it should be part of habit. Otherwise, motorist are left to decide which other road users deserve to be indicated to.

As a result (the norm around here at least) they don't bother indicating when they see pedestrians and cyclists

 

[Biker man]

People who don't indicate are a menace

 

[Threevok]

and some who do are a menace too.

As a pedestrian and cyclist, I've had several near misses - where the driver has indicated right, only to turn left

 

[All uphill]

I signal whether or not I am aware of other road users and pedestrians or not. That's how I was taught when I first drove.

A few years ago I did a minibus driving course and was taught to look around and decide whether indicating was required. I didn't like that idea then, and I still don't.

 

[Dogtrousers]

What is mandatory is making appropriate observations before starting your manoevre. If you see that there's no one there and decide to indicate anyway - no harm is done. In fact as you are fallible it might still be useful as you may have missed someone. If you decide not to indicate, again no problem, as you have looked and confirmed that there is no need.

But what could become a problem is getting into an automatic habit of sticking the indicator on without making proper observations and hoping that by indicating all will be OK.

You need to get sufficient info to get to the decision point where you know whether or not anyone will see. What you decide to do if there's no one there is up to you.

 

[mjr]

Always indicate unless it means sacrificing control... and if it does, you've probably farked up and gone too fast.

After all, those turning and reversing alarms on larger vehicles don't only activate when they detect another road user.

 

[Biker man]

and some who do are a menace too.

As a pedestrian and cyclist, I've had several near misses - where the driver has indicated right, only to turn left
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[Dogtrousers]

On the bike I'm probably more towards the "don't indicate if no one is there" camp. When indicating, especially right, I'm always extra concerned about who I'm signalling to and making absolutely sure they have understood my intentions. But if I've shoulder checked and looked around and there is no one there - I'm not going to wave my arm about.

 

[Profpointy]

I tend to indicate as habit unless there's a specific reason not to. For example, if turning left just after another junction where an early signal could mislead someone into pulling out. Got beeped by someone behind because I then indicated "late" as he saw it but it was better than t-boning the car waiting at the junction before my lay-by.

On the bike I am reticent about signalling left as it tends to encourage some clown behind to overtake then turn the corner beside me.

So I am of the "always indicate unless.." camp rather than "avoid indicating unless.." which seems to be the implied rule for self styled "advanced drivers" who then avoid indicating for mere pedestrians

 

[Blue Hills]

I treat most bits of a roadcraft on a bike the same as a car - always indicate - even if you see no-one - same as when I learned to drive a car.