Its kinda like being at a red traffic light you not gonna get out and shout ive stopped because the car coming up knows you are stopped because the lights are red.

Although you could argue that a car closing at speed could benefit from a signal (ie brake lights) to indicate to them you are slowing down/stopped.

Chris

Although you could argue that a car closing at speed could benefit from a signal (ie brake lights) to indicate to them you are slowing down/stopped.

Chris

and could benefit from being offered coffee and biscuits too

What's peoples thoughts on indicting in built up areas, neighbourhoods etc. I try to indicate every maneuver, be it day or night even if I'm the only car on the road. What I find frustrating, is when your out, particularly when it's dark, be it walking, jogging etc you may wait for a car to past, only to find it turns off 50 yards before it reaches you... do drivers just become uncaring at night or is it that they have just not seen you?

What's peoples thoughts on indicting in built up areas, neighbourhoods etc. I try to indicate every maneuver, be it day or night even if I'm the only car on the road. What I find frustrating, is when your out, particularly when it's dark, be it walking, jogging etc you may wait for a car to past, only to find it turns off 50 yards before it reaches you... do drivers just become uncaring at night or is it that they have just not seen you?

There are lots of drivers who just don't bother with signals, quite often they are the first to complain when someone else doesnt signal though.

It is the most frustrating thing when teaching learners to deal with roundabouts, when other drivers just don't bother to signal. The learners don't have the experience to guess which way the other cars are going. This then winds up the people behind the learner as we simply don't move at all when there are other cars on the right.

I generally always indicate on motorways and fast roads, simply for the reason that it is possible to miss something given the high speeds and vehicles potentially all around, so indicating gives some warning if you *do* miss things.

Elswhere, I indicate if it will benefit someone. One thing I rarely do is indicate if pulling away from the kerb, as a lot of the time if there's anyone who will benefit, you shouldn't be doing it.

i found those that dont indicate around town are ones with one hand up by their ear holding a telephone and are too engrossed in their call to think about signals, other traffic and probably wont even hit the brakes if a child walked out in front of them. had one earlier on a mini roundabout, i had right of way started to go onto it and realised the speeding car approching from my left wasnt going to stop and shot pass me (glad i stopped at this point) 50 yds a head the driver has swerved into the path of oncoming traffic and nearly loses back end trying to get the car back on to the left side of the road.

First time I have encountered this sort of comment on a forum, but then I guess I am new to briskoda.

If you want to know about me, what I do for a living, or what I drive, or how long I have been driving, or how many dead people I have shoveled up of the road, then feel free to send me a private message.

Do you have long shaggy grey fur, and an orange pointy nose, by any chance? :P

Can we please keep it polite. This is the advanced driving section of Briskoda, not the fast and furious section. Ta

What's peoples thoughts on indicting in built up areas, neighbourhoods etc. I try to indicate every maneuver, be it day or night even if I'm the only car on the road. What I find frustrating, is when your out, particularly when it's dark, be it walking, jogging etc you may wait for a car to past, only to find it turns off 50 yards before it reaches you... do drivers just become uncaring at night or is it that they have just not seen you?

I think the real problem at night is that most people walking or jogging (or cycling!) tend to wear nice dark clothes to make them as invisible as possible

Generally, I signal where I can see (or reasonably expect to see) someone who can benefit from the signal. This isn't too much of a problem in street-lit areas, but I find in less well lit areas, I tend to signal more frequently as it's harder to anticipate who may benefit and it also means that any other cars will get a much earlier indication of my intentions.

Chris

I think the real problem at night is that most people walking or jogging (or cycling!) tend to wear nice dark clothes to make them as invisible as possible

Generally, I signal where I can see (or reasonably expect to see) someone who can benefit from the signal. This isn't too much of a problem in street-lit areas, but I find in less well lit areas, I tend to signal more frequently as it's harder to anticipate who may benefit and it also means that any other cars will get a much earlier indication of my intentions.

Chris

It's scary how often I see this with cyclists :eek:

Just the other night, a Afro-american black skinned chap / lady on a black bicycle with no lights, wearing black clothes, black cap and no reflective or hi-vis accessories. He/she even had black trainers on with none of those reflective strip bits. Fortunately, I was going the other way and there was street lighting, but do such cyclisst have a death wish or something?

In my neck of the woods, most joggers / runners actually wear hi-vis jackets or armbands or something

As Chris said, in order to decide that a signal is not needed, you have to observe.

Accordingly, I'd pretty much always signal in order to turn right through a central reservation on a dual, because cases where you can see far enough every way to be certain that no-one will appear in a position to benefit until you've completed the lane change, brake, turn in, and cross the opposite carriageway are rare at best.

OTOH I rarely signal to take my work's turning off the main road because it's rare to not be able to see 12 seconds of empty road each way at the junction.

Originally Posted by VWD

Personally ,when changing lanes , I indicate about 4secs behind car in front ,give at least 4 flashes , mirror ,look over shoulder ,then if safe pull out .

I'm hoping you check your mirror before signaling too and not one of those people that 'make' a space with their indicators...

Personally I indicate between all lanes, though I usually use just a couple of flashes when pulling back in.

Let's start again

Isaid "Personally ,when changing lanes , I indicate about 4secs behind car in front ,give at least 4 flashes , mirror ,look over shoulder ,then if safe pull out . "

But this time I've HIGHLIGHED THE RELAVENT BIT

I think what SkodaLover was referring to was the fact that "mirror" didn't appear until after the indicator had been on for at least 4 flashes. You probably do watch your mirrors constantly, and only indicate when you see a suitable gap to pull out into, but that wasn't how you wrote it.

As with commentary driving, if you want your audience to know how you're thinking, you have to tell them

I think what SkodaLover was referring to was the fact that "mirror" didn't appear until after the indicator had been on for at least 4 flashes. You probably do watch your mirrors constantly, and only indicate when you see a suitable gap to pull out into, but that wasn't how you wrote it.

As with commentary driving, if you want your audience to know how you're thinking, you have to tell them

Yep -sorry about that - "mirror " was inferred ,not stated .(else how would I know that it was safe to indicate )(as in cause someone just about to pass to slam on anchors )

Up until 1997 when I took an advanced driving course and test, I always used to indicate (correctly) to pull out into lane 2 (dual carriageway) and lanes 2 & 3 (3 lane road), when pulling back into the inside lanes I would indicate this intention as well. Whilst having a lesson my instructor said to me that there was no need to indicate a move from lane 2 to lane 1 on a dual carriageway, as you should (quite correctly) be in lane 1 unless you are overtaking. Conversely on a 3 lane road, you should always indicate your intention when you move to an inner lane.

My question is:

What is the accepted way/best practice for the use of indicators when moving to an inner lane?

I indicate whenever I change lane... these days its not acceptable or reliable to "expect" others to return to the inner lane, as they so often sit in the middle.

My thinking, and I argued this with my instructors @ the time was I am indicating that I am going to change lane position, and this is a heads up to those around, vs them not being aware I woudl be moving into their lane. We did'nt agree, but I know I am right.

My thinking, and I argued this with my instructors @ the time was I am indicating that I am going to change lane position, and this is a heads up to those around, vs them not being aware I woudl be moving into their lane.

But do they care? Assuming you've left a good separation before returning to lane 1, it's not going to affect their speed or course and not going to cause any inconvenience, so why bother?

Chris

and could benefit from being offered coffee and biscuits too

You'll have to expand on this, mate - you have me stumped :rofl:

Chris

The shoulder check, AKA "the life saver" on a motorbike.

I will indicate for pedestrians, but not if it serves no purpose.

My personal view is that all motorists should have bike riding experience, but I have voiced this before

:iagree:

When you ride a bike you have to ride defensively and second guess what car drivers are going to do next. Indicators at least give some clue as what other road users are going to do.

I disagree totally. Some of the biggest planks and least defensive "drivers" I've ever seen are bikers!

But do they care? Assuming you've left a good separation before returning to lane 1, it's not going to affect their speed or course and not going to cause any inconvenience, so why bother?

Chris

do they care?? who knows.. ? Do you assume they are paying attention? or just realise a cars passed them when its returned to the lane again in front of them.... or just as likely they have been sitting in lane 2, so when returning from lane 3 to 2 to 1 indicating, it adds some indication/prompt to jog them into realising they are lane hogging becasue they are not concentrating.

Which takes us back the the question of whether or not you have ever played at "lapping" an MLOCer!

Got to admit i signal with just about every move i make on the road partly because i ride a bike and you just naturally assume that cars have not seen you, also used to drive a lorry and had this hammered into me whilst training. " You don't NEED to signal a lane change from 3-2 or 2-1 because of the 1 basic law of the road GIVE WAY TO THE RIGHT" but signal anyway. Its assumed if you have passed a car in lane 1 that that car has to give way to allow you back in to lane 1, If they accelerate up your inside and you hit them then its their fault. Even if they are coming off a slip road onto the motorway they must wait or slow down allow you to pass then overtake. No one is perfect and know doubt i as we all do upset other drivers so in real life we don't want accidents so prudence implies and common courtesy dictates that we signal. In town and on the motorway plus in town it helps to keep the traffic flowing especially at mini roundabouts. So "lets be safe out there":D

:iagree:

Ive done no advanced driving yet, but I personally indicate to move lanes either way on a motorway, & for every maneuvre that requires it regardless of whether anyone is in sight to notice. My reason for this is that its habit forming, and I dont want to forget to indicate the one time I fail to notice the pizza delivery lad scootering up the inside on a left turn etc. (yeah I learnt my roadcraft on a bike too - Lifesavers are still something that for me are essential) Same thing for me with my seatbelt - if I dont put it on I feel something is wrong, if I forget to indicate a little voice in my head is going "Danger Will Robinson! Danger!"

This is me putting safe-guards into my driving, not making recommendations etc as I have no RoSPA / IAM / etc etc qualifications to back it up.

Ive done no advanced driving yet, but I personally indicate to move lanes either way on a motorway, & for every maneuvre that requires it regardless of whether anyone is in sight to notice. My reason for this is that its habit forming, and I dont want to forget to indicate the one time I fail to notice the pizza delivery lad scootering up the inside on a left turn etc.

By doing an advance course you will learn when to indicate and when not to, you will have the observation skill to know when the indication will benefit and when not to bother as no one will benefit. Forgetting to indicate could be looked at lack of concentration and observation. If you also taking in what you see around you then you would see the pizza bike whilst driving and as part of your IPSGA.