Why? If I am changing lane on a deserted motorway who is going to benefit from my indication?
I agree entirely that indicating properly at roundabouts should be mandatory (if there is someone to benefit from it!). I also (nearly) always indicate when I am turning off from a main road.
Not bothering to consider whether indication is necessary should be endorsable IMO! :-)
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I only indicate if there's someone in the vicinity to benefit from it. On many of the roads I drive on, it's only me, myself and I.
Have you noticed how the french flash (their lights) at you if you don't indicate?
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I only indicate if there's someone in the vicinity to benefit from it.
Me too.
I suspect that those that indicate at the slightest opportunity are doing it as a subconcious habit and haven't given any thought whatsoever as to whether it will benefit anyone. They probably aren't even aware whether anyone is in the vicinity anyway.
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L\'escargot.
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I had this discussion with the tutor on an advanced driving course - he too contended that an indicator was only necessary if there was someone in the viscinity to benefit. My argument was that it was better to indicate as a matter of routine because I could think of many situations (blind junctions obscured by buildings etc) where you would not know if anyone else was around until you were actually on the junction.
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He was being paid to teach, and you were paying to learn. ;-)
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L\'escargot.
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I had this discussion with the tutor on an advanced driving course - he too contended that an indicator was only necessary if there was someone in the viscinity to benefit.
This is an IAM favourite. You demonstrate the excellence of your observation skills by saying you see nobody to benefit form indocation so you don't do it. But what about the guy you've missed, who is just aboout to hove into view or the pedestrian?
Might have been OK on quieter roads yonks ago, but not today.
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Not just IAM...
The rule of thumb is, if in doubt indicate.
But *think* about what you are doing, not do it automatically. It's OK to indicate for the "benefit of vehicles unseen", if during your information stage you consider that there is a risk that someone may appear unexpectedly.
And as a result of the thinking, anticipation and concentration it is less likely thatyou will miss guys, or that pedestrians will "hove into view".
Advanced driver training does not improve your observational skills - we can all see what is ahead of us equally well. What it does do is encourage you to concentrate and act on what you've seen instead of filing it then realising too late it was important after all.
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>>And as a result of the thinking, anticipation and concentration it is less likely thatyou will miss guys, or that pedestrians will "hove into view".<<
The trouble is that I admit to being human and potentially fallible. I therefore prefer to err on the safe side. Having said that, I tend not to indicate left after overtaking something unless the road is exceptionally busy or there's spray from rain etc.
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In UK I would tend to agree. Back in France or Kosovo I can drive for miles and not even see another car.
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why are you changing lane on a deserted motorway? You're not going "Zen" on us are you?
John
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Ommmm, ommmmm, ommmm.
If there is no one there to see the signal, have you truely signalled?
Ommmm, ommmm, ommmm.
May traffic jams part on the path to enlightenment.
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Racing lines an' all that...even on a deserted motorway :-)
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I was taught to ignore the signals and observe the actions. This holds true 30 years later.
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It is true most actions can give an idea of where you intend to go, but say you go to the supermarket a small mini roundabout cars trying to join from your left, you intend to turn left thus one car at least should be able to go, but you have slowed down for the new 10mph speed limit there is only a narrow lane approaching the rounderbout ( which is more closely resembling a T junction ) so can I safely join the roundabout ?
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Mikem I sympathise with you entirely. There are just so many crap drivers on the road who don't indicate. It is so dangerous not to indicate at roundabouts when turning right. Still it gives us something to complain about. I have sometimes found that people with "baby on board" signs, to be very poor at driving.The thing is to be a good example. It is very hard to be patient sometimes.Mike though
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Baby on Board stickers I have always taken as the driver kindly WARNING you they are going to be poor - sleep deprived (a well known form of torture), no energy and the car full of screaming infants!
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They should bring back flogging in public for failing to use indicators. Or the cars should be fitted with electric shock units that alert drivers if they approach the right hand entry lane of a roundabout and the driver hasn't indicated!
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Any lack of indicating tends to make other drivers more alert to your presence, is that a bad thing ?
(within reason)
Someone mentioned that it is not a battle out there
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