I've little to add to previous postings.
As far as I'm aware, signalling is a matter of courtesy and is not mandatory, and the legal position is that signalling or the lack of it should always be assumed, on the part of other drivers, to be a suspect way of showing a driver's intentions.
Don't take any action like pulling out from a side-road until the front wheels of the other car show definitely where it's going.
The lack of reliable signalling nowadays is a sad testament to the current "I'll look after myself and sod everyone else" mentality. What was the oft-quoted story about the BMW driver who, when asked why he never signalled, said, "Well, I know where I'm going."
I'm sorry to have to correct your impression of the use of signals but signalling is not just a matter of courtesy.
UK highway code rule 103
Signals warn and inform other road users, including pedestrians of your intended actions. You should always
- give clear signals in plenty of time, having checked it is not misleading to signal at that time
- use them to advise other road users before changing course or direction, stopping or moving off
- cancel them after use
By using signals you are giving out information to other road users as to your intentions, and receiving information via their signals from other road users as to their intentions.
At least that is how the system is supposed to work, but the receiving of signals degenerates into a second-guessing game as to what the hell the other driver's intentions are.
There is a traffic offence in France of not signaling your intentions properly - clearly an offence that is never prosecuted if you have ever driven in France!
If the authorities were to really have a blitz on that they could clear France's national debt in 6 months from the fines!
Edited by focussed on 15/06/2019 at 23:28
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