User yer - bleep - indicators!

I indicate most of the time when overtaking, if there nowt behind me that's a threat to the manoeuvre ie a fast car or bike. When filtering never really use them, towns other roads user may assume your turning right.

To be honest people indicate when they don't need too.

I was driving a Friend home early 1 morning, it dark and nobody out. Here's how the convo went

Her: YOu didnt signal and the roundabout.
ME: I don't need to
her: Yes you do
me: Why, theres nobody to see it
Her: you still have to
Me: so the foxes know know were im going and wait for me ?

Funny no response then after lol

Originally Posted by robh539

I indicate most of the time when overtaking, if there nowt behind me that's a threat to the manoeuvre ie a fast car or bike. When filtering never really use them, towns other roads user may assume your turning right.

To be honest people indicate when they don't need too.

I was driving a Friend home early 1 morning, it dark and nobody out. Here's how the convo went

Her: YOu didnt signal and the roundabout.
ME: I don't need to
her: Yes you do
me: Why, theres nobody to see it
Her: you still have to
Me: so the foxes know know were im going and wait for me ?

Funny no response then after lol

How old was she? This seems what they teach now. The DSA no longer trusts drivers to make a judgement about whether a signal is useful, nor to be aware of the presence of another road user who might benefit from it, so most kids are now get taught that you must signal regardless.

Also convo with my instructor on indicators 17 years ago went like this

Instructor: What does that flashing yellow light on the corner of that car mean?
Me: You mean his indicator?
Ins: Yes, what does that mean?
Me: <Silence, thinking, this is a trick question, look at instructor questioningly>
Ins: Tell me you know what that means!
Me: Well, I'd say it means he's intending to turn right, but you're going to tell me different
Ins: It means that bulb works! Nothing else.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

How old was she? This seems what they teach now. The DSA no longer trusts drivers to make a judgement about whether a signal is useful, nor to be aware of the presence of another road user who might benefit from it, so most kids are now get taught that you must signal regardless.

Also convo with my instructor on indicators 17 years ago went like this

Instructor: What does that flashing yellow light on the corner of that car mean?
Me: You mean his indicator?
Ins: Yes, what does that mean?
Me: <Silence, thinking, this is a trick question, look at instructor questioningly>
Ins: Tell me you know what that means!
Me: Well, I'd say it means he's intending to turn right, but you're going to tell me different
Ins: It means that bulb works! Nothing else.

hi Ralph hows things

I like his answer, its so true. Driving for work, i come across, Muppets that signal one way or with the road position that would suggest a manoeuvre then randomly do the opposite without looking or a care in the world. Intention to.... best to expect the unexpected.

She is later 30's. I still laugh now thinking about the convo

[ophic]

Originally Posted by robh539

I was driving a Friend home early 1 morning, it dark and nobody out. Here's how the convo went

Her: YOu didnt signal and the roundabout.
ME: I don't need to
her: Yes you do
me: Why, theres nobody to see it
Her: you still have to
Me: so the foxes know know were im going and wait for me ?

Funny no response then after lol

It's a habit thing. I reckon those people who tend not to indicate when they should, are those people who make the decision to indicate each time. If they get stressed/flustered/hit unexpected circumstances, they will also not indicate as it requires extra thought and their brain is all used up dealing with the circumstances.

For me, observations, indication and manoeuvring are all part of the manoeuvre, totally out of habit, and no extra thought required. So I will always indicate - even if no-one is around to see it. But this raises another point - you're assuming that your senses are infallible, in detecting what is around you. There's always the outside chance that, for example, a pedestrian might be wearing black, partly hidden by a hedge, at night, whatever, that you haven't seen. I live near a big roundabout and I walk my dog regularly late at night, and crossing the roundabout is made twice as hard by people that don't indicate.

And if, for example, its a motorway roundabout in the small hours of the morning, so its very unlikely that there'll be anyone around, then its fine not to indicate. But then you've got to think "it's a motorway roundabout and its late at night and there's no other traffic and it's unlikely there's any pedestrians and there's no settlement nearby" etc, and the decision making process is so long its just easier to indicate anyway.

I think the main problem is that indicating is a courtesy to other people, to tell them where you're going. It doesn't affect you directly - and some people just don't give a flying one about anyone else. So they don't indicate.

Everyone processes differently. Personally indicating is not a built in part of a manoeuvre. Once I've done my observations, indicate is not necessarily the next step, it's a decision based upon what I picked up in my obs, if I've seen another road user that needs to know what I'm doing, or there's part of the road I can't see or predict, then I will indicate, there is no "default setting".

I tend to find when my obs are bad I indicate everywhere, so at midnight after a five hour drive down from Scotland last week, it's quite likely that I indicated round the last three roundabouts between the motorway and home, even though they were deserted, 'cos I was too tired to do my obs properly so I stick em on just in case.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Everyone processes differently. Personally indicating is not a built in part of a manoeuvre. Once I've done my observations, indicate is not necessarily the next step, it's a decision based upon what I picked up in my obs, if I've seen another road user that needs to know what I'm doing, or there's part of the road I can't see or predict, then I will indicate, there is no "default setting".

I tend to find when my obs are bad I indicate everywhere, so at midnight after a five hour drive down from Scotland last week, it's quite likely that I indicated round the last three roundabouts between the motorway and home, even though they were deserted, 'cos I was too tired to do my obs properly so I stick em on just in case.

Agreed, aftert along drive, i will signal without a thought. I normaly do my obs and signal after i have accessed the situation, turning left at 3am in a city, street lights nobody around why signal. Its just my way of driving. When ridding i do this rarely oddly enough. Signal most of the time.

Originally Posted by robh539

turning left at 3am in a city, street lights nobody around why signal. Its just my way of driving. When ridding i do this rarely oddly enough. Signal most of the time.

because you may not have seen the person who would benefit from your signal? Why not always signal? Have you never ever missed seeing someone?

[Sir Trev]

Originally Posted by ophic

There's always the outside chance that, for example, a pedestrian might be wearing black, partly hidden by a hedge, at night, whatever, that you haven't seen.

<snip>

I think the main problem is that indicating is a courtesy to other people, to tell them where you're going. It doesn't affect you directly - and some people just don't give a flying one about anyone else. So they don't indicate.

This is one of the reasons I always indicate - no matter how good your observations are you're never completely sure if your lack of indication is going to inconvenience anyone. It takes no time to instinctively flick them on, it's no trouble to you, and could help someone else around you.

Originally Posted by Warthog

because you may not have seen the person who would benefit from your signal? Why not always signal? Have you never ever missed seeing someone?

Of course im not perfect lol , like I was saying the times I do nobody is on the road the pavement around. Im not saying im right, i have stated sometimes i drive like this not all the time.

It is courteous to signal intent and not leave people guessing.

Have you never missed a signal? or left a signal on?

[ophic]

Originally Posted by robh539

Have you never missed a signal?

due to having one korean car and one british, I do occasionally very clearly signal with my windscreen wipers