Driving Habits - use of indicators

[MotCO]

I've been caught double-glancing at newer card with daytime running lights, which turn off the front light on one side when they're indicating. It turns on again once the indicator switches off.

I also find it confusing when a light disappears from one side so that only one white light shows when the indicator is flashing. I could quite easily mistake it for a motor bike. It's just so unnecessarily dangerous.

 

[cactustwirly]

Following on from the other thread on motorway driving habits, why is it so few drivers use their indicators. On motorways, we have to guess whether vehicles are changing lanes on just veering. At roundabouts, I am reluctant to pull out unless a vehicle is indicating that they are turning off the roundabout into the road I am pulling out of, thereby causing longer delays and more congestion.

Why don't motorists use their indicators. Are they just selfish, or too busy playing with their phone / satnav/ radio etc?

Because they drive a BMW/Audi/Range Rover and therefore the rules don't apply to them...

 

[Baxenden Bank]

If you think the lack of others indicating is difficult for you as a driver, try being a pedestrian!
The entrance to my local Tesco has a roundabout, which I have to cross to get to the store. People hug the middle of the roundabout, indicating right then 'moon slingshot' off the the left. Others approach in the offside, but take the first exit. And many other variants of poor driving. There are plenty of people that do indicate, but it does seem to be an optional extra in many driver's minds.

 

[Geezertronic]

People who don't indicate right when turning right at an Island but then indicate left to leave the island are just idiots

I also have to agree with the useless of the new cars whose headlights are replaced by an indicator light when used - whoever thought of that does definitely need a kicking. What happens when the hazard lights are on? I've never seen one with hazards on so does that mean that in the dark only the hazards can be seen?

 

[ABB125]

Indicating on roundabouts can sometimes be difficult. I was taught, for a 4-way roundabout, the following on approach:

• 1st exit - indicate left
• 2nd exit - don't indicate
• 3rd exit - indicate right
• When exiting the roundabout, indicate start indicating left just after the exit before the one you want

However, the layout of the roundabout can sometimes cause confusion. For example here:

Approaching the roundabout from the top to go straight over, I wouldn't indicate until next to the 1st exit to show traffic entering from the second exit that I'm exiting there. This particular roundabout, however, is effectively a 3-way roundabout as the football club entrance is hardly used. Does this mean that I should be indicating right on approach to the roundabout? I would say not, as it would imply to other road users that I was planning to go into the football club, which I'm not.
A further complication here is that the left hand lane is for the first exit, and right hand lane for the second and third exits. This can sometimes confuse people who don't read the writing on the road surface.

 

[Kingspanner]

I've never heard of "Roadcraft" but this is something I've started to do on smaller roundabouts (those where you can generally see all exits on approach) and it definitely does make you more aware, not only of the traffic looking to enter the roundabout after your exit, but of traffic on the roundabout in general. It definitely removes that auto-pilot feel that I think we've all possibly felt at one time or another, especially on those routes we are very comfortable with

Here it is https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roadcraft-...28&hvtargid=pla-563800145928&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

 

[The_Train]

Here it is https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roadcraft-...28&hvtargid=pla-563800145928&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Thank you

 

[GB]

I also find it confusing when a light disappears from one side so that only one white light shows when the indicator is flashing. I could quite easily mistake it for a motor bike. It's just so unnecessarily dangerous.

Surely if you "Think Bike" you take more caution than normal?

You might not like them, but I can't see how lights temporarily dimming/switching off while the indicator is on is either dangerous or confusing.

 

[DerekC]

Surely if you "Think Bike" you take more caution than normal?

You might not like them, but I can't see how lights temporarily dimming/switching off while the indicator is on is either dangerous or confusing.

I think the problem is (like the indicator lights that light progressively across the lens) that they say "look at me, aren't I clever!" for just the fraction of a second when the intention should be 100% clear and need no processing so that you can react to it immediately.