Safe Speed Forums

Fellow motorists! Would it help do you think, if people actually used their "indicators" either: at all, or at least sometimes? I've noticed that the tendendcy these days is to drive around and never touch the indicators. As a pedestrian or a driver, how often have you waited for that approaching car on you right, only for him/her to turn left into the same road? Maddening isn't it when the road was quite clear before from your left and is now heavy with traffic!...

The other day I followed a "Man" driver, and I say that to emphasise that it really isn't only women, he was middle aged at that so he should have known better. I followed him for 5 miles in an urban situation. Road junctions, Traffic Islands, slipways.........and he didn't indicate once! Left...Right.....3rd exit......left etc. I first met him at an opposing road junction to join a main road. He wasn't indicating but I was indicating left, something told me not to trust him, and yep! He turned right, same way as me. A good job that I was suspicious. That's what made me watch him as I followed him.

Now, we all get the mantra; "Speed Kills" don't we. It's rammed down our throats is it not? Believe me, this guy was much more dangerous than that. No where did he speed. But HE is the person who we have to judge every day, calculating; ................ Is he, or Isn;t he? Is he turning or not? Which way? We see them every day!

But! If you guess wrong, then YOU are the cause of the accident according to the bean counters........

I for one.....think not!

The only way to drive is to disbelieve other indications, especially on roundabouts.
Maybe, given that many are incorrect (if any are correct at all) we should not use any ?
Who, in their right mind, is going to believe the right-turn-indication if it means being t-boned if it is wrong ?
As my instructor said "if you always consider the other person is wrong, you won't be"

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The world runs on oil, period. No other substance can compete when it comes to energy density, flexibility, ease of handling, ease of transportation. If oil didn’t exist we would have to invent it.”

56 years after it was decided it was needed, the Bedford Bypass is nearing completion. The last single carriageway length of it.We have the most photogenic mayor though, always being photographed doing nothing

I'm glad that I don't live in your area then...

Although quite a few round here don't indicate all the time that they should, at least the majority that do indicate, do it right.

I think that if you take the view that indicating is pointless, then you may has well throw away the highway code, mirrors and disconnect your brake lights too.

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

Draco highlights another erk of mine, along with ditherers at junctions and a new breed of driver who slows down by anything between 10 to 15 mph under the speed limit at speed camera locations

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

One of my pet hates is those drivers who always stop at roundabouts even if there is no traffic in view.

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

If a majority of road users are failing to operate their vehicle properly then I'd moan to your local Council and Dept of Transport. We need them to know that we are unhappy.

It is good to show displeasure to the Authorities as it is they that can authorise the Media coverage to send out reminders about what is good behaviours and what is expected of every road user.
A Police patrol can also be authorised, and will I am sure have everyone indicating and paying great attention and being polite etc.

With many Councils now having to look for alternatives then maybe now is the perfect time to make them think 'action' than just enforcement!

Same with the other 'pet hates' that have been mentioned too.

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

Exactly, major dithering and what's worse I've got friends who do it and I have to bite my lips off or risk offending them.

Agreed but the trouble is it comes down to policing because the world of politeness is becoming a thing of the past, just like good maners in all other walks of life, and the Police are facing cuts.

I still maintain a person's driving habits are a reflection of who they are. It's depressing really.

I like to indicate both because It's polite but also in the event of an accident I know I've done everything right, right down to the smallest detail.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

So what is the difference between no indication at all, or so many cases of wrong indication that you cannot believe them ?
Do you REALLY believe a persons indication ?
Or would you just like to ?
A LIFE spent riding motorcycles has proven to me that MOST indications are WRONG....and since it LITERALLY may kill me....more so than a car driver....I pay NO attention to others indication.
Ok on reporting it to the police and councils.....that'll give them something else to collect fines from......we already have speed cameras....and box junction cameras....traffic light cameras etc. Then we'll have roundabout bad signals cameras.
How many of you indicate to pull out and pass a stationary vehicle, when you didn't have to slow or stop for it ?
Yet that has not been necessary for years now, and tuition for the driving test has included that for nearly ten years.

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The world runs on oil, period. No other substance can compete when it comes to energy density, flexibility, ease of handling, ease of transportation. If oil didn’t exist we would have to invent it.”

56 years after it was decided it was needed, the Bedford Bypass is nearing completion. The last single carriageway length of it.We have the most photogenic mayor though, always being photographed doing nothing

Firstly, I would hope that your statement that, "MOST indications are wrong", is an exaggeration or the standard of driving in your part of the world is abysmally worse than anywhere else that I have yet to experience. I agree that a large percentage don't indicate when they should but the number of people who indicate left when they mean right or indicate far too early or late are in the minority.

Your second statement,...."How many of you indicate to pull out and pass a stationary vehicle, when you didn't have to slow or stop for it ?
Yet that has not been necessary for years now,.......",

I presume you mean that it hasn't been taught for years but the statement that it has not been NECESSARY for years, is truly debateable. I would like to think that if I was driving a large vehicle with a motorcycle close behind me and I had to overtake a skip, for instance, that the motorcyclist would appreciate some sort of warning that they may encounter something very large and heavy, that they would not have been able to see through me, and not have it sprung upon them suddenly. Just because something is deemed "not necessary" in the driving test or lessons anymore is not necessarily a good idea. Just as the IAMs idea of not indicating all the time may be the done thing to them, doesn't always make for good road manners or good safety procedure in my eyes.
Hand signals for the test died out years ago, I believe, but I can still think of a few instances where using them helps emphasise a potentially hazardous situation.

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

All the more reason to allocate the moderate funds then to the best & most effective resource ! (Police patrols are known to work). They are still spending £100,000's on camera vans lets not forget !
I am not sure that I agreed with that entirely ... That would imply 'type's' of people will drive / ride in a certain manner and that is not the case ... people vary (thankfully) and behave differently, but the rules and guideline try to organise a predictable environment ... when that fails it is 'reminders' and 'encouragement' in a 'self-belief' manner that helps.
In that it is polite to help show people of your intended actions - absolutely and yes for correctness. Totally agree.

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

Many good replies there and thanks to everyone. Another incident came to mind of one day in my local town at a 5 way roundabout. IMO it should have been a 4 way (it's quite new) but they missed the opportunity. Any way it's a 5 way, and it's the main way into and out of the town, and across as well, Oh and from the main Retail Park as well! A Nightmare of the councils creation!

Now that I've set the scene, at rush hour....... I approached the island and stopped. Watching the traffic coming round, a car positioned for a left turn was indicating left BEFORE the exit previous to mine,yet he continued past that and came on round still indicating left. So I thought , he's taking my exit and started to roll in anticipation. Next thing he comes around AGAIN still indicating left1I I SLAMMED ON after around 4 ft and the stupid woman who came around after from the exit before mine then leaned over her passengers seat to gesticulate that "I" was some how to blame!....

For gods sake, does only me watch and indicate correctly?........Indicate RIGHT on a traffic island until AFTER you have passed the LAST EXIT
before YOURS!..............THEN, INDICATE .....left!

I really do despair1.............Of those that don't.

Who, in their right mind, pays any attention to the indications of another driver; Especially at roundabouts.
You're at a junction, turning left.
Another car is coming, indicating an intention to turn left.
Is that driver going to turn down your road, or maybe he/she is intending to turn down the next road along, or pull into the side ?
On what basis do you decide that the others indication is correct and that they are turning before they reach you.
Yet hundreds of accidents occur every week because indication is wrong, and the decision of the other driver that they were right was wrong.

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The world runs on oil, period. No other substance can compete when it comes to energy density, flexibility, ease of handling, ease of transportation. If oil didn’t exist we would have to invent it.”

56 years after it was decided it was needed, the Bedford Bypass is nearing completion. The last single carriageway length of it.We have the most photogenic mayor though, always being photographed doing nothing

Then the resolution has to be to help and remind people what the predictable and expected rules are.

Reminders of how to do something properly has to be the key ...
Probably with clear diagrammatic signs ...

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

I do not take indicators to be an accurate guide to the intent of another driver, however they are a useful additional bit of information to help plan your next move.

E.g.

You see a left indicator on a car approaching from the right. If there is plenty of space then you could pull out and if they are not turning they may end up having to slow down a little. If there is not enough room to do that safely then you wait until you are certain they are making the turn while at the same time checking the rest of the road so you are ready to go if clear.

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Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

I agree.

The use of indicators help other road users to make the right decision. Of course doing so does not assure they make the right decision, but it can help reduce the occurrence of needless conflict.

Manners aren’t necessary, but it makes for much relaxed interaction with others.

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Views expressed are personal opinions and are not necessarily shared by the Safe Speed campaign

I think the body language of the vehicle often returns as much or more information as any indication. You see them slowing down in front of you where there is a junction ahead and wonder if they are going to turn; then they signal their intention to do what you predicated. Or they are stopped at a junction, again with no indication, but you can see their wheels pointing slightly left or right. Even the way the driver appears to be seated and looking around is an indication of whether they are going to act erratically.

One big irritation which I’ve mentioned before is the modern use of un-tactile PIC controlled indicator switches. I’d like to strangle the idiot who invented them. Many’s the time I’ve just been trying to cancel the signal and instead I toggle it from left to right, right to left, left to right... You see it happening on the motorways a lot where the automatic cancel doesn’t kick in because you haven’t turned the steering wheel much.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.