graball wrote:
so you are going through all that, why not just indicate, it takes micro seconds and you never know what acceleration the car behind has (you say, you sometimes drive a clapped out Mondeo, what happens in that when you don't indicate?) and if he has started to make his move , YOU are in the wrong by pulling out into the side of him.
As for driving instructor, if he pulled out in front of me without indicating and caused me to brake when I was about to overtake, because of his stupidity, I would make it known what I thought of his driving in no uncertain terms.
Although in principal I agree that indication is ideal.
In the real world people are not perfect and the reality is that drivers/ riders are not always indicating, understanding why and when and IF it makes a 'real' difference in accidents and underastanding on the road is a very interesting area.
[For example: lets day that it made, after research, that it made NO difference at all (to the extreme) to accidents or any driving need, it *could* be developed that in fact having no indicators could prove they are un-necessary, and in fact people looked more at the driver and gave way more often. There in fact seemed to be an advantage to loosing the indicators.]
So all things that are 'taken for granted' can sometimes be fundamentally questioned, is something truly necessary, does it do it's job the right way, is it fit for purpose ? Research can lead to a whole new process or verify that the existing policies can be right and then become reinforced. So, understanding better what people see on the road, in reality, is a first step in some of that research. Sometimes people want to discuss principal's of legality, simply learn a little more, or find out why, things are the way they observe on the road, and so on ... as I am sure you recognise.
However, when experienced drivers can see no need to indicate due to predicitable behaviour by them and others is it legally wrong not to indicate - yes - it is bad driving, questionable as has it caused any problem or confusion, unlikely, so the 'real world' condition MAY be perfectly acceptable and possibly even 'correct' albeit it wrong legally.
Now your response seems to imply that indicating might prevent an accident - it could and you are right to state that indicating may help, but whether it is the only reason to prevent an accident is questionable as overtaking is involved, if someone pulls out on you, others things have already gone wrong and any indication MAY not make any difference in stopping them not 'seeing' you. You need to allow for them 'not seeing you ' and already have planned for it (escape route). To then 'show your displeasure' also is 'wrong' in the first place you should be ready and in the second these 'exchanges' can escalate, and leave you in a very dangerous position. Far better to allow for their possible error and when it happens you are ready - toot your horn and your escape route to the best of your ability, stay calm and make yourself safe. if you have already planned ahead, you do not need to then get angry. Most anger comes from fear / been scared. By staying on top of the situation you take away the fear as a plan / forthought exists that can defuse and your better control helps make situations safe again for everyone. Courtesy enables them to go ahead or allow you to proceed safely. The more people are encouraged and guided to 'do the right thing' they and 'us all' can be ready and all forgive those errors calmly and proceed safely.