Indication on roundabouts - please clarify for me

[RobM77]

We've been through this before, but I need to say it before people take that advice - it's very ill-advised to only indicate if you think another road user may benefit. The reason is that you don't know for certain that you've observed everyone correctly. You may have made a mistake in your observation, there may be a motorbike hidden in your blind spot, or there may be an as yet hidden pedestrian who needs to know which way you were going. This especially applies at night.

I walk to work and back each day, and for a third of the year I'm doing so in the dark or half-dark. Nothing annoys me more or holds me up more than drivers who don't signal because there's "nobody about". In the dark with dipped headlights you can't see me waiting to cross the road. Now, obviously when walking, riding my bike or driving I'm not going to trust a signal to the degree where if the signal's wrong it'll cause an accident, but I do trust them enough so that if the signal's wrong it causes me undue hesitation, or messes up my own gameplan of what I'm going to do next, thus potentially compromising my safety slightly and peace of mind slightly in the process. It's just plain annoying.

That advice isn't just aimed at very good advanced drivers with a high standard of observation, it's particularly aimed at the people who think they can drive and observe that well, but actually can't (of which there are plenty!). Signalling as described above, only when you think another road user will benefit, will hold up sensible careful people like me, and for more naive trusting people (and let's not forget most drivers are idiots), it could cause an accident. It's very bad advice.

I'll get off my soapbox now

[Bacon Is Proof]

I'm with you on that.
Far better to indicate by default unless it could mislead/confuse.

[simoid]

R0G said:

All the answers say - signal left when passed the exit before the one you want but I would say that applying the left signal as you go passed the exit before the one you want is fine and does not confuse as long as it is impossible for you to physically turn into that exit

But if you can't turn into an exit, you're already past it

I get what you're saying, and I indicate to exit a roundabout as soon as I've passed the exit before mine.

[MagicalTrevor]

I think it's fair to say that if there is traffic on or waiting to join the motorway at all junctions then you SHOULD indicate fully.

Let's say that I'm going all the way around the roundabout then I should approach the roundabout (no matter how many lanes) indicating right. As I pass the last exit (that I'm not taking) then I indicate left and move left to leave at my chosen exit.

I SHOULD NOT use the 'soft' indicator (3 flashes) as I approach and then go all the way round without indicating... especially not if I'm an IAM associate... and that's who I'm arguing with...

[Hooli]

MagicalTrevor said:

I SHOULD NOT use the 'soft' indicator (3 flashes) as I approach and then go all the way round without indicating... especially not if I'm an IAM associate... and that's who I'm arguing with...

Totally agree, that sounds the sort of driver who makes me feel they need kicking in the face until they wake up & think about what they are doing.

[RobM77]

Hooli said:

MagicalTrevor said:

I SHOULD NOT use the 'soft' indicator (3 flashes) as I approach and then go all the way round without indicating... especially not if I'm an IAM associate... and that's who I'm arguing with...

Totally agree, that sounds the sort of driver who makes me feel they need kicking in the face until they wake up & think about what they are doing.

Sadly if I did that around our way I'd wear my shoes out very quickly :-)

Even more shocking are the people who turn right from the lefthand (outer) lane of a dual carriageway roundabout where it's permissible to go straight on from both lanes. This got so bad in Basingstoke that they had to paint dotted lines betweem the lanes on the exits to guide stupid people...

[Hooli]

RobM77 said:

Hooli said:

MagicalTrevor said:

I SHOULD NOT use the 'soft' indicator (3 flashes) as I approach and then go all the way round without indicating... especially not if I'm an IAM associate... and that's who I'm arguing with...

Totally agree, that sounds the sort of driver who makes me feel they need kicking in the face until they wake up & think about what they are doing.

Sadly if I did that around our way I'd wear my shoes out very quickly :-)

Even more shocking are the people who turn right from the lefthand (outer) lane of a dual carriageway roundabout where it's permissible to go straight on from both lanes. This got so bad in Basingstoke that they had to paint dotted lines betweem the lanes on the exits to guide stupid people...

Tell me about it. I saw a motorbike knocked off because a car did exactly that & the damn driver tried to say it was the bike's fault for overtaking on the roundabout.
That crash was also proof that speed isn't dangerous as I viewed it from about 20ft in front having just wound the throttle on as the car swung towards my leg as I was level with it's front wing. The bike that the car hit had no chance being just behind me.

[F i F]

Whilst I agree with the second post on the thread there is a caveat I'd like to add to explain a situation where, although I've entered the roundabout in the right hand lane and indicating right, at some point I knock off the RH indicator and then only start to indicate left just when passing the last exit before the one I want to use to exit. That might mean a portion of the island is negotiated with no signal.

This situation is where the lane markings are in a spiral, so you enter in the right hand lane, and this gradually moves from being L3 to L2 to L1 as you go round. I think to keep a RH indicator going in this case is giving a confusing message that you wish to move into the new lane to your right.

Not sure I've explained this too well.

see here

Imagine entering this roundabout from L3 road at 10 o'clock to exit at 7 o'clock and you'll get the drift of what I'm talking about. To continue indicating right after you passed the M5(s) off slip at 1 o'clock would be confusing as there is now a new lane to your right.

edited to include map link previously forgotten

Edited by F i F on Monday 20th June 23:18

[simoid]

I agree F i F, if there are lane markings and only 1 destination per lane, I usually don't indicate once on the roundabout, as most times when I see other people do this, it is to change lane on the roundabout.

[MagicalTrevor]

I also agree F I F, in that situation I'm careful not to indicate too much as this could lead to confusion. If there are very clearly defined and cleared signed lanes then I try to indicate only where I will be changing lanes (if I've misunderstood or got in the wrong lane, for instance).

It was for instances like this that I tried to make the example as 'standard' as possible

[Vipers]

m8rky said:

I drive a BMW,what is this "indication" of which you speak?

Sounds like you drive like the Aberdonians, 99% have cars without indicators, sods. Oh and the obligatory headlight stuck on full beam.

Original answer was correct of course, if only more drivers would be aware of this.

[MagicalTrevor]

The thing that scares is that I might get hit by one of these idiots who then insists they're in the right. Then my insurance will take a pasting because they'll lazily go 50/50.

Obvious answer is 'don't crash' of course

[Vipers]

MagicalTrevor said:

The thing that scares is that I might get hit by one of these idiots who then insists they're in the right. Then my insurance will take a pasting because they'll lazily go 50/50.

Obvious answer is 'don't crash' of course

My driving instructor in the forces told us

"If your going to crash, stop. If your stationary you can't have a crash, you can only be involved in one "

[MagicalTrevor]

Wise words LOL

[R0G]

RobM77 said:

We've been through this before, but I need to say it before people take that advice - it's very ill-advised to only indicate if you think another road user may benefit. The reason is that you don't know for certain that you've observed everyone correctly.

I have been indicating only if another road user will benefit for years without any problems at all so perhaps it is down to the skills of the individual driver?

[SHutchinson]

Virtually on topic, if you were approaching this roundabout and wished to take the exit to the left of the Three T's pub which lane would you approach it in?

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=54.9543...

I have my own opinion but wonder what other keen motorists views are.

I will add a disclaimer that I drive a BMW but don't let that sway your opinion of my behaviour on this one.

[Hooli]

SHutchinson said:

Virtually on topic, if you were approaching this roundabout and wished to take the exit to the left of the Three T's pub which lane would you approach it in?

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=54.9543...

I have my own opinion but wonder what other keen motorists views are.

I will add a disclaimer that I drive a BMW but don't let that sway your opinion of my behaviour on this one.

Third exit? I'd use the RH lane on approach.

[R0G]

Right lane only

Left lane is marked for the first exit and the road ahead at 11 o clock

Right lane is marked for road ahead at 11 o clock and the right turn

[RobM77]

R0G said:

RobM77 said:

We've been through this before, but I need to say it before people take that advice - it's very ill-advised to only indicate if you think another road user may benefit. The reason is that you don't know for certain that you've observed everyone correctly.

I have been indicating only if another road user will benefit for years without any problems at all so perhaps it is down to the skills of the individual driver?

Not at all, by the very nature of this issue (imperfections in observation), a large proportion of people you ps off you'll never see. Sorry!

[R0G]

RobM77 said:

ot at all, by the very nature of this issue (imperfections in observation), a large proportion of people you ps off you'll never see. Sorry!

As my driving is overseen by others on a regular basis then that is unlikely

You are welcome to sit next to me on a drive if you like so I can prove that I do not miss anyone who would have benefitted from a signal that I did not give
I will also give a full running commentary if you so wish on such a drive

No driver is perfect and it is not reasonable to assume everything is ok but if everything is taken into account on the approach to a hazard or potential hazards then the decision to give a signal or not is very easy to determine

There may be occasions, as I find very often, that the original decision needs to be reconsidered and a signal applied quickly but I am always ready to do just that - It only takes less than a second to put it on when a left finger is poised on the stalk