Indicating on motorways advice needed

[Ahbefive]

IanCormac said:

I indicate when moving out, but not when moving back to the left. People aren't supposed to over take you on the left so there is no need.

People may find it handy to know that you are changing lanes so that they can adjust themselves accordingly.

You are just being lazy.

[Mandat]

Ahbefive said:

It's not hard to use indicators, that's what they are there for.

If you struggle to use them you shouldn't be allowed to drive on the roads around other drivers.

I think that's the point. It is very easy to use the indicators, without thinking about where or why an indicator might be required.

Advanced driving teaches to assess & consider the circumstances of each use of the indicators as part of the driving plan.

Having drivers on the roads that are actively thinking about their driving is surely a good thing?

[Vipers]

IanCormac said:

I indicate when moving out, but not when moving back to the left. People aren't supposed to over take you on the left so there is no need.

May occur in slow moving traffic when a left lane is moving faster than the one to their right, so those who chop over to the lane to their left because it's moving faster, you would.

It's in the HC somewhere.

[RobM77]

IanCormac said:

I indicate when moving out, but not when moving back to the left. People aren't supposed to over take you on the left so there is no need.

Rrright; so you might knock an 80mph filtering biker off and kill him, but it's ok because he wasn't supposed to be there? We should look out for everyone on the roads: drunks, speeders, idiots, everyone.

[DocSteve]

RobM77 said:

Rrright; so you might knock an 80mph filtering biker off and kill him, but it's ok because he wasn't supposed to be there? We should look out for everyone on the roads: drunks, speeders, idiots, everyone.

Setting aside the discussion about indicating, this is something that many drivers simply don't get. Motorists often claim to drive "by the rules" and assert that their adherence to the HWC/traffic laws means that they are a good driver. Often an uninformed person will say something along the lines of "you might be a good driver but it doesn't matter because you can't control the idiots out there".

Of course, the key objectives of advanced driving include avoiding accidents, however the hazards develop, and enjoying motoring in safety.

[dvenman]

Mandat said:

Ahbefive said:

It's not hard to use indicators, that's what they are there for.

If you struggle to use them you shouldn't be allowed to drive on the roads around other drivers.

I think that's the point. It is very easy to use the indicators, without thinking about where or why an indicator might be required.

Advanced driving teaches to assess & consider the circumstances of each use of the indicators as part of the driving plan.

Having drivers on the roads that are actively thinking about their driving is surely a good thing?

I've been mulling the best way to say this for a while and Mandat has expressed it admirably. Once you do something habitually or dogmatically then the requirement to think about why you're doing it is lessened and the possibility of something happening goes up to a degree. "Well officer, I was indicating - I always do" doesn't help if one didn't assess a situation.

[Ahbefive]

If there are people on the road you shouldn't have to think about indicating much and it should be habitual. Do you put loads of thought into pressing the clutch and stirring the gearbox? Do you have a long hard thing before making steering adjustments etc etc?

Edited by Ahbefive on Tuesday 10th January 08:44

[Vipers]

dvenman said:

I've been mulling the best way to say this for a while and Mandat has expressed it admirably. Once you do something habitually or dogmatically then the requirement to think about why you're doing it is lessened and the possibility of something happening goes up to a degree. "Well officer, I was indicating - I always do" doesn't help if one didn't assess a situation.

I would agree that applies to a number of drivers, not all.

[dvenman]

Ahbefive said:

If there are people on the road you shouldn't have to think about indicating much and it should be habitual. Do you put loads of thought into pressing the clutch and stirring the gearbox? Do you have a long hard thing before making steering adjustments etc etc?

Edited by Ahbefive on Tuesday 10th January 08:44

Not a long hard think but I do think about the way I move the clutch and gear levers, while still aiming for as smooth as possible however I do it. The difference is that clutch and gear lever movements don't impinge hugely on safety unless you get it very seriously wrong, and no-one outside the car knows what you're doing. Signalling is part of the "Information" phase of the system - "Take, Use, Give" - and I'm giving information. If I think about when or how I'm giving information then that *does* potentially impinge on someone's safety, so I think about it and decide based on the circumstances whether I Give information to other road users.

If there might be someone who will benefit then I will, if not then I won't.

Vipers said:

I would agree that applies to a number of drivers, not all.

"Not all" is fair, but the number of drivers who actively think about their driving is in a minority on the roads.

Edited by dvenman on Tuesday 10th January 10:07

[RobM77]

I should say that I'm not advocating indicating 100% of the time out of habit; I just think that if you think about it properly and with due respect for road safety, then you'll end up indicating 99% of the time.

This is one of a small number of topics where I disagree with the standard 'Advanced Driving' ethos, so I should also add that I'm aware I'm going against the grain by saying this...

[Vipers]

dvenman said:

"Not all" is fair, but the number of drivers who actively think about their driving is in a minority on the roads.

Lets hope there are more than you and I.

[Mad Chemist]

RobM77 said:

I should say that I'm not advocating indicating 100% of the time out of habit; I just think that if you think about it properly and with due respect for road safety, then you'll end up indicating 99% of the time.

This is one of a small number of topics where I disagree with the standard 'Advanced Driving' ethos, so I should also add that I'm aware I'm going against the grain by saying this...

I'm with you on this Rob.

[Dr Jekyll]

Ahbefive said:

If there are people on the road you shouldn't have to think about indicating much and it should be habitual. Do you put loads of thought into pressing the clutch and stirring the gearbox? Do you have a long hard thing before making steering adjustments etc etc?

Edited by Ahbefive on Tuesday 10th January 08:44

Do you really change gear out of habit and not give thought to what gear might be appropriate?

[davepoth]

Dr Jekyll said:

Do you really change gear out of habit and not give thought to what gear might be appropriate?

People do. I was on my way to Cornwall at Christmas as a passenger when the driver went to overtake on a long hill, changing up from 4th to 5th when she hit 40 like she normally does. Brown trouser moment for certain.

[Ahbefive]

Dr Jekyll said:

Do you really change gear out of habit and not give thought to what gear might be appropriate?

I change up naturally when speeding up or down when slowing, yes. I will give it a seconds thought when necessary to pull a manouver but generally its pretty natural just like flicking an indicator if I am turning or changing lanes or using the brake if someone suddenly brakes in front.

How many seconds of thought do you give to correct steering inputs? Does it not just vome naturally to you if you hit a rut or the camber of the road alters your course?

[Vipers]

Ahbefive said:

Dr Jekyll said:

Do you really change gear out of habit and not give thought to what gear might be appropriate?

I change up naturally when speeding up or down when slowing, yes. I will give it a seconds thought when necessary to pull a manouver but generally its pretty natural just like flicking an indicator if I am turning or changing lanes or using the brake if someone suddenly brakes in front.

How many seconds of thought do you give to correct steering inputs? Does it not just vome naturally to you if you hit a rut or the camber of the road alters your course?

Agree your comments.

[RobM77]

Although one danger worth mentioning is that people who indicate our of habit often have a tendency to indicate as they make the manoeuvre, not before and giving enough notice and appropriate. That obviously needs to be avoided.

[7mike]

IanCormac said:

People aren't supposed to over take you on the left so there is no need.

Just out of interest, do you make many driving decisions based on an assumption that everyone else will do what they're supposed to?

[Dr Jekyll]

Ahbefive said:

I change up naturally when speeding up or down when slowing, yes. I will give it a seconds thought when necessary to pull a manouver but generally its pretty natural just like flicking an indicator if I am turning or changing lanes or using the brake if someone suddenly brakes in front.

How many seconds of thought do you give to correct steering inputs? Does it not just vome naturally to you if you hit a rut or the camber of the road alters your course?

Correcting for hitting a rut or camber change obviously doesn't require thought. But deciding to change lanes does, specifically about who else might be affected. If you are approaching a junction where you intend to turn, do you really not check for turnings immediately before it that might make a signal ambiguous? Or not consider the most useful time to give a signal?

[H4r1s]

To all those saying they don't indicate when there is a safe gap, either moving out or back into the left lane on the motorway.

What happens when you overtake a vehicle in lane 2, leave a safe gap and without indicating move over back into lane 2. At the same time someone in lane 1 has seen there is a safe gap to pull out into lane 2 and again without indicating will move over.

If either had indicated they would know the other person had the intention to move into lane 2.

Sorry if this has already been covered I didn't read all 10 pages.