Indicating when changing gear
Discussion
There is a letter in Autocar from someone complaining that having the indicator stalk on the left makes it impossible to change gear and switch the indicators on/off at the same time.
Does anyone think this is really an issue? I can't remember ever wanting to do both at the same time, it's hardly a major inconvenience having to indicate a second early in any case.
Does anyone think this is really an issue? I can't remember ever wanting to do both at the same time, it's hardly a major inconvenience having to indicate a second early in any case.
Dr Jekyll said:
There is a letter in Autocar from someone complaining that having the indicator stalk on the left makes it impossible to change gear and switch the indicators on/off at the same time.
Does anyone think this is really an issue? I can't remember ever wanting to do both at the same time, it's hardly a major inconvenience having to indicate a second early in any case.
I would have thought it shouldn't be too difficult to separate the tasks and avoid the problem.Does anyone think this is really an issue? I can't remember ever wanting to do both at the same time, it's hardly a major inconvenience having to indicate a second early in any case.
Incidentally, my son's car, a 1995 MR2, has the indicator stalk on the right and the wiper stalk on the left. I find it confusing as I don't think I've ever encountered another car that has them that way round.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Ergonomicallyin a RHD car the indicators should be on the Right to allow you to do both.
When Honda launched the first Accord built in Swindon, it was designed, primarily for LHD and had the indicators on the left.
You should have seen the number of blue rincers who wrote to complain about it!
Most of our cars in the UK are originaly designed to be LHD
When Honda launched the first Accord built in Swindon, it was designed, primarily for LHD and had the indicators on the left.
You should have seen the number of blue rincers who wrote to complain about it!
Most of our cars in the UK are originaly designed to be LHD
henrycrun said:
Driving in 70s cars was easier in this respect as the indicator stalk was on the correct side.
The poor ergonomics of modern cars may help to explain the lack of signaling that one witnesses every day
Thats just down to lazy drivers. I've was taught to drive with the stalk on the left and find no troubles indicating an see no need to do so whilst changing gear.The poor ergonomics of modern cars may help to explain the lack of signaling that one witnesses every day
Surely if you did both at the same time, you'd have very little contol over the car?
Edited by Ricky_M on Wednesday 20th June 23:19
Dr Jekyll said:
There is a letter in Autocar from someone complaining that having the indicator stalk on the left makes it impossible to change gear and switch the indicators on/off at the same time.
Does anyone think this is really an issue? I can't remember ever wanting to do both at the same time, it's hardly a major inconvenience having to indicate a second early in any case.
Its obviously not impossible, but I happen to think that its the reason that indicating has all but ceased in the UK.Does anyone think this is really an issue? I can't remember ever wanting to do both at the same time, it's hardly a major inconvenience having to indicate a second early in any case.
In a truck, with the lower gearing requiring more gear changes and the lower geared steering meaning more twirling of the wheel, indicating when approaching a junction or roundabout, and keeping the indicator going so as not to cancel too early, really can be quite difficult.
Having the indicator on the same side as the gearlever is just plain wrong, and I wonder if we're the only country that does it?
Ricky_M said:
why not just indicate earlier?
You could do, but it would be nice to indicate at the right time. I'm sure we're aware that sometimes its important to indcate at a precise time to give a clear signal of intentions. Plus, as soon as you start to turn, or sweep on to a roundabout, the indicator can cancel. You can be aware of this and have a finger on the stalk to prevent it from doing so, but if you need to change gear again then you lose that option.I do think its a subliminal thing, that people know they are going to change gear with their left hand, and so just forget about or blank out the fact that they also need to indicate with their left hand and end up not doing it.
Hardly anybody seems to indicate when turning right at roundabouts nowadays, not even the police car I saw today who did a lap and a half whilst looking for the right exit.
Ricky_M said:
but in a car, why not just indicate earlier? I find it very hard to believe this is the reason most people do not indicate.
Or... why not just put the indicator on the right, its hardly rocket science!?I agree that its not the reason people don't indicate, that's just down to being brain dead behind the wheel.
Heebeegeetee said:
Ricky_M said:
why not just indicate earlier?
You could do, but it would be nice to indicate at the right time. I'm sure we're aware that sometimes its important to indcate at a precise time to give a clear signal of intentions. Plus, as soon as you start to turn, or sweep on to a roundabout, the indicator can cancel. You can be aware of this and have a finger on the stalk to prevent it from doing so, but if you need to change gear again then you lose that option.I do think its a subliminal thing, that people know they are going to change gear with their left hand, and so just forget about or blank out the fact that they also need to indicate with their left hand and end up not doing it.
Hardly anybody seems to indicate when turning right at roundabouts nowadays, not even the police car I saw today who did a lap and a half whilst looking for the right exit.
Even with the indicator on the right, could you hold your hand on it to stop it cancelling, turn the wheel and change gear at the same time?
I've also noticed poor driving by Police lately, hardly leading by example!
driverrob said:
Most Jap cars have the indicator stalk on the right. Makes sense to me.
However, "Mirror, signal , manoeuvre". Separate activities.
That's pretty much the reason that the indicators are on the left in most cars. As a general rule of thumb, if the country of origin of the car drives on the right (all European manufacturers except UK as far as I know) then the indicator unit will be on the left, even in right hand drive cars. Similarly, where the country drives on the left (UK, Japan), the unit will tend to be on the right hand side. It's probably got something to do with not having to make a separate production line for the steering column unit. I can't think of any better reason. A good example was Ford in South Africa, which a while ago released a model called the Telstar. This was a rebadged Mazda 626, and its indicator stalk was on the right. All other Fords I drove in SA were based on genuine Ford designs and had the indicator on the left. SA drives on the left hand side, like the UK.However, "Mirror, signal , manoeuvre". Separate activities.
The fact that the indicator is, as a rule, on the opposite side of the steering wheel to the gearlever in the car's country of origin would imply that this is ergonomically the better solution.
Personally, the only time its location has ever irritated me is when I've been swapping cars and got confused. This usually results in inappropriate use of the windscreen wipers...
EDITED because I'd said that the UK drives on the right..... d'oh.
Edited by Alfanatic on Thursday 21st June 09:40
Edited by Alfanatic on Thursday 21st June 09:41
tigger1 said:
Is it only me wondering why people are saying that it'd be safer to have the indicator on the right stalk (in a RHD car) to allow indicating whilst changing gear???
Doesn't that imply driving with no hands on the wheel? Shirley this isn't the safest way to go around a roundabout?
Er, no?Doesn't that imply driving with no hands on the wheel? Shirley this isn't the safest way to go around a roundabout?
There should never be a requirement to indicate and change gear at the same time. If you find yourself doing so its probably because of an earlier mistake.
Roadcraft says:
Information - take it in (look) and give it out (signal)
Postition - set a course
Speed - alter speed so correct for hazard
Gear - take up correct gear for speed now you are at the right speed for the hazard
Steer through hazard with both hands on the wheel as all signalling and gearchanging are complete.
Acceleration - accelerate away. Change up. Change up. etc
Now since the Information phase runs through all the others one might take the view that if something has changed due to new information you might want to give out new information and signal. But if your driving plan was good to start with this isn't usually going to be necessary...
Roadcraft says:
Information - take it in (look) and give it out (signal)
Postition - set a course
Speed - alter speed so correct for hazard
Gear - take up correct gear for speed now you are at the right speed for the hazard
Steer through hazard with both hands on the wheel as all signalling and gearchanging are complete.
Acceleration - accelerate away. Change up. Change up. etc
Now since the Information phase runs through all the others one might take the view that if something has changed due to new information you might want to give out new information and signal. But if your driving plan was good to start with this isn't usually going to be necessary...
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