Indicators - When do you fall foul of the Law
Discussion
This is another one of those threads im afraid 
This was something that cropped up the other day and one which will without doubt raise some debate.
Im sure that we have all seen this before!
You are waiting to turn right out of a 'T' junction. The car approaching you from the right is indicating left. You watch him and he slows down and when hes a few metres from the junction you pull out to complete your manouvre and CRASH!!!!!!!
The car has driven into you.
Who do you think is in the wrong in the eyes of the law and why?
>>> Edited by tonyrec on Wednesday 22 October 19:08
This was something that cropped up the other day and one which will without doubt raise some debate.
Im sure that we have all seen this before!
You are waiting to turn right out of a 'T' junction. The car approaching you from the right is indicating left. You watch him and he slows down and when hes a few metres from the junction you pull out to complete your manouvre and CRASH!!!!!!!
The car has driven into you.
Who do you think is in the wrong in the eyes of the law and why?
>>> Edited by tonyrec on Wednesday 22 October 19:08
Two sides, and all that....
I had a certain Chianti Starmist Griff follow me last Sunday and for whatever reason his indicator failed to cancel. We went past a couple of junctions before he noticed it.
We know how twitchy Griffs are on rough roads and someone could have mistaken this and believed he was turning as indicated.... And pulled out....
I had a certain Chianti Starmist Griff follow me last Sunday and for whatever reason his indicator failed to cancel. We went past a couple of junctions before he noticed it.
We know how twitchy Griffs are on rough roads and someone could have mistaken this and believed he was turning as indicated.... And pulled out....
Even tho' the other guy was indicating and did not turn left he is in the clear IMHO. You should wait for him to complete his manoeuvre before commencing your own. Good defensive driving will teach you to be aware of other driver's errors.
As a side point my Dad is almost stone deaf and cannot hear his indicators when they are still on having failed to cancel and on some cars the indicator lights on the dash are in obscured positions. Same could also apply to the max muppet with the mobile disco I guess.
As a side point my Dad is almost stone deaf and cannot hear his indicators when they are still on having failed to cancel and on some cars the indicator lights on the dash are in obscured positions. Same could also apply to the max muppet with the mobile disco I guess.
IIRC, I was taught that you shouldn't pull out until you are certain that the other car is actually turning. I won't pull out of a junction until I have seen they are "past the point of no return". It also means that I have a clear view of the road behind them...especially pertinent in a car as low to the ground as mine 
Ooops, better add that the driver pulling out is in the wrong (IMHO)
>> Edited by tja on Wednesday 22 October 20:13
Ooops, better add that the driver pulling out is in the wrong (IMHO)
>> Edited by tja on Wednesday 22 October 20:13
This happens all the time at the top of my road - never, ever assume anything when it comes to people indicating!
As a side note - poor road layout doesn't help. There's a junction local to me where there is a right turn into a side road, then immediately a right filter at a new set of lights (the side turn was always there, the right turn is a new junction). Now, people tend to start indicating right for the filter BEFORE the preceeding right turn into the side road, as otherwise it would all get a bit last minute, but I'm always wary that the person in front is actually going to turn into the side road. It's an accident waiting to happen.
As a side note - poor road layout doesn't help. There's a junction local to me where there is a right turn into a side road, then immediately a right filter at a new set of lights (the side turn was always there, the right turn is a new junction). Now, people tend to start indicating right for the filter BEFORE the preceeding right turn into the side road, as otherwise it would all get a bit last minute, but I'm always wary that the person in front is actually going to turn into the side road. It's an accident waiting to happen.
tonyrec said:The blame may be shared, but the driver who pulled out definitely carries most of it.
The person pulling out is deffinatly at fault
Is that what everyone thinks?
The car on the main road has priority - whatever stupid antics it is carrying out. Never pull out until you are sure it is safe!
tonyrec said:
Who do you think is in the wrong in the eyes of the law and why?
Dunno why but it's the tw*t pulling out's fault, not the tw*t who can't work his indicators!
The only thing indicators do is to prove the bulb is working!
I'm sure the imagnitive rozzers on this site could find something to do indicator drive for...
...argue that the orange indicator light is littering?
>> Edited by toad_oftoadhall on Thursday 23 October 08:41
Person pulling out is at fault as he has giveway against him. Only pull out if you have enough time to get on to other lane given the person who's indicating speed. Then if the dozy numpty realises(?) he is turning left continues you have avoided any incident.
Don't trust indicators (or even road position given the general publics inability to drive properly)
Don't trust indicators (or even road position given the general publics inability to drive properly)
tonyrec said:
So does that mean that when you are sitting at a junction waiting to turn Right, you always wait until he has turned before you pull out?
Depends if there's time to pull out safely before they reach the junction. If not I wait to see what they're doing. Always treat other road users as idiots who don't know what they're doing and you won't go far wrong
My former boss at a previous company was following a car that was indicating left and slowing on approach to a cross-roads. He pulled out to overtake (there was nothing else coming) and was rather surprised to get struck by the vehicle which turned right instead!
As for Tony's little poser, I'm guessing that the person indicating is in someway at fault for giving a confusing signal, but (imho) the other driver is also at fault for believing that signal. Having said that, I'm almost certain I'd have pulled out in the same circumstances.
Sheepy
As for Tony's little poser, I'm guessing that the person indicating is in someway at fault for giving a confusing signal, but (imho) the other driver is also at fault for believing that signal. Having said that, I'm almost certain I'd have pulled out in the same circumstances.
Sheepy
judas said:
So does that mean that when you are sitting at a junction waiting to turn Right, you always wait until he has turned before you pull out?
Depends if there's time to pull out safely before they reach the junction. If not I wait to see what they're doing. Always treat other road users as idiots who don't know what they're doing and you won't go far wrong
This is my approach too - my old driving instructor once said to me;
Instructor: "What does it mean when a motorist is indicating left?"
me:"theyre turning left"
instructor: "Nope, it just means their indicator bulb is working - never assume anything"
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