Discussion
Difficult to say for sure, depends on the circumstances. Mostly I don't bother because I don't believe it's to anyones benefit. However I can think of more than one instance where it would be useful - e.g. narrow road, lots of parked cars, oncoming traffic, tailgating car behind, etc.
Most of the time that people signal to pass a parked car I jsut find it confusing and unnecicary.
If vehicles following can also see the car that your about to move around then I dont see the point in signaling.
If its obscured (or you are in a wide van or something and they are right behind you) then it might be worth a couple of flashes as warning, but this is unusual IMO.
Cars coming the opposite way will be able to see the parked car, and will expect you to move accross to go around it if there is room. Signaling may make them think your making a right turn. So I think its a bit pointless doing it for the benefit of other cars coming in your direction. Unless they are going to be supprised by your moving out, in which case it might be better to wait till they pass anyway.
My dad signals for EVERY parked car even if they are every 20m or so, this is totaly cofusing for other cars and helps nobody. He does this as when he passed his test he was told to do it, probably as there were far fewer parked cars then there are these days.
If vehicles following can also see the car that your about to move around then I dont see the point in signaling.
If its obscured (or you are in a wide van or something and they are right behind you) then it might be worth a couple of flashes as warning, but this is unusual IMO.
Cars coming the opposite way will be able to see the parked car, and will expect you to move accross to go around it if there is room. Signaling may make them think your making a right turn. So I think its a bit pointless doing it for the benefit of other cars coming in your direction. Unless they are going to be supprised by your moving out, in which case it might be better to wait till they pass anyway.
My dad signals for EVERY parked car even if they are every 20m or so, this is totaly cofusing for other cars and helps nobody. He does this as when he passed his test he was told to do it, probably as there were far fewer parked cars then there are these days.
Holst has the answer. If you signal right round a parked car and theres a road on the right other road users may think you are turning right and react adversly. A misleading signal. (There are plenty of driving instructors who are unaware of this.) Holst might like to tell his Dad as well!
allaway said:Agree, the only time I do this is when I am driving through Aberdeen, non dual carriageway, but two lanes of traffic going in same direction, if I am in the inside lane, with cars on the outside lane, and I approach the area whereby cars can park in the road, then I would indicate to those in the outside lane, (but behind me distance wise), to make it perfectly clear I am changing lanes.
Holst has the answer. If you signal right round a parked car and theres a road on the right other road users may think you are turning right and react adversly. A misleading signal. (There are plenty of driving instructors who are unaware of this.) Holst might like to tell his Dad as well!
Signalling by junctions is often the case of cars on dual carriageways, they signal right, change lanes to lane 2, to pass slower cars in lane 1, LEAVE THE INDICATOR ON, and merrily drive past filter lanes on the right hand side. Some even pull back to lane 1, and STILL LEAVE RIGHT INDICATOR ON. on a few occasions I have felt they may turn right, I have moved into lane 1 to pass them, only to find he isnt turning right after all. How annoying, and dangerous is that. Have to be very careful on these occasions, and try to anticipate by his movements etc exactly what they are about to do.
Have a nice day
GRL said:I think its total krap when they fail you on ONE thing, s'pose you muck up the 3 point turn, well, have another go. I have been driving for over 40 years now, and I'l be the first to admit, (prior to changing over to automatic), I used to stall my company car now and again by bad clutch control. If its any consolation, (and it's probably not I know), but Sterling Moss apparantly failed his first test.
I failed my driving test SOLELY for not indicating when waiting to manoeuvre around a parked post office van when I was 17. I was 400 yards from returning to the test centre.
Have a nice day
When I asked the examiner what I had failed on he admitted it was only the one error and that if I had been female and/or over 25 or even just taking the test outside of the greater London area - I would have been passed with three errors! 
I was so fecked off I didn't bother to take another test until I was 24 - passed that one with flying colours...
I was so fecked off I didn't bother to take another test until I was 24 - passed that one with flying colours...Holst said:
Most of the time that people signal to pass a parked car I just find it confusing and unnecessary.
Cars coming the opposite way will be able to see the parked car, and will expect you to move across to go around it if there is room.
I have to say I don't always find that to be the case. Quite often an oncoming driver will simply go down the middle of their lane, showing no sign of moving over to let us go through the middle.
In those circumstances I usually signal and move over a bit too far (and do both of these things early) so they have time to wake up and move over a bit themselves. In any case you still need to allow yourself an opportunity to adjust things if they fail to co-operate, and there isn't comfortable room to go through the middle.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
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