Indicators that aren't a clear indication
Discussion
Something I've noticed more and more is how hard it is to see modern indicators. 
How do car companies get away with it? Or applying a little logic why do they even think it's fine to design them like they are?
I think there are 3 main causes:
-Location
A new Audi I saw recently had a small front indicator located to the side and behind the headlight. This means if you are not square on to them you can't see the indicator as it's obscured by the headlight unit.
For instance, if this had its left indicator on, I doubt you'd be able to tell from this angle (or more real world, do a mirror image and pretend it's a round about. That means despite the fact the might be indicating, you might not be able to see that they are)
vs
Which even at this extreme angle you can still see the both indicators.
-Size
This seems to be something effecting both front and rear indicators. But they keep getting smaller and smaller. So offer less light and are much harder to see.
Can you spot where the indicator is in this light cluster? Even when lit up it's not hugely more noticeable.
NOTE: I think it's that tiny hair width orange strip between the red and white lenses
-obscured by other lights
With bright modern HIDs and daylight running lights that are blinding, these have the effect of "hiding" an indicator due to the amount of light being given off by other units. Has nobody in the auto industry got enough common sense to move the indicator further away from other bright light sources?
Some cars even try and 'hide' the indicator with the brake lights too, which completely baffles me to the thought process on how this made production.
Not aiming this at any single car maker (although some seem worse than others, but many are at fault).
Take this as an example:
-lights on or off (DLR on) you have huge dazzling light pollution obscuring the indicator
-the indicator is tiny so hard to see even at the best of times, let alone most 'normal' times
-and located poorly in relation to the car design and headlamp unit meaning it is often completely hidden from view anyway
And another example:
Despite seeming to have 2 orange sections, the left most one is still located behind the grill so if you are slightly off centre viewing the car it will be hidden.
/rant
How do car companies get away with it? Or applying a little logic why do they even think it's fine to design them like they are?I think there are 3 main causes:
-Location
A new Audi I saw recently had a small front indicator located to the side and behind the headlight. This means if you are not square on to them you can't see the indicator as it's obscured by the headlight unit.
For instance, if this had its left indicator on, I doubt you'd be able to tell from this angle (or more real world, do a mirror image and pretend it's a round about. That means despite the fact the might be indicating, you might not be able to see that they are)
vs
Which even at this extreme angle you can still see the both indicators.
-Size
This seems to be something effecting both front and rear indicators. But they keep getting smaller and smaller. So offer less light and are much harder to see.
Can you spot where the indicator is in this light cluster? Even when lit up it's not hugely more noticeable.
NOTE: I think it's that tiny hair width orange strip between the red and white lenses
-obscured by other lights
With bright modern HIDs and daylight running lights that are blinding, these have the effect of "hiding" an indicator due to the amount of light being given off by other units. Has nobody in the auto industry got enough common sense to move the indicator further away from other bright light sources?
Some cars even try and 'hide' the indicator with the brake lights too, which completely baffles me to the thought process on how this made production.
Not aiming this at any single car maker (although some seem worse than others, but many are at fault).
Take this as an example:
-lights on or off (DLR on) you have huge dazzling light pollution obscuring the indicator
-the indicator is tiny so hard to see even at the best of times, let alone most 'normal' times
-and located poorly in relation to the car design and headlamp unit meaning it is often completely hidden from view anyway
And another example:
Despite seeming to have 2 orange sections, the left most one is still located behind the grill so if you are slightly off centre viewing the car it will be hidden.
/rant
Krikkit said:
Don't all these cars have large indicators in the wing mirrors as well, to help?
Yes, but again it's all about the angle you view the car at. Also when driving I rarely find the need to try and look at another cars door mirrors as they usually aren't going to be in my line of sight. (unless looking at them head on maybe).Krikkit said:
DRL's are often auto-dimming so the indicators can be seen as well.
Never noticed this. It's either rare or doesn't work very well.Edited by 300bhp/ton on Thursday 6th December 12:05
smiffy180 said:
Krikkit said:
Don't all these cars have large indicators in the wing mirrors as well, to help? DRL's are often auto-dimming so the indicators can be seen as well.
I believe you're right 
Also, in my opinion, having to reduce a light's effectiveness in order to reveal another is f
king poor design.Good post; completely agree. Mk3 Mondeos are terrible for it; with the headlamps on, the proximity of the dipped beam and sidelight bulbs make it nigh-on impossible to see the indicator.
VAG cars do at least dip the DRL when the indicator is turned on, which is some kind of relief. However, I've always been more of a fan of bumper-mount indicators - the separation between these and the main headlamp unit makes them far more visible at night. That said, putting lights in bumpers is setting yourself up for cracked lenses and annoying repair costs. I guess you pays your money, you makes your choice.
Not that I've spent inordinately long periods in traffic jams thinking about this subject or anything, you understand. Ahem.
VAG cars do at least dip the DRL when the indicator is turned on, which is some kind of relief. However, I've always been more of a fan of bumper-mount indicators - the separation between these and the main headlamp unit makes them far more visible at night. That said, putting lights in bumpers is setting yourself up for cracked lenses and annoying repair costs. I guess you pays your money, you makes your choice.
Not that I've spent inordinately long periods in traffic jams thinking about this subject or anything, you understand. Ahem.
Was thinking the very same thing on the way to work this morning, and my concern is this bit-
Not always easy to see a front indicator with the headlights on.
300bhp/ton said:
-obscured by other lights
With bright modern HIDs and daylight running lights that are blinding, these have the effect of "hiding" an indicator due to the amount of light being given off by other units. Has nobody in the auto industry got enough common sense to move the indicator further away from other bright light sources?
especially at this time of year when most of us have our lights on for longer.With bright modern HIDs and daylight running lights that are blinding, these have the effect of "hiding" an indicator due to the amount of light being given off by other units. Has nobody in the auto industry got enough common sense to move the indicator further away from other bright light sources?
Not always easy to see a front indicator with the headlights on.
I actually completely agree but I have more difficulty spotting them from the front than the back. Noticed it a lot recently and it's almost caught me out a couple of times. Not sure I understand why it should be like this as it doesn't improve the aesthetics at all to my mind and in low visability is just a massive pain.
SuperchargedVR6 said:
Yes I struggle a bit with the front indicators buried between DRLs and HIDs. They can be very hard to see on some cars. Assuming they are actually being used in the first place, but that's for a different thread
On the Jaguar the DRLs dim, when the indicator is on, then back to full brightness when the indicator is off.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff