Indicate left after overtaking, or lane change on a motorway

[Jon39]

This might now be taught during the driving test, but I only indicate left when the move needs to be communicated to following drivers. Am I correct?

An example where to me, it would appear to be unnecessary.
Light traffic on a motorway. You indicate a move from lane 1 to lane 2, in order to overtake a large HGV. After the overtake has been completed, and there is generous space in front of the lorry, I return to lane 1 without indicating. The only vehicle of concern is the HGV which I have just overtaken, and that can hardly be expected to quickly accelerate to close the gap between us.
Some drivers do indicate left after such a manoeuvre, and I wonder why they do it.

Any comments?

[ashleyman]

I do the same as you.

[MrBen1]

Bearing in mind most driver's observation isn't great, surely it's better they always indicate than they don't because they don't notice the other vehicle?

[Cylon2007]

I have to agree, I work on the principle that as you have moved out to overtake you WILL move back into the left lane once the overtake is complete so an indication isn't always required. I do however make a point of indicating left to move back in went there's an idiot hogging an overtaking lane when there is a clear inside lane.

[Dixy]

We are British, we drive on the left except when overtaking, Indicating you are going to do what you should do is pointless and could be confusing to the hard of thinking.

[silverfoxcc]

MrBen1 said:

Bearing in mind most driver's observation isn't great, surely it's better they always indicate than they don't because they don't notice the other vehicle?

If they haven't notice a car overtake them , then i would be more than a tad worried
, y what i do and make it bloody obvious as well ,whilst driving correctly and NOT cutting them up, but most of the time i just cruise past them ,and under the speed limit, that way they cannot complain about me speeding past at an excessive rate of knots

[BertBert]

I apply a different test. Essentially you are trying to work out the possibility that a signal will benefit anyone (subject to the not doing anything to confuse). So I use quite a low threshold. If there is someone there I will signal. So in the case described I would signal.

The benefit is that I keep my observation up (which is the main benefit to self) without having to spend too much time second-guessing whether it might or might not be of benefit to the other driver(s).

Bert

[Ahbefive]

Just signal for every lane change, it's really not difficult.

[Dr Jekyll]

Ahbefive said:

Just signal for every lane change, it's really not difficult.

No, it needs no thought whatsoever, that's the trouble.

[Spx]

I do the left signal to provide a flashing light to keep people awake
It’s how I regularly behave so don’t feel it’s wasted if no-one is around.

[BertBert]

As above, the benefit is to keep ones own level of observation keen by asking yourself the question is there someone to signal to? The question of whether it was worth it in each specific case adds no value.

If you always signal, your observation tends to be weaker. Well I don't know about anyone else, but that's my experience.

[Ahbefive]

The fact that someone signals whenever they change lanes should not make any observation less, that is down to the individual. I do it to show which way I am moving. I you can't be observant and still manage to signal then you shouldn't be on the road.

[BertBert]

Ahbefive said:

The fact that someone signals whenever they change lanes should not make any observation less, that is down to the individual. I do it to show which way I am moving. I you can't be observant and still manage to signal then you shouldn't be on the road.

What nonsense. Bye

[MrBen1]

silverfoxcc said:

MrBen1 said:

Bearing in mind most driver's observation isn't great, surely it's better they always indicate than they don't because they don't notice the other vehicle?

If they haven't notice a car overtake them , then i would be more than a tad worried
, y what i do and make it bloody obvious as well ,whilst driving correctly and NOT cutting them up, but most of the time i just cruise past them ,and under the speed limit, that way they cannot complain about me speeding past at an excessive rate of knots

Yes agreed if it's a simple overtake of one car. I'm thinking more of situations such as where 'not particularly observant driver 1' is overtaking in lane 3 and moves back to 2 at the same time as 'not particularly observant driver 2' is moving from lane 1 to 2 into the same space. Seems to happen most often at the end of slip roads. If both indicate then more chance they won't meet in the middle.

As such I'd stick to teaching drivers to always indicate when moving back in.

[Bigends]

I'm with the OP, I only generally signal my way back to the nearside if theres a vehicle in that lane that looks like it may be considering an undertake.

Edited by Bigends on Monday 15th July 18:09

[Foss62]

Ahbefive said:

The fact that someone signals whenever they change lanes should not make any observation less, that is down to the individual. I do it to show which way I am moving. I you can't be observant and still manage to signal then you shouldn't be on the road.

I would have thought that if you can’t be observant and still manage to assess whether or not signalling is appropriate then you probably shouldn’t be on the road.

[Dr Jekyll]

MrBen1 said:

Yes agreed if it's a simple overtake of one car. I'm thinking more of situations such as where 'not particularly observant driver 1' is overtaking in lane 3 and moves back to 2 at the same time as 'not particularly observant driver 2' is moving from lane 1 to 2 into the same space. Seems to happen most often at the end of slip roads. If both indicate then more chance they won't meet in the middle.

As such I'd stick to teaching drivers to always indicate when moving back in.

Are you supporting always indicating to move back to the left, or teaching drivers to always indicate to move back?

[7mike]

I drive different vehicles every day, if you don't indicate, half the f^ckers pull you back into the lane you want to get out of these days

[DocSteve]

On single lane roads if overtaking and another vehicle is coming the other way (assuming that there is no inconvenience to them, I.e. them needing to slow down) then a left indication helps show you are not some mad person driving towards them and should provide reassurance providing a) the overtake is reasonable and safe and b) they’ve seen the near side indication.

[therag3]

Most people sit in the middle lane for about ten miles after overtaking, so I suppose it does make sense to indicate if/when they finally decide to return to the inside lane.