Could we cure the indicating problem with one easy change?
Discussion
By putting the indicator stalk on the right of the steering wheel...
Typically people drive with their right hand on the wheel and their left hand on the gearstick / girlfriend / lunch / dinner / penis. My imported MR2 had the indicator stalk on the right, and it make indicating, particularly during relaxed motorway driving, so much easier.
Lets lobby someone. Who won't listen.
Typically people drive with their right hand on the wheel and their left hand on the gearstick / girlfriend / lunch / dinner / penis. My imported MR2 had the indicator stalk on the right, and it make indicating, particularly during relaxed motorway driving, so much easier.
Lets lobby someone. Who won't listen.
Cars designed in countries which drive on the right side of the road (i.e. the left) tend to have the stalk on the right of the wheel - foreigners put it on the other side because they have their right hand on the "shifter". When they convert their cars to work on proper roads, they don't spend anything to fix the stalks.
I must say I've not noticed people driving like that in any great numbers. What seems to be common these days is for people to drive with one hand draped on top of the wheel.
I always assumed that the problem with people not indicating is caused by:
a) people only thinking inside their little bubble and not thinking about what other drivers need to know.
b) not thinking ahead enough, so they don't think about their turn or manoeuvre till they're doing it (Out of the 99% of people who don't indicate properly, more than half do indicate, they just do it as they're turning, not before).
As usual, the answer is better driving education to raise driving standards, for example re-testing every three to five years. It'd save thousands of lives every year, prevent tens of thousands of minor accidents and cut congestion at junctions. It's not a vote winner though, so it'll never happen in a democratically run country.
I always assumed that the problem with people not indicating is caused by:
a) people only thinking inside their little bubble and not thinking about what other drivers need to know.
b) not thinking ahead enough, so they don't think about their turn or manoeuvre till they're doing it (Out of the 99% of people who don't indicate properly, more than half do indicate, they just do it as they're turning, not before).
As usual, the answer is better driving education to raise driving standards, for example re-testing every three to five years. It'd save thousands of lives every year, prevent tens of thousands of minor accidents and cut congestion at junctions. It's not a vote winner though, so it'll never happen in a democratically run country.
RobM77 said:
As usual, the answer is better driving education to raise driving standards, for example re-testing every three to five years. It'd save thousands of lives every year, prevent tens of thousands of minor accidents and cut congestion at junctions. It's not a vote winner though, so it'll never happen in a democratically run country.
Even if they did they'd probably lower the standard so everyone passed!RobM77 said:
I must say I've not noticed people driving like that in any great numbers. What seems to be common these days is for people to drive with one hand draped on top of the wheel.
I always assumed that the problem with people not indicating is caused by:
a) people only thinking inside their little bubble and not thinking about what other drivers need to know.
b) not thinking ahead enough, so they don't think about their turn or manoeuvre till they're doing it (Out of the 99% of people who don't indicate properly, more than half do indicate, they just do it as they're turning, not before).
As usual, the answer is better driving education to raise driving standards, for example re-testing every three to five years. It'd save thousands of lives every year, prevent tens of thousands of minor accidents and cut congestion at junctions. It's not a vote winner though, so it'll never happen in a democratically run country.
Far too sensible.I always assumed that the problem with people not indicating is caused by:
a) people only thinking inside their little bubble and not thinking about what other drivers need to know.
b) not thinking ahead enough, so they don't think about their turn or manoeuvre till they're doing it (Out of the 99% of people who don't indicate properly, more than half do indicate, they just do it as they're turning, not before).
As usual, the answer is better driving education to raise driving standards, for example re-testing every three to five years. It'd save thousands of lives every year, prevent tens of thousands of minor accidents and cut congestion at junctions. It's not a vote winner though, so it'll never happen in a democratically run country.
The only thing moving all the indicators to the right would do is stop people with multiple cars occasionally indicating when it starts to rain or letting you know they are turning off a rounabout because they wiped their windows.
Much more helpful for road safety would be for all heater controls to be three round dials. Car misting up? Turn everything all the way clockwise. Done. Much safer than having to look at the dash to know which of the tiny buttons makes it blow warm air quite quickly at the windscreen. Thanks BMW and Porsche - it's a function I only need when visibility is already obscured, and you make me look for a tiny button.
Captain Muppet said:
The only thing moving all the indicators to the right would do is stop people with multiple cars occasionally indicating when it starts to rain or letting you know they are turning off a rounabout because they wiped their windows.
Well it'd stop me from regularly blinding other cars at night when I happen to be changing gear as they come over the brow of a hill so I can't dip the headlights. In terms of indicating, I think it would lead to a marginal improvement on roundabouts but otherwise probably have very little effect.
marshalla said:
Cars designed in countries which drive on the right side of the road (i.e. the left) tend to have the stalk on the right of the wheel - foreigners put it on the other side because they have their right hand on the "shifter". When they convert their cars to work on proper roads, they don't spend anything to fix the stalks.
IIRC this came via EU legislation. In the 70's all UK cars had indicators on the RHS. In the 80's at some point the UK was asked/otld to standardise with other EU countries.Angus
kambites said:
Well it'd stop me from regularly blinding other cars at night when I happen to be changing gear as they come over the brow of a hill so I can't dip the headlights.
In terms of indicating, I think it would lead to a marginal improvement on roundabouts but otherwise probably have very little effect.
Try double de-clutching and dipping headlamps with a floor mounted dip switch, you need footwork like Fred Astaire.In terms of indicating, I think it would lead to a marginal improvement on roundabouts but otherwise probably have very little effect.
99% of all the people you'll ever meet in life will be complete cretins. A lot of those will be on the road. No surprises.
Frankly, it wouldn't matter if the indicator stalk was on the left, the right, mounted to the roof, stuck on the bonnet like the Spirit of Ecstasy or gently and neatly tucked up inside the driver's anus. People are just lazy, inconsiderate plums.
Frankly, it wouldn't matter if the indicator stalk was on the left, the right, mounted to the roof, stuck on the bonnet like the Spirit of Ecstasy or gently and neatly tucked up inside the driver's anus. People are just lazy, inconsiderate plums.
My Evo had indicators and main beam on the right. Spent the 6 months after I got it, every time I got into another car during the entire 2 years I had it, and the 6 months after I sold it wiping and washing my windscreen repeatedly for no reason.
I must admit noticed only occasional benefit in having it on the right. I can see the point, but really everyone has got so used to having it on the 'wrong' side that changing it is going to cause more issues than it solves.
I must admit noticed only occasional benefit in having it on the right. I can see the point, but really everyone has got so used to having it on the 'wrong' side that changing it is going to cause more issues than it solves.
.My brothers old Hyundia Getz was on the right hand side.
I personally have always had cars with it on the left so that's what I'm used to.
In all fairness, the majority of people I see with their indicator left on are sitting that close on top of the wheel, clinging on with both hands for dear life, I'm not sure placing the stalk on the other side would be any help whatsoever! (other than for general ease of use for us regular folk who do appear capable of driving WITH due care and attention)
I personally have always had cars with it on the left so that's what I'm used to.
In all fairness, the majority of people I see with their indicator left on are sitting that close on top of the wheel, clinging on with both hands for dear life, I'm not sure placing the stalk on the other side would be any help whatsoever! (other than for general ease of use for us regular folk who do appear capable of driving WITH due care and attention)
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