Do you trust people at junctions?

[wolfracesonic]

Ok, so you are looking to enter the main road from a side road, say in a 30mph zone. You look right and see a car coming towards you looking to turn left into your side road. Do you pull out, trusting the other drivers signaling to be genuine or wait till he is out of the way?. Also would you be more likely to trust the intensions of say an upmarket luxo barge over those of A pink Nissan Micra sporting eyelashes on its headlights?

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

Depends on the junction and speed the other guy is travelling at.
Generally, I'd say no, unless they're obviously slowing down, then it's 'proceed with caution'.
Doesn't matter what sort of car it is IMO.

[rowanxx]

Wait until they have slowed a lot, shows they havent just left the signal on. May be a good idea to wait anyway, dont wanna pull out just for another car to overtake the one turning and go straight into the side of you!

[Shaoxter]

Or you could just floor it out of the side road

[tannedstamina]

Shaoxter said:

Or you could just floor it out of the side road

This!

And then look at the other half who is tutting and explain that it's for her own safety.

[DocArbathnot]

I don't trust anyone (Untill we have been properly introduced)

[Snowboy]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

Depends on the junction and speed the other guy is travelling at.
Generally, I'd say no, unless they're obviously slowing down, then it's 'proceed with caution'.
Doesn't matter what sort of car it is IMO.

This.

[jamieduff1981]

I usually expect very little of other people, and yet I'm still often disappointed.

Trust no-one. Expect them to do the wrong thing. Waiting longer is better than having a crash that will ultimately end up being your fault because failing to give way implicates you, whereas being a fknut who indicates without realising it carries no particular penalties.

[TwistingMyMelon]

wolfracesonic said:

Ok, so you are looking to enter the main road from a side road, say in a 30mph zone. You look right and see a car coming towards you looking to turn left into your side road. Do you pull out, trusting the other drivers signaling to be genuine or wait till he is out of the way?. Also would you be more likely to trust the intensions of say an upmarket luxo barge over those of A pink Nissan Micra sporting eyelashes on its headlights?

Poor thinking, they could be indicating to pull over after the junction, or even on a driveway before etc, they might be in the "wrong" but you got to drive defensively thinking everything through.

I always had it drummed into me to wait until their wheels turn in, sometimes even if they flash you. An accident could go 50/50 or they could even lie and say they didn't have their indicator on!

[AClownsPocket]

Before my accident : Yes, I would trust the driver.

Now: Not a cat in hell's chance.

[chris116]

I wouldn't move at all until the other car started to turn into the junction.

[Snowboy]

From the opposing position ;

The other day I was driving down a 50 limit road.
Ahead of me a van needed to pull out from my right ahead of me from a small private side road/driveway .
Traffic was relativy busy, but there was a gap on the other side.

I'm 150 yards away so flash him and ease off, he has plenty of time to get out.
He doesn't move, I flash again and slow some more, I'm sure he can see me, but he makes no attempt at moving.

I just assume I'm mistaken and he doesn't want to pull out.
Perhaps he's waiting for someone.

But as I pass he offers an unfriendly hand gesture.

Now, I'm all for safety, but there are also loads of working conventions in road ettiquete, and if someone flashed you to pull out into a big gap just sitting there and forcing them to stop isn't the right thing to do.
If you choose not to pull out that's fine, but don't get angry with the other guy.

[Lawbags]

Never trust anyone one the road and always expect the unexpected.

It's worked for me and I have done on average 40,000 miles a year for the last 8 years without a bump (other than me messing around in bangers/courtesy cars)

[littleredrooster]

The only thing a flashing indicator tells you in these circumstances is that the lamp filament is still working.

[SEE YA]

One word NO.

[MG CHRIS]

Snowboy said:

From the opposing position ;

The other day I was driving down a 50 limit road.
Ahead of me a van needed to pull out from my right ahead of me from a small private side road/driveway .
Traffic was relativy busy, but there was a gap on the other side.

I'm 150 yards away so flash him and ease off, he has plenty of time to get out.
He doesn't move, I flash again and slow some more, I'm sure he can see me, but he makes no attempt at moving.

I just assume I'm mistaken and he doesn't want to pull out.
Perhaps he's waiting for someone.

But as I pass he offers an unfriendly hand gesture.

Now, I'm all for safety, but there are also loads of working conventions in road ettiquete, and if someone flashed you to pull out into a big gap just sitting there and forcing them to stop isn't the right thing to do.
If you choose not to pull out that's fine, but don't get angry with the other guy.

This does my head in by me on the commute to work there is a half mile stretch of road with 2 junction one has a lorry company so loads of lorries coming in and out then another junction into a small village and an industrial estate as I leave work at the busiest time of the day I make an effort to flash other drivers out and also leave a gap to the car in front so people can join in.
Several times I have flashed once with amble time for someone to go nothing so flash again nothing start slowing down flash a 3rd time by then I decide to carry on as soon as I do that they pull out I either got to slam on the brakes to avoid them or they realise they need to stop and start going nuts on you.

I don't get it if someone flashes me out I make sure it's ok first then go takes less than 1s to decide, why would you just sit there and wait. Also notice the slow reaction times at traffic lights you can be behind someone lights go to green and they still haven't gone so annoying.

[Mastodon2]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

Depends on the junction and speed the other guy is travelling at.
Generally, I'd say no, unless they're obviously slowing down, then it's 'proceed with caution'.
Doesn't matter what sort of car it is IMO.

This is pretty much my take on it. If they are indicating early enough, and I can get out without causing a hazard or putting myself at risk, I'll go. If they are closer, I treat "proceed with caution" as "Wait until they start turning in" - I'd rather lose a second or two waiting to see them commit before I put myself in their path. If they are not from the local area, they might have their indicator on, be slowing down appearing that they are about to turn in, looking for a street name, or some other landmark to let them know where they are going. When they don't see it, they could carry straight on, and probably still be looking straight up the side road and not even brake to prevent a collision with a driver who has pulled out in front of them.

I'm especially cautious when I'm on a motorbike.

[richs2891]

Depends where I'm driving, and to a certain extent the road lay out. But if its say an area like Rochdale then NO, I wait until they have committed to their desired route then pull out and go.

Richard

[lescombes]

I have been driving for 35 years (with no claims/accidents/Points) and I trust no-one.... when I took a few lessons from a professional police driver before I did passed my test(first time in Cambridge of all places)he instilled into me that....I treat every driver is an idiot... and to drive everyday always looking for potential accidents from side roads and the usual blind bends,summits etc....

I basically treat everyday as a new drive...expect the unexpected and many times predict the next move of drivers around me... I passed the same wisdom to her indoors 20 years ago and she has had a clean motoring record since too

[New POD]

My dad taught me "Never trust the indicator, and if you are going to pull out, do it whilst they still have time to brake"