Is it an offence not to indicate?

[6potdave]

I cover quite a few miles on a weekly basis and have become increasingly aware that people just don't bother to indicate anymore. When turning left / right, leaving a roundabout, changing lanes, etc. I find this very irritating and extremely lazy, I mean if you don't have the energy to move a stalk that is 2 inches from your hand then you really should be in bed!

I wondered if this is actually an offence? I know it's a driving test failure but so are a lot of things, but not necessarily a real driving offence. I've seen 2 close calls this week alone due to people swinging into lanes without indicating and causing a flow of people having to brake and avoid them.

[TuxRacer]

No, I'm fairly certain it's not (sure I'll be corrected soon if it is).

Most of the problems I see are cars that don't seem to realise they're changing lanes anyway, so they're never likely to indicate anyway.

[Spiritual_Beggar]

Not an offense.....but very poor form.


Letting other people on the road know what you're doing makes it safer for everyone!

[RobM77]

This is one of my pet hates too. I walk to work (20 minutes each way), and people not indicating causes me no end of hassle every single time I make the journey. If I'm crossing a road within sight of a junction, I need to know which way the cars are turning so that I can cross safely; in rush hour this is crucial, but I reckon only about 5% of drivers indicate properly.

I also walk past two queues of cars each morning caused entirely by people not indicating to turn right at roundabouts. The queues are caused by people wanting to join the roundabout, but not knowing which cars in the constant stream coming towards them are staying on or getting off. Once or twice a day I'll see a near miss when someone joins, but a car that isn't indicating swings round to the right.

I'm not sure that it's an offence, but I'm sure it could be used against someone if they were to have an accident.

Not indicating properly is extremely selfish, lazy and stupid. I can't believe the number of people who I know who wax lyrical about speeding or talking on the phone whilst driving (pet hates of the ordinary motorist it seems), when they themselves are risking accidents several times a day, and almost certainly causing congestion, simply by not applying mirror-signal-manouvre properly.

[Big Rod]

I'll indicate if I think someone will benefit from it.

If there's nothing else on the road I seldom do.

[Don]

Personally I think it's driving without due consideration for other road users - which IS an offence.

It's also a safety issue. Whilst most of us don't trust anyone else on the road and look for more than just an indicator before being happy to predict a vehicle's path to the point of pulling out into where the vehicle would otherwise be expected to go....some people don't.

And then there's the possibility of a prang. Two mistakes at the same time is all you need...

[marcosgt]

It's not?

And it's not an offence to overtake on the inside - Is there ANYTHING in the Highway Code or you learn on your test that is actually compulsory?

M.

[Fastra]

Big Rod said:

I'll indicate if I think someone will benefit from it.

If there's nothing else on the road I seldom do.

I know what you're saying, but I'll always indicate, just for that one chance in a million that I've not seen anything and it might save someones bacon. Yes you'll reply you should be more observant, but even the best of us has lapses.

I also think that not doing it in certain circumstances leads to others copying - others who perhaps aren't perhaps as qualified to make the distinction of when and when not to do it.

[130R]

I always indicate and I drive a BMW. True story.

[Sk93]

Fastra said:

Big Rod said:

I'll indicate if I think someone will benefit from it.

If there's nothing else on the road I seldom do.

I know what you're saying, but I'll always indicate, just for that one chance in a million that I've not seen anything and it might save someones bacon. Yes you'll reply you should be more observant, but even the best of us has lapses.

I also think that not doing it in certain circumstances leads to others copying - others who perhaps aren't perhaps as qualified to make the distinction of when and when not to do it.

technically, aren't you then driving without due care and attention if you are indicating when there is no-one on the road? :P

[clonmult]

130R said:

I always indicate and I drive a BMW. True story.

I always indicate, and don't drive 2mm from peoples rear. And I drive a dark grey Audi. Again, a true story.

Similarly when I owned a BMW, the indicators were actually used as they should be.

Many may not believe either of us.

[d7jab]

I also drive a BMW and indicate...esp when people are trying to cross roads ahead of me or it makes a situation safer.

[sc4589]

I just think it's good manners and a lot safer to let people know what you're doing. Really annoys me when people assume I'm psychic... especially if it's a roundabout. People are so bad for it round here. I've followed someone who's gone all the way round a roundabout and not indicated, then got very, very irate with someone pulling out in front of them because they weren't indicating...

• sigh*

Plus my new car has indicators in the wing mirrors so I must show them off as much as possible.

[RedAlfa]

I always indicate ..... and I mean always. I would say about 70% of drivers don't indicate properly on roundabouts! This is one of my pet hates. I even see BiB not bothering to indicate

[nelly1]

clonmult said:

130R said:

I always indicate and I drive a BMW. True story.

I always indicate, and don't drive 2mm from peoples rear. And I drive a dark grey Audi. Again, a true story.

Similarly when I owned a BMW, the indicators were actually used as they should be.

Many may not believe either of us.

[braddo]

Fastra said:

Big Rod said:

I'll indicate if I think someone will benefit from it.

If there's nothing else on the road I seldom do.

I know what you're saying, but I'll always indicate, just for that one chance in a million that I've not seen anything and it might save someones bacon. Yes you'll reply you should be more observant, but even the best of us has lapses.

I also think that not doing it in certain circumstances leads to others copying - others who perhaps aren't perhaps as qualified to make the distinction of when and when not to do it.

I agree. The rule should be to always indicate so that indicating becomes habit.

If indicating is a matter of discretion then it's adding an unnecessary thought process to driving - many people will decide not to bother indicating, rather than have to make a decision on whether to indicate...

[Torquey]

I think a lot of this is to do with the introduction of one touch indicator stalks.

They are not rocket science but more fiddly than the old type (on/off), and I'll admit I try to avoid using them as much if driving a car with them.

For me they require more thinking.

[TuxRacer]

I prefer the one touch feature - I find it far easier. But even if you don't, can't you just knock it to the on/off position?

[dugt]

TuxRacer said:

I prefer the one touch feature - I find it far easier. But even if you don't, can't you just knock it to the on/off position?

I think he means the ones on new vauhalls (i think) if you press down once, you indicate left, then press down again to cancel.

The ones where you tap it and it flashes 3 times are handy.

[Vipers]

Worse offenders, approaching a roundabout, and suddenly turn off at the first exit, you who are waiting to exit from the same exit on to the roundabout, could have been gone by then.

And those who approach a T junction from which you are waiting to come out and turn right, they get to the left turn, and will a few centimeters before the turning indicate....

Extract from the HC:-

Remember: Mirrors - Signal - Manoeuvre

Seems crystal to me, S I G N A L......