How much do you trust an indicator?

[diy_fun_uk]

Driving home this evening, stopped at four way roundabout waiting to turn left. Cars approaching from the right. I watched this car not going fast, not going slow, with its left indicator on as if going to, well, turn left. Something made me think 'nah, they're not' so I stayed where I was. Sure enough they kept on coming straight across the roundabout, indicator still going good style.

I tend not to fully trust what other vehicles indicators are suggesting they're going to do, unless they're far enough away for me to complete my move regardless of where they're going. Not infrequently I'll stay put until I see them start to take the turn.

You?

 

[transam]

Motor cyclists need to pay particular attention to the above post

 

[Highway Man]

I never trust indicators as they are easily left on by mistake or used wrongly, I look at the road positioning of the cars and the direction their front wheels are pointing in.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Motor cyclists need to pay particular attention to the above post

When I was taking my motorbike lessons (alas I never completed them) one of the instructors was telling us about defensive riding and said 'base your riding on the assumption that no other vehicles have seen you, especially when you're passing junctions with a vehicle waiting to pull out.'

 

[Diyisfun]

Where I live (Norfolk), indicators aren't used, people think they cost money, on some cars they are classed as luxurious extras. You can be waiting to exit a junction to find the car you are waiting for turns off. If a car is indicating, you must assume its an error & ignore it.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I see exactly this regularly, Ignore all indicators on roundabouts, people don't have a clue.

Many indicate left before the previous junction because (in their stupid head) they're in the right lane and want to tell people behind that they're moving into the left lane ready to leave at the junction after the one where you're joining. Sadly they don't consider the fact that others waiting at the junction they're passing may interpret this as them signalling to leave the roundabout at this turn.

If you'd pulled out it would probably be your fault, as you were required to give way to them. Even if you could prove or even if they admitted they were indicating left they probably still could claim some or all of their repair costs from you or your insurers, plus compensation for injuries, deaths, lost earnings etc etc.

Similarly, if someone is signalling to turn into a give way junction from a main road where you're waiting to pull out from, stay put. They may not even know it's on. I think from my vague memory decades ago from working in insurance claims, if (big IF) they admit they were indicating and/or you can prove it then it's still 1/3 vs 2/3 liability between you. I forget which way round, it doesn't matter, it will still count as a fault claim on your insurance.

In either scenario, if they deny indicating and you can't prove it then it's 100% your fault in either scenario.

Also you could be prosecuted by the police for pulling out from any junction if they decide to, regardless of what flaashing yellow lights you claim to have seen and whether they believe you.

Assume everyone else is completely stupid and stay safe. Never rely on an indicator. Get a dashcam.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Assume everyone else is completely stupid and stay safe. Never rely on an indicator.

Basically sums it up.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Where I live (Norfolk), indicators aren't used, people think they cost money, on some cars they are classed as luxurious extras. You can be waiting to exit a junction to find the car you are waiting for turns off. If a car is indicating, you must assume its an error & ignore it.

The folk that get me are the ones that don't indicate, then as they're pulling in, you'd swear they're giving you a smug look. I normally say PR1CK out loud to destress myself

 

[morqthana]

Motor cyclists need to pay particular attention to the above post

SMIDSY!

 

[morqthana]

Also, flashing your headlights is a signal to warn other drivers of your presence, not "you can pull out in front of me".

 

[Notch7]

Driving home this evening, stopped at four way roundabout waiting to turn left. Cars approaching from the right. I watched this car not going fast, not going slow, with its left indicator on as if going to, well, turn left. Something made me think 'nah, they're not' so I stayed where I was. Sure enough they kept on coming straight across the roundabout, indicator still going good style.

I tend not to fully trust what other vehicles indicators are suggesting they're going to do, unless they're far enough away for me to complete my move regardless of where they're going. Not infrequently I'll stay put until I see them start to take the turn.

You?

I virtually always look for another piece of evidence before moving, ie the start of a turn.

tend not to fully trust what other vehicles indicators are suggesting they're going to do, unless they're far enough away for me to complete my move regardless of where they're going. Not infrequently I'll stay put until I see them start to take the turn.

Exactly this

 

[Koolpc]

I never look at indicators. Mainly because it affects my neck as i have to keep looking up all of the time!

 

[yorksbuilder]

Assume everyone else is completely stupid and stay safe. Never rely on an indicator.

Good advice. And also make sure your use of indicators is exemplary, making it better by one car on the road helps

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Also, flashing your headlights is a signal to warn other drivers of your presence, not "you can pull out in front of me".

Reality is, whatever the Highway Code says, almost everyone does interpret it as giving way.

If you were to plough along a main road at 60mph flashing your lights at people in side roads you'd end up in a mangled wreck pretty soon. You could groan "I was just warning you of my presen..." from inside the twisted ball of metal, make your point of principle with your last breath.

...or just accept reality!

 

[aveatry]

Reality is, whatever the Highway Code says, almost everyone does interpret it as giving way.

If you were to plough along a main road at 60mph flashing your lights at people in side roads you'd end up in a mangled wreck pretty soon. You could groan "I was just warning you of my presen..." from inside the twisted ball of metal, make your point of principle with your last breath.

...or just accept reality!

On this subject auto on LED lights are st-upid idea.
Cars coming down a motorway off ramp waiting for a gap in the traffic on a fast running roundabout underneath the motorway then an auto on LED lights car looks like it is flashing you to pull out when its auto - on lights come on under the dark motorway bridge.