Carrsey
Active Member
I guess some people have no interest in raising driving standards..
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That's not what it's about at all.
Apart from some RAs being high speed it is to do with keeping traffic moving quickly & safely.
If you signal your intention to turn off a RA before crossing the path of another car that car can then proceed safely on it's way. If it knows you are going across it's path it can wait, plan it's next move & then proceed safely.
Indicators are mostly about the efficient flow & movement of traffic, especially at busy periods.
How do you know they are going straight on?
26/09/2014 - Hardly out of date.
Section 188
This section of the Highway Code is all about mini-roundabouts. You should apply the same rules to approaching and entering mini-roundabouts as you would normal roundabouts. It is important to remember that all vehicles must pass round the central markings, unless they are too large to do so. You will find that when driving around mini-roundabouts there is less room to manoeuvre and less time to signal, so take extra care.
New Rules and Road safety tips for drivers - The Highway Code
Only ever use my indicators if I feel their use will give USEFUL information to another driver about my plans.
Rather than roundabouts, what is it with everyone indicating when on a slip road joining a main road/dual carriageway/motorway? I mean its a one way road, almost always no other exit so you join a slip road and you can only then join the main road, so why indicate, everyone knows you can only join the road, not like you have a choice on direction
I suspect you enter the near side lane on a motorway after not indicating and expect other users to change lane to accommodate you , who knows
Good question and I have to admit one on which I'm still undecided. I can see it being thought of as unnecessary, but on the other hand does it do any harm? After all, leaving a slip road is changing lanes, something normally requiring advanced indication. Perhaps no need to indicate could also be applied to the driver in lane 1 of a motorway rapidly catching up with another vehicle - he's obviously going to move out to lane 2 to pass, so does he need to indicate if there are other vehicles around? I think he does. In the same way, can't we think of the indication when entering from a slip road as additional information?Shooter560 said:?.. what is it with everyone indicating when on a slip road joining a main road/dual carriageway/motorway? I mean its a one way road, almost always no other exit so you join a slip road and you can only then join the main road, so why indicate, everyone knows you can only join the road, not like you have a choice on direction
LOL, typical answer, now go and ask a traffic officer if they think indicators are needed or even should be use when joining a main road/dual carriageway/motorway from a slip road, even if joining flowing traffic
Only indicate if it will benefit another road user...
My understanding of the rules is that you don't take an indicator as a definitive statement of where a car is going, just an indication. I was always told that if I'm on a sideroad pulling out onto a mainroad and the car coming from my right is indicating to turn into the sideroad I'm leaving, NEVER to move until you see that car actually start to turn (in practice most will do it when the see the car has significantly slowed to make the manouver and is within a few yards of it), in case he changes his mind, or the indicator was accidently activated. I treat roundabout indications in the same manner. I definitely won't pull onto a roundabout just because the car that I see coming has indicated to get off the roundabout before it gets to me, it might suddenly be a case of realising that his turn-off isn't the one he thought it was.That's not what it's about at all.
If you signal your intention to turn off a RA before crossing the path of another car that car can then proceed safely on it's way. If it knows you are going across it's path it can wait, plan it's next move & then proceed safely.
I suspect you enter the near side lane on a motorway after not indicating and expect other users to change lane to accommodate you , who knows
I refer to my original statement.
If there is another road user there, it will benefit them to know your intension even if you believe your upcoming manoeuvre is obvious.
My understanding of the rules is that you don't take an indicator as a definitive statement of where a car is going, just an indication. I was always told that if I'm on a sideroad pulling out onto a mainroad and the car coming from my right is indicating to turn into the sideroad I'm leaving, NEVER to move until you see that car actually start to turn (in practice most will do it when the see the car has significantly slowed to make the manouver and is within a few yards of it), in case he changes his mind, or the indicator was accidently activated. I treat roundabout indications in the same manner. I definitely won't pull onto a roundabout just because the car that I see coming has indicated to get off the roundabout before it gets to me, it might suddenly be a case of realising that his turn-off isn't the one he thought it was.
As I approach the roundabout from the opposite side, I see that person approaching indicating right so I come to a halt because that person has right of way. That person then proceeds straight on instead of turning right. That person was indicating right to signal that they were not exiting the first exit to turn left but that they intended to go straight on.
Had they not indicated to turn right then I could have proceeded straight on which makes for better flow of traffic and for the cars behind me.
The examples here from the highway code says to indicate right when turning right but it does not say indicate right if you are leaving on the first exit and intend to go straight on.
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