Do you indicate on roundabout?

[brucemillar]

Indicating on a roundabout is not easy. Last week I dropped my phone trying to steer and indicate. It could easily have fallen into my coffee and been ruined.

Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK

 

[zipdip]

Just shows you the IAM are just puppets jerked around by the system,once the order has been given to driving instructors they have to allow for people not indicating,I had a passenger at 2am I was driving down a slip on to a black M4 and I still put the indicator on ,why are you doing that there are no cars,but what if one was driving without lights,it costs nothing to indicate

 

[BTB 500]

The other common scenario is someone in the left hand lane indicating right as they enter the roundabout. That generally means they are going straight on

 

[BTB 500]

i have nothing to add to this post because...it is spot on.

Op if you read the highway code you will see the above explanation.

+1.

 

[developer]

Just shows you the IAM are just puppets jerked around by the system,once the order has been given to driving instructors they have to allow for people not indicating,I had a passenger at 2am I was driving down a slip on to a black M4 and I still put the indicator on ,why are you doing that there are no cars,but what if one was driving without lights,it costs nothing to indicate

Yes, I'm sure you're right on both counts.

Oh, I forgot to mention, the examiner was a 40 years experience class one police driver.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Yes, I'm sure you're right on both counts.

Oh, I forgot to mention, the examiner was a 40 years experience class one police driver.

It's a puppet!

 

[Bobsta]

You have to wonder if the IAM "only indicate if there's someone to indicate to" directive comes from a desire to prove you're paying attention and are aware of your surroundings. Personally I operate on the basis that I'm not trying to pass a test or impress anyone so indicate all the time - whether there's someone there to see it or not. Because one day I may have not seen that pedestrian, cyclist, car, etc.... and indicating might just help avoid an accident. I can afford the electricity to power the bulbs for those few blinks.

Back to the OP. I always indicate left coming off a roundabout. No matter how small. And you should too.
I completely agree you shouldn't indicate right when going straight - 'cos surely that's obvious - you're *not* going right.

If everyone indicated their intention to exit roundabouts traffic flow efficiency could be improved - I'd wager by at least 20%. A huge amount of time is wasted waiting to enter roundabouts when people head off at the previous exit without indicating. And it does my nut in!

 

[Carrsey]

a desire to prove you're paying attention and are aware of your surroundings.

You mean how you should be driving, incidentally that is the best way to avoid collisions..

 

[Deleted member 65149]

When I was learning to drive 50 years ago I was taught to "only indicate when there is someone to indicate to". I try to always do this except where all-round visibility is restricted for any reason, when I will always indicate because someone may be approaching from behind the restriction and could benefit from the earliest possible information. So yes, whenever appropriate (almost always) I will indicate my intentions to leave a roundabout of any size.

But, of course we should never assume that someone is going to do what their indicators imply (the indicate right when going straight on numpties for instance). But that's rarely a problem because most cars aren't fitted with indicators these days!

 

[renault12ts]

So, in the driving test how do we think the examiner will feel if the examinee does not indicate when moving off...if there are no other cars about?

 

[Carrsey]

So, in the driving test how do we think the examiner will feel if the examinee does not indicate when moving off...if there are no other cars about?

The problem is, the driving test is a basic level of driving where a large portion of people who take it are not and never will be fully aware of their surrounding and generally do not look much further than the end of their bonnet, therefore at this level you are taught to indicate all the time.

 

[Liquid silver]

A roundabout is nothing more than a one way street. The position of your car should tell everyone what you intend. Position yourself on the inside lane for the first exit and the outside lane for the second or third. Only indicate when you are leaving the roundabout.
My pet hate is the drivers that position themselves on the inside then proceed past the first exit.

 

[BTB 500]

The position of your car should tell everyone what you intend. Position yourself on the inside lane for the first exit and the outside lane for the second or third.

Not according to the Highway Code ...

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using-the-road-159-to-203

My pet hate is the drivers that position themselves on the inside then proceed past the first exit.

See above.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

Yes I should get a beer and maybe popcorn too.

Isn't the Highway code out of date then. Was it written before mini-roundabouts were invented? Surely if you are going straight on you wouldn't indicate right for a split second then indicate left to signal that you are going straight on. What's the point but to cause confusion.

And what about those painted min-roundabouts on the road where you literally drive straight over because it would be too narrow to drive round hence they are painted?

Aaargghhhh

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

 

[219]

Just shows you the IAM are just puppets jerked around by the system,once the order has been given to driving instructors they have to allow for people not indicating,I had a passenger at 2am I was driving down a slip on to a black M4 and I still put the indicator on ,why are you doing that there are no cars,but what if one was driving without lights,it costs nothing to indicate

The whole point about indicating only when it would benefit another road user , rather than all the time is that it makes you LOOK and THINK about your actions , rather than dropping into auto pilot mode and bumbling blindly along in your sleep .

 

[219]

You have to wonder if the IAM "only indicate if there's someone to indicate to" directive comes from a desire to prove you're paying attention and are aware of your surroundings. Personally I operate on the basis that I'm not trying to pass a test or impress anyone so indicate all the time - whether there's someone there to see it or not. Because one day I may have not seen that pedestrian, cyclist, car, etc.... and indicating might just help avoid an accident. I can afford the electricity to power the bulbs for those few blinks.

Back to the OP. I always indicate left coming off a roundabout. No matter how small. And you should too.
I completely agree you shouldn't indicate right when going straight - 'cos surely that's obvious - you're *not* going right.

If everyone indicated their intention to exit roundabouts traffic flow efficiency could be improved - I'd wager by at least 20%. A huge amount of time is wasted waiting to enter roundabouts when people head off at the previous exit without indicating. And it does my nut in!

It isn't to do with proving anything : driving to the system brings your driving to a more conscious level , increases CONCENTRATION , and improves safety .

As per my previous post , indicating all the time without bothering to consider the need is a lazy habit ( too lazy to think about it properly ) and leads down the slippery slope to daydreaming at the wheel and driving on auto pilot .

Signals , when properly considered and given are of great benefit to other road users and should make life both easier and safer for all of us .

There are so many types and layouts of junctions , some very complex indeed , and in some cases badly designed , that no one simple set of rules fits all .

Where a junction is unfamiliar or overly complex to the extent that you aren't sure about the correct signals required , it is actually better to give no signal at all rather than confuse someone by giving a misleading signal - which could result in you being at fault if it led to a collision .

Oh , and there are lots of different types of signals besides flashing direction indicators .

 

[219]

So, in the driving test how do we think the examiner will feel if the examinee does not indicate when moving off...if there are no other cars about?

In most cases novices are taught to do this all the time - at least until they gain the skill and experience to judge for themselves .

DVSA examiners actually have to achieve quite a high standard of Advanced Driving for themselves at their training centre in Cardington before being allowed to sit in judgement of others , so all will be familiar with 'the system' and the concept of only signalling , or indeed changing gear , when necessary .

Not giving signals where none is required should not in itself constitute reason to fail a candidate , but the examiner has to be sure that the candidate has taken proper observation and given consideration before deciding this . On advanced tests , giving commentary allows the examiner to know what you are seeing , thinking and doing ; without commentary it is a bit harder for the examiner to be certain , but they are highly trained individuals and do tend to know what they are doing .

 

[219]

Not according to the Highway Code ...

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using-the-road-159-to-203



See above.

Yes the approach courses are correct for all three cars in the above illustration ( except , of course , where road markings direct otherwise ) .

What I do take issue with , however , is the leaving course options given to the right turning green car .

When I did my advanced courses at Tulliallan the teaching was ( given a roundabout with two or more lanes on entry and departure ) was that if you entered in the left lane , you circulated and departed in the left lane ; and if you entered in the right lane you should circulate and depart in the right lane - as appropriate to attendant traffic trafficating right until passing the penultimate exit then giving the breakaway signal - only moving to the left hand lane once clear of the roundabout and having ascertained it is safe to do so .

The advantage of this is that it would permit left turning traffic joining from the road prior to your exit to proceed , thus improving traffic flow . Lane changing in the middle of roundabouts is not a great idea nor one that I like . Larger roundabouts these days do tend to be designed with lanes which spiral outwards and this can facilitate more lanes and greater traffic flow still .

 

[Simon_M]

Come to Switzerland, I regularly see people indicate right and then go all the way round a roundabout turning left. Remember this is LHD driving so same as someone indicating left but turning right on a roundabout.

It takes a conscious effort to flick the stalk to indicate, so why do it the wrong way?

Muppets...

 

[cb1965]

Really? This thread????