Signal when pulling out from the kerb ?
Discussion
Not exactly advanced driving, I just wondered if this was still taught at driving school ?
When was the last time you saw someone indicate when moving off instead of just pulling away, and because they are looking hard in the mirror, sometimes driving onto the other side of the road ?
When was the last time you saw someone indicate when moving off instead of just pulling away, and because they are looking hard in the mirror, sometimes driving onto the other side of the road ?
London Transport bus drivers are clearly taught to signal every time they pull away from a stop, even though they're generally staying in their own bus lane. Very frustrating when one hangs back in a public spirited way to let them pull out, only to realise that they don't mean that they want to pull into your lane (but occasionally, of course, that is exactly what they do mean!).
Hi,
For a car, if there is someone there to benefit then signal. If no-one about then no signal.
If you are waiting to pull out from a kerb and raod fairly quiet then wait until gap is there and then signal if someone to benefit.
If it is a very busy road and someone may want the space you are in then it is ok to put on an asking signal and someone may let you out.
For a car, if there is someone there to benefit then signal. If no-one about then no signal.
If you are waiting to pull out from a kerb and raod fairly quiet then wait until gap is there and then signal if someone to benefit.
If it is a very busy road and someone may want the space you are in then it is ok to put on an asking signal and someone may let you out.
A more common fault among existing drivers (i.e. not learners) is signalling early & then waiting for a gap in traffic. Can be a bit disconcerting seeing a parked vehicle ahead stick a right signal on as you are approaching.
Incidently, any van drivers reading this, please don't use hazards lights when stopped at the front of a line of parked vehicles (for much the same reason).
Incidently, any van drivers reading this, please don't use hazards lights when stopped at the front of a line of parked vehicles (for much the same reason).
onboard said:
Hi,
For a car, if there is someone there to benefit then signal. If no-one about then no signal.
If you are waiting to pull out from a kerb and raod fairly quiet then wait until gap is there and then signal if someone to benefit.
If it is a very busy road and someone may want the space you are in then it is ok to put on an asking signal and someone may let you out.
What you are saying is consistent with the Highway Code, but: in what circumstances is there someone to benefit, but you would not wait until they are past before moving? (I can think of some, but it is pretty unusual)For a car, if there is someone there to benefit then signal. If no-one about then no signal.
If you are waiting to pull out from a kerb and raod fairly quiet then wait until gap is there and then signal if someone to benefit.
If it is a very busy road and someone may want the space you are in then it is ok to put on an asking signal and someone may let you out.
I would always signal. If anything it cuts down the element of surprise for other drivers/pedestrians - they may be able to observe you even if they won't be affected by your decision. There's nothing worse than being taken by surprise - personally I love to know what people are about to do.
RobM77 said:
I would always signal. If anything it cuts down the element of surprise for other drivers/pedestrians - they may be able to observe you even if they won't be affected by your decision. There's nothing worse than being taken by surprise - personally I love to know what people are about to do.
Aye, if our speed is restrained and we arrange to have a bit of spare space for ourselves, we have the opportunity to find out while we still have time to deal with it comfortably.Best wishes all,
Dave.
p1esk said:
RobM77 said:
I would always signal. If anything it cuts down the element of surprise for other drivers/pedestrians - they may be able to observe you even if they won't be affected by your decision. There's nothing worse than being taken by surprise - personally I love to know what people are about to do.
Aye, if our speed is restrained and we arrange to have a bit of spare space for ourselves, we have the opportunity to find out while we still have time to deal with it comfortably.Best wishes all,
Dave.
RobM77 said:
There's nothing worse than being taken by surprise
Then there is surprise and there is 
I had always been taught observation, analysis, space and always having a Plan B (and considering other road users as suicidal maniacs). Worked very well. Until last week:
Large 3 lane roundabout. Outside lane taking 2nd exit, see a car stopped in the lane ahead talking to a pedestrian.
Slow a little in case they pull off without indicating, already had checked lane 2 is clear in case. Lane 3 busy.
Before I got to the parked car the indicators came on and I indicated to go to lane 2.
As I start to change lanes I now see reversing lights, WTF? well he wont be the first to reverse back to the exit he missed. Just as I am halfway into lane 2, said car now starts to execute a reverse 3 point turn, gets
broadside to the traffic, realises his gaffe and promptly stalls it. The mother of emergency stops sees me come to rest about 2cm from his door.
Maybe I shall now add a 5th criteria to the list?
"Brake for all occurances of lunatic behaviour ahead".
This Side Down said:
I always signal. It's a useful habit to get into, especially if there are padestrians around that you may not have spotted (and let's face it, it can happen at night etc).
The way I see it is it costs nothing to indicate, and could potentially avert an accident.
you should only signal if someone is going to benefit from that signal. If there's a chance you haven't seen a pedestrian, why on earth are you moving off?The way I see it is it costs nothing to indicate, and could potentially avert an accident.
Getting into the habit of always signalling tends to evolve into signalling *instead* of using proper observation.
(as you alluded to in your mention of things you might not have seen)
This Side Down said:
I always signal. It's a useful habit to get into, especially if there are padestrians around that you may not have spotted (and let's face it, it can happen at night etc).
The way I see it is it costs nothing to indicate, and could potentially avert an accident.
Ah but that can also encourage laziness with regard to mirror checks and all round awareness, it is better to actually check and decide whether there is anyone nearby who would "benefit" from you giving a signal (inc pedestrians) rather than just habitually put it on ...........IMHO obviouslyThe way I see it is it costs nothing to indicate, and could potentially avert an accident.
chris7676 said:
Are you not supposed to indicate anyway? That way you may save your own arse if you don't notice a car, bike or a pedestrian - that's the idea I think.
If you're taking proper care then there is NO CHANCE that you've not noticed something that important. If you're not taking proper care, then relying on someone seeing an indicator and taking avoiding action is a pretty bad state of affairs.Whats the point of indicating if you've observed properly and ascertained that there's nobody around who would find that indication useful?
Indicating when there's nobody there to see it is just demonstrating that you're not fully aware of who and what is around you.
grumbledoak said:
BarnatosGhost said:
Indicating when there's nobody there to see it is just demonstrating that you're not fully aware of who and what is around you.
No it isn't. It is accepting that human beings do make mistakes.Any 'system' requiring perfection from human beings is a bad system.
If you aren't sure of who is around you, you shouldn't be making the maneuvre that requires the signal in the first place.
If you're making a maneuvre thats going to require someone to take notice of you, then by all means use an indicator.
If you're making a maneuvre that doesn't have an impact on anyone else (pardon the pun), then don't use an indicator.
Anything other course of action just says
"I'm going to do this maneuvre, but I'm not sure it's safe to do so. Using my indicate might help someone else to help me not to crash."
Edited by BarnatosGhost on Friday 16th October 19:16
BarnatosGhost said:
"I'm going to do this maneuvre, but I'm not sure it's safe to do so. Using my indicate might help someone else to help me not to crash."
No it says "I believe what I'm doing is safe. But I understand we as humans are not perfect, and so will do all I can to make up for that."Munter said:
BarnatosGhost said:
"I'm going to do this maneuvre, but I'm not sure it's safe to do so. Using my indicate might help someone else to help me not to crash."
No it says "I believe what I'm doing is safe. But I understand we as humans are not perfect, and so will do all I can to make up for that."
So you nodders don't agree that automatically using the indicator all the time tends to reduce a driver's use of mirrors and proper observation?
You don't agree that dozy idiots routinely sit-down, belt-up, start-engine, indicate, pull-out, and then check their mirror once they're halfway out?
Or that bored motorway drivers use their indicator and start to drift, before glancing in their mirror (and don't bother with a life-saver)?
The indicator isn't like twitter, used to tell the general parklife what you're up to. It's there to give a specific message to specific, identifiable people for whom indication of your intentions would be useful.
When exiting a completely empty roundabout, or pulling onto an empty road, or changing lanes on an empty motorway, a dose of the flashers just tells me that you're half-asleep, and driving 'by-the-numbers'.
You don't agree that dozy idiots routinely sit-down, belt-up, start-engine, indicate, pull-out, and then check their mirror once they're halfway out?
Or that bored motorway drivers use their indicator and start to drift, before glancing in their mirror (and don't bother with a life-saver)?
The indicator isn't like twitter, used to tell the general parklife what you're up to. It's there to give a specific message to specific, identifiable people for whom indication of your intentions would be useful.
When exiting a completely empty roundabout, or pulling onto an empty road, or changing lanes on an empty motorway, a dose of the flashers just tells me that you're half-asleep, and driving 'by-the-numbers'.
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