Indicating on motorways/dual-carraigeways

**Timbuk2**

Sorry for the silly questions, but I'm a bit unsure as to what is the correct way to signal on the motorway.

(1) - When merging, is it correct to signal right even if a gap is not YET available, or do you only signal right when just about to move into the lane?

(2) - When preparing to overtake, and you are waiting for a gap (cars overtaking from behind), should you give a right signal as you wait to let the car behind you know that you plan to move out, or should you only signal right when just about to move over (the former could make cars in the overtaking lane nervous - thinking they haven't been seen)

(3) - When overtaking - should I keep my right signal on as I overtake cars, or is it ok to cancel the signal once in the overtaking lane?
Thanks.

Crasp

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Sorry for the silly questions, but I'm a bit unsure as to what is the correct way to signal on the motorway.

(1) - When merging, is it correct to signal right even if a gap is not YET available, or do you only signal right when just about to move into the lane?

No, afaik you have to signal your intent early. Did the bike test recently and my instructor had me doing my shoulder checks and indicating as soon as I was off the roundabout and onto the slip road.


(2) - When preparing to overtake, and you are waiting for a gap (cars overtaking from behind), should you give a right signal as you wait to let the car behind you know that you plan to move out, or should you only signal right when just about to move over (the former could make cars in the overtaking lane nervous - thinking they haven't been seen)


You should indicate early imo, after you have done your mirror and shoulder check. Some nice person might let you in Also, if you're made nervous by an indicator you shouldn't be driving, never mind using the offside lane of a motorway! I think if you indicate but hold it straight they will know that you have seen them. Think about on your driving test, would you rather indicate at the last second, or give a nice early indication?



(3) - When overtaking - should I keep my right signal on as I overtake cars, or is it ok to cancel the signal once in the overtaking lane?
Thanks.




In Ireland, it's ok to cancel. In other Euro countries (Germany for one, I believe) you must leave it on for the duration of your use of the offside lane.

Hope this helps

Scuba Ste

Always indicate first, it's showing your intention to change lanes. Your indicators are to let OTHER drivers know what you intend to do.

So for 1 & 2 yes indicate, 3 yes switch it off once you are finished moving into the lane.

It should be in the rules of the road book I think.

mfceiling

I leave my indicator on when overtaking because the outside lane in the motorway IS an overtaking lane only.

Also gets some drivers who are lane hogging the overtaking lane, to realise that it is for overtaking only, and to pull back into the left lane when the manouerve has been completed.

loobylou

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Sorry for the silly questions, but I'm a bit unsure as to what is the correct way to signal on the motorway.

(1) - When merging, is it correct to signal right even if a gap is not YET available, or do you only signal right when just about to move into the lane?

(2) - When preparing to overtake, and you are waiting for a gap (cars overtaking from behind), should you give a right signal as you wait to let the car behind you know that you plan to move out, or should you only signal right when just about to move over (the former could make cars in the overtaking lane nervous - thinking they haven't been seen)

(3) - When overtaking - should I keep my right signal on as I overtake cars, or is it ok to cancel the signal once in the overtaking lane?
Thanks.

Not silly questions, quite astute in fact.
Signals are to "warn and inform" other roadusers. They should therefore be used to signal your intent to turn, change lanes, etc after proper observations of course.
Scenario 1 above I would consider to be an exception to this. In this case you are signalling a "request" to move right rather than an "intent". Most experienced drivers would understand this and leave you a gap.

**Timbuk2**

Thanks for the answers! They are different from what I expected. Let me explain

If I am overtaking on a single-carraigeway road, I will leave my right indicator on as I overtake. But this is a rare enough sight on the motorway. And take for example a three lane motorway - lane 2 and lane 3 are both overtaking lanes, but leaving a right indicator on in the middle lane would cause confusion.

I always turn my right signal on when merging, even if I haven't yet got into position to move over. I do it mainly so traffic know that I intend to adjust my speed to get on somehow, and also because the man on the RSA ad does it (:P).

With regards to signalling early my intent to overtake. What I would be worried about is that a car in the lane I intend to move into would see my indicator turn on, and slow down in anticipation that I may have not seen him (he could think that he is in the blindspot of my car). When I was doing my test, I was always taught that when moving off (usually from just the side of the road), only to signal right when it was clear, because otherwise a car might stop to let me move on, and I'd become an "obstruction" and get marked accordingly. That's what made me doubt my thoughts with regards to motorway driving.

Thanks for the answers again! I'm in college at the moment so I don't have my Rules of the Road book with me, but I will peruse them on the website and see what the official stance is!

stevenmu

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

If I am overtaking on a single-carraigeway road, I will leave my right indicator on as I overtake. But this is a rare enough sight on the motorway. And take for example a three lane motorway - lane 2 and lane 3 are both overtaking lanes, but leaving a right indicator on in the middle lane would cause confusion.

I think this is a case of the rules of the road not having caught up with reality. Technically you are meant to have your indicator on while overtaking, and I don't believe there is an exception specifically made for motorways etc. I agree with you though that it would be confusing in this instance, the vast majority of road users would expect your indication to mean that you want to enter the lane to the right, when in fact you intend to remain in the middle lane. Personally I wouldn't leave my indicator on in the middle lane.