Query on signals to/from other drivers

murphm45

Sorry for posting here as it's more of a general query but i though i might catch a more "expert" audience than in the general motors form but if the mods think otherwise feel free to move it.

I was driving to the shops the other evening along what i know from doing my test is one of the test routes, i turned left of the main onto a side road where there is another turn about 200 - 300 yards away (on my left). About half way toward the junction i noticed someone indicating to turn right. I eased off and flashed them to let them know i was slowing down to let them turn (I know you're not supposed to signal other drivers to do something but it's almost impossible for other to know you're giving way to them otherwise). Anyway the car didn't move and i slowed down (i.e applied the braked) and signaled again (just once this time). Anyway i eventually came to a complete stop as i noticed the other car was a learner and i remember being told that you should give other drivers time and space to complete their manoeuvre. I signed the other driver again, with my hand this time but noting. I flashed him with the lights one last time before I realised he wasn't going to move and went on my way.

My question is when i had come to a stop should the other driver have "accepted" the space i gave them to complete the manoeuvre and actually done it or was he right to stay put? I appreciate he might have been "new" to driving but he definitely wasn't in the car on his own so i would have though whoever was accompanying him would have told him to at least nod his head or give some sort of indication that he wasn't going to turn rather than leaving me like a spoon waiting for something that wasn't going to happen.

For those who might know it was in Tallght and I turned from Belgard Road onto the Mayberry Road.

Oh, and if the other driver sees this sorry. I accelerated away a bit agressively which could have made me seem like an ignorant sod but it wasn't just a little mechanical incompetence on my part i'm afraid. Sorry

Compton

YOU SHOULDNT GIVE ANYONE RIGHT OF WAY UNLESS YOU HAVE TO YIELD FROM THE RIGHT

**Timbuk2**

Well, I wouldn't agree that you should never give somebody right away - sometimes it makes sense to show some courtesy (e.g. in stop start traffic, if somebody is trying to emerge onto the road, letting one person in front of you doesn't make a huge difference to your journey time, and helps keep traffic moving easier).

But if he was emerging out a side road to your left, wanting to turn right, are you sure the other side of the road (oncoming traffic to you) was clear, as that driver would have needed to cross both? I've read somewhere that if you wave or beckon a driver, and they pull out when it is not in fact clear (there could be cyclists that weren't accounted for, or the learner may assume it was clear when it wasn't) you could be part liable for the accident that may have occured.

I know they say you should accomodate learner drivers, but that doesn't mean stopping on a road to let them out - simply not getting impatient if they take a while to get moving at a green light, and stopping that bit further behind them on a hill.

If I'm letting somebody out of a side road (which I usually only do at slow speeds, e.g. in town, I don't think it's wise to slow down on a main road, or a fast side road to let somebody out) I'll just slow down, make eye contact with the driver but not wave or flash my lights - they usually get the message. And as I don't flash my lights, they don't dive onto the road without having a glance at all lanes to make sure it's clear.

Mind you, your post reminded me of something that happened when I was learning. I was waiting for a gap to turn right out of a side road with my mother in the car, and it's a very busy 60km/h road - one van on the northbound side stopped and started waving at me to go, but the southbound side was still full of cars, so I stayed where I was. The white-van-man started frantically waving at me, and I wasn't sure what he intended, but it turns out he meant to pull out in front of him, and wait for a gap that way (so my mother said, and sure enough when I did, he stopped his frantic waving and I got out quick enough that way).

murphm45

Sorry i made a bit of a haimes of explain the situation the turning onto a side road from a main road thing was more to set the scene than anything else (this was something i had done, the road i was on was a bog starts 1 by 1 road). The other driver was in the oncoming lane looking to turn right (i.e. cut across my path) into a housing estate. Sorry about any confusion caused but hopefully this makes it a bit clearer.

To be fair i'd do the same for anyone (i would have though some level of manners/courtesy was common practice) , it was just the fact that the other guy was a learner and that he was accompanied made me curious as to what exactly the "correct" behaviour was if someone signals you and stops to let you through.

Thanks

**Timbuk2**

Sorry that was my fault, I read it wrong! In that case (which is a common enough occurrence), the learner should have proceeded once he/she knew it was safe. I completely understand that learners may not know exactly what to do ("Should I stay? Should I go?") but I agree with you, the accompanied driver should have said something.

One thing to watch out for in situations like that is where you slow down or stop to let someone turn in front of you, but a cyclist behind you may keep going, and flashing lights at somebody may make them turn without taking a proper look, and the cyclist could be hit. It's unlikely though!

highlydebased

For the purposes of your driving test don't do it, but otherwise I see nothing wrong with it. It's often a courtesy to do as you described if traffic is busy.

murphm45

highlydebased wrote: »

For the purposes of your driving test don't do it, but otherwise I see nothing wrong with it. It's often a courtesy to do as you described if traffic is busy.

Do you mean that if you're on your test and someone signals you you shouldn't accept their courtesy (sorry i can't think of a better way of saying this) or that you shouldn't signal someone on your test?

Thanks Timbuk2 this is what i though myself but i suppose i just wanted to be sure. Thats a fair point about any potential cyclists I had though of that and it possibly explains the other drivers hesitance.

Del2005

highlydebased wrote: »

For the purposes of your driving test don't do it, but otherwise I see nothing wrong with it. It's often a courtesy to do as you described if traffic is busy.

You should never signal someone out. Slow down and make eye contact but don't signal. If they don't make a move in a few seconds start moving yourself.

I know someone who successfully sued a signaller after being T-boned by a car coming out of a junction.

murphm45 wrote: »

Do you mean that if you're on your test and someone signals you you shouldn't accept their courtesy (sorry i can't think of a better way of saying this) or that you shouldn't signal someone on your test?

I'm assuming they mean that you never signal someone out on your test, you shouldn't be doing it anyway. Also you shouldn't slow down to let someone out on your test. You can let someone out of if already stopped or you can leave a gap if stopping to let someone cross, this shows that you are reading the road.

If someone does let you out on your test, give them a quick wave of thanks and then drive. But still treat it as if you haven't been called out.