Signalling around parked cars

briany

Just wanted to get some wisdom on this. It's the old question of when it is necessary to signal.



The big question I have is if I don't have to cross the centre of the road, but I do have to move position (i.e. from left hand edge of my side of the road to right hand edge of my side of the road) is a signal necessary for following or oncoming traffic?



Sometimes in housing estates there is no centre of the road. There's no painted line, no seam, just a blank tarmac road or cracked concrete. To give a signal or not, here, just a judgment call depending on the other road users around and how far I feel I have to go out?



Does anyone have any easy to remember rules of thumb on this?

Cee-Jay-Cee

I would just in case a car behind hasn’t spotted the parked car.

If any unusual move is required, I always make an effort to indicate, if for no reason other than to alert the driver behind me that an unexpected move is necessary (be it a parked car, cyclist, bag of rubbish on the road, etc.)

briany

Deleted User wrote: »

If any unusual move is required, I always make an effort to indicate, if for no reason other than to alert the driver behind me that an unexpected move is necessary (be it a parked car, cyclist, bag of rubbish on the road, etc.)

Yes, but what constitutes an unusual move? Is nudging a bit to the right on your own side of the road an unusual move?

wildwillow

Back in the dark ages when I did my test I was told to indicate when passing a parked car but no need when I resumed my position in the road.

The logic is that you are warning the person behind of your manoeuvre and that there is an obstacle in front. You don't indicate to move back to position as they may think you are about to park.

I always err on the side of caution and indicate when I change position. It's very important if overtaking cyclists and pedestrians on country roads as you warn the cars behind you that they need to move out, even if you are not crossing a white line.

BlakeS94

I was always taught to let your intentions be known, I indicate in any situation where I have to adjust my steering wheel due to an obstruction while driving down the road, and obviously when I'm making a turn. Over-indicating (if that's a word) won't do any harm. Not indicating may cause the driver behind to crash their car if you sweep away from the centre of the road all of a sudden, which is how it will appear to the other drivers behind If you don't indicate. Also I think there's a psychological element when you're driving for years. I always subconsciously hit the brake pedal when I see the car in fronts brake lights and/or indicator light.

colm_mcm

There’s a balance.
For me, I’ll adjust my position in a lane well in advance of a parked car that’s not exactly in the way - in that case, I don’t see the need to indicate as any traffic coming towards me will see my position within the lane. If I thought I’d have to cross the line, I’d indicate of course.
Indicating right non stop and passing junctions etc just causes confusion.

If in a situation where you’re overtaking a parked car that’s blocking you, of course you’d indicate, not only for the traffic coming towards you, but for the traffic coming behind you that might think you’re parked.

briany

briany wrote: »

Yes, but what constitutes an unusual move? Is nudging a bit to the right on your own side of the road an unusual move?

Unusual is (to me) any need to move that wouldn't be expected. If I need to consciously move my vehicle, then the person behind me will too. As such, I indicate as a heads up.

Buffman

Depends on the situation, but if crossing the centre line I will indicate, or if I have to stop to yield to oncoming traffic then I'll indicate so others don't assume I'm parked, or for anything unexpected like people exiting/entering the parked vehicle.

briany wrote: »

Sometimes in housing estates there is no centre of the road.

If I was to indicate for parked cars in any of the estates I frequent my indicator would be permanently on so I generally don't bother with the exception of the above.

garv123

I got a grade 2 in my driving test for indicating to go around a person who was blocking my lane with a car door open and a shopping trolley.
It was very busy during christmas period.
I had to stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear and then go fully onto the other side of the road.
The instructor reckoned people behind me wouldn't have a clue what I was doing. I could be turning right for all they knew. (over a kerb, across a footpath, into a building? )
He hadn't much to say when I questioned what would happen if I didn't indicate and the person behind me ploughed on into the woman.

mikeecho

I don't indicate unless I'm changing direction of crossing the centre line.

If a car ahead is slowing or stopping to turn right into a petrol station, and I have to move inside to the hard shoulder to pass them, I won't indicate, as it might cause the car behind to think that I am turning left or into a property, thus causing the car behind to try and pass me on the right... And into the stopped car waiting to turn into the petrol station.

(That's basically what I was instructed to do on an advanced driving course)

Has anyone a copy of RoadCraft handy.. what does that say?

Darc19

I loved the quote I heard recently.

A novice driver drives the car.

An experienced driver drives the road

What they were saying is that an experienced driver will know instinctively what to do and will forsee things well ahead

There's no real answer to your query, it depends on the road and the vehicles around you. Use instinct and you will usually be right.

Remember what an indicator is - it is to indicate to other motorists something that is different to what they would expect.

If you are on a residential road with loads of parked cars, drivers will expect start stop movement, so indicator not required.
If a clear road and one car is parked in the normal driving position for the road, an indication that you are moving out is advisable as it informs the driver behind that there is something unusual.


My big bug bear is people indicating that they are going onto a roundabout (and proceeding straight through)

HalfAndHalf

briany wrote: »

Just wanted to get some wisdom on this. It's the old question of when it is necessary to signal.



The big question I have is if I don't have to cross the centre of the road, but I do have to move position (i.e. from left hand edge of my side of the road to right hand edge of my side of the road) is a signal necessary for following or oncoming traffic?



Sometimes in housing estates there is no centre of the road. There's no painted line, no seam, just a blank tarmac road or cracked concrete. To give a signal or not, here, just a judgment call depending on the other road users around and how far I feel I have to go out?



Does anyone have any easy to remember rules of thumb on this?

Are you learning to drive or have you got your licence?

I ask because this question and the other you’ve asked on signalling on a roundabout have got me really hoping you’re still learning and being diligent.

dsmythy

Indicate if it benefits someone else on the road. It's very open ended but that's what you work off. Blindly indicating every time seems pointless. Consciously observing and deciding each time is better for sharpness.

I passed 2 years ago without indicating around a single car in housing estates in the test as there was nobody to benefit from it. Nothing said.

antix80

If you're driving close to the footpath and swerve in and out around parked cars, and now you're asking whether you should indicate while doing so, id recommend taking a few driving lessons.

Only indicate if I have to stop behind a parked car to let oncoming traffic pass by. As soon as I stop I indicate to turn right so that traffic behind me doesn’t think I’m parking and try and overtake me

My instructor told me this.
He also told me to see the parked traffic ahead and don’t move into the left whenever it is clear, keep a straight line (so no need to indicate)
So in my housing estate I just do a straight line, don’t move in after parked cars if I see another parked car up ahead. Did this in my test, no issues.

So yes, in a housing estate this might mean driving in the middle of the road.

I Only move in to give right of way to oncoming traffic if my side of the road is obstructed

Mimon

Deleted User wrote: »

If any unusual move is required, I always make an effort to indicate, if for no reason other than to alert the driver behind me that an unexpected move is necessary (be it a parked car, cyclist, bag of rubbish on the road, etc.)

This, the worse thing to be on the road is unpredictable, it is the sign of a bad/unthinking driver.