Indicators!!!!!!!

Shane Smith

Why the hell doesn't anybody use them??? Is it really that hard to push the little stick on the steering wheel when changing lanes, approaching & using roundabouts, turning @ junctions(!)...

Just curious if anyone on boards would admit to frequently not using their indicators and if not, why not? A friend of mine said to me recently "ah yeah I don't really use indicators any more, I guess when you're driving a while you don't feel like you have to..."

:eek:

prospect

I am in the nasty habit of not using them when there is no other car around.
My wife gives out every time.

But when there is other cars around, she never gives out, (well not about indicators anyway), so i must use them when it really matters. She is like my own personal bad driving alarm.

It is a bad habit, and i have no idea how i developed it!?

koneko

I use them all the time, you have to. Without them, people aren't going to know where you're going. It pisses me off to no end when I'm sitting waiting to get onto a roundabout and idiots pull on and off whenever they feel like it without indicating. I'm not psychic.

seamus

I too have a nasty habit of not using them when there are no other vehicles around.

I have no excuse really, it's just laziness.

Enduro

Seamus, Prospect:
How stupid are you people?

Cars aren't the only users on the roads!!!!

Pedestrians watch for indicators when crossing roads to get some INDICATION of where the car is going. Cyclists watch them all the time to get some INDICATION of where cars are going. The amount of morons I've seen nearly cause crashes by not indicating when they're turning left is truely phenomenal. You people certainly seem like part of this problem :rolleyes:

prospect

Enduro,

Thanks for your comment. Indeed you are right, cars are not the only road users. And I should have stated that when there is no other 'road user' around I have the bad habit of not indicating.

Also, I am neither stupid, nor a moron, and I'll thank you to retract those insulting comments.

Prospect.

MooShop

yes why do people not use them, i use them all the time. it is very annoying when people turn off at a junction and dont use their indicators, and it's very dangerous, no wonder there are accidents on our roads if people cant do the basic things right when driving a car.i find that roundabouts are the worst for people not using their indicators.

Eoin

Enduro wrote:

Seamus, Prospect:
How stupid are you people?

Cars aren't the only users on the roads!!!!

Pedestrians watch for indicators when crossing roads to get some INDICATION of where the car is going. Cyclists watch them all the time to get some INDICATION of where cars are going. The amount of morons I've seen nearly cause crashes by not indicating when they're turning left is truely phenomenal. You people certainly seem like part of this problem :rolleyes:

I hate when people don't indicate and I am very careful to indicate whenever applicable but while we're on the topic, IMO cyclists are some of the worst users of the roads - traffic lights, signalling etc mean absolutely nothing to most the ones I see around.

And of course, if there is an accident and they are hit - the motorist will still be found at least partly at fault just because the cyclist is more vulnerable.

whippet

my missus has the terrible habit when changing lanes, to only put on the indicator when she starts moving. For some reason she can't grasp the fact that that once you start the manover the indicators are more or less irrelevant.

Dades

Enduro wrote:

Seamus, Prospect:
How stupid are you people?

Cars aren't the only users on the roads!!!!

Pedestrians watch for indicators when crossing roads to get some INDICATION of where the car is going. Cyclists watch them all the time to get some INDICATION of where cars are going. The amount of morons I've seen nearly cause crashes by not indicating when they're turning left is truely phenomenal. You people certainly seem like part of this problem

Nice overreaction.
That come with your bike?

Alun

whippet wrote:

my missus has the terrible habit when changing lanes, to only put on the indicator when she starts moving. For some reason she can't grasp the fact that that once you start the manover the indicators are more or less irrelevant.

Ah yes, the Manoeuvre, Signal, Mirror approach beloved of many Irish drivers:)

seamus

Enduro wrote:

Seamus, Prospect:
How stupid are you people?

Cars aren't the only users on the roads!!!!

Pedestrians watch for indicators when crossing roads to get some INDICATION of where the car is going. Cyclists watch them all the time to get some INDICATION of where cars are going. The amount of morons I've seen nearly cause crashes by not indicating when they're turning left is truely phenomenal. You people certainly seem like part of this problem :rolleyes:

What Prospect said. I don't drive a car, which is why I specifically said "vehicles", but obviously I meant "other road users".

Do all cyclists have this "If it has an engine, it's evil" problem?

Enduro

Lads, if you had said road users (And that includes pedestrians too), then You wouldn't have got the severity of the reaction. There are plenty of drivers around who do drive with complete disregard for non 4-wheeled road users. You comments made you sound exactly like one of those.

And I still think that not using indicators correctly is stupid and dangerous. Even if you think there are no other road users around, you cannot know that with 100% certainty. As the OP said, what is the big deal with pushing up/down a little lever before you make a turn. Why is this so difficult for you? Its a legal requirement for a reason. If used correctly it greatly reduces the chance of crashes both for you, and for all other road users in your vicinity (Whether you can see them or not).

Prospect, I have no idea if you yourself are stupid or a moron, so I'll retract that overly broad remark. However I still think that not using indicators is stupid, moronic, and dangerous to other road users, and ultimately also to yourself. So I do think that you behavior in this particular situation desrves these labels. You're obviously intelligent enough to carry out relatively complex tasks on a computer. Can you explain to me why it is that you can't carry out a relatively simple safey procedure when you're driving?

IMO cyclists are some of the worst users of the roads - traffic lights, signalling etc mean absolutely nothing to most the ones I see around.

eoin_s, in response to that (1) its off topic. If you want to start a discussion on that start another thread and (2) Its irrelevant. (And I don't disagree with the fact that some cyclist are some of the worst users of the road, btw).


Seamus, as stated above there is nothing obvious about the fact that "vehicles" includes pedestrians. I would have thought the opposite myself. And as a pedestrian I always check to see if any cars are tuning onto a road before I cross it (near a junction obviously), but despite this there have been many occasions where cars turn left without indicating, thereby putting me in needless danger. How does having and objection to this illegal dangerous behaviour turn me into someone who thinks "If it has an engine, it's evil" ?

Macy

Also in the habit of not indicating if there is no one else in view (vehicle, car, pedestrian, cyclist, dog). Only yesterday got given out to by the missus when there wasn't a sinner in sight

Enduro, surely cyclists should be "indicating" as much as any other road user?

Dades

FFS there's nothing wrong with not indicating if there's no other road users around.

If I burp on my own I don't say "excuse me".

And an insinuation that we're too stupid to know whether the road is empty of cars, bikes, etc is a knee-jerk fallacy.

prospect

Enduro wrote:

Prospect, I have no idea if you yourself are stupid or a moron, so I'll retract that overly broad remark.

I suppose thats as close to an apology as I am going to get

Enduro wrote:

Can you explain to me why it is that you can't carry out a relatively simple safey procedure when you're driving?

I know it is a bad habit.
But, I do feel you are venting your anger regarding 'road users' who do not indicate at me. I do feel I stated quite clearly, (over two posts, as it transpires), that I only omit turn signals when there is no other 'road user' around.

In summary, I do admit it is a bad habit i have, but i don't think it is a serious one. Possibly, it i am more alert of my driving environment, and can make educated decisions based on it, rather than the 'knee jerk reaction' as described by Atheist!

seamus

Enduro wrote:

And I still think that not using indicators correctly is stupid and dangerous. Even if you think there are no other road users around, you cannot know that with 100% certainty. As the OP said, what is the big deal with pushing up/down a little lever before you make a turn. Why is this so difficult for you? Its a legal requirement for a reason. If used correctly it greatly reduces the chance of crashes both for you, and for all other road users in your vicinity (Whether you can see them or not).

Prospect, I have no idea if you yourself are stupid or a moron, so I'll retract that overly broad remark. However I still think that not using indicators is stupid, moronic, and dangerous to other road users, and ultimately also to yourself. So I do think that you behavior in this particular situation desrves these labels. You're obviously intelligent enough to carry out relatively complex tasks on a computer. Can you explain to me why it is that you can't carry out a relatively simple safey procedure when you're driving?

Actually, indication is a process for me. I don't just "indicate because you're turning". I consider before I indicate - "Who can/will benefit from my indication?" taking into account the road users around me and the layout of the junction. There are plenty of siutations where I would refrain from, or delay indicating so as not to give a confusing signal. It's a judgement call moreso than a inbuilt habit, and while I'd prefer that people do at least attempt to indicate, I've had easily as many near misses caused by people's failure to give the correct signal. At least if someone doesn't signal, you automatically give them more caution.
This goes some way towards the reason why I can tend to not indicate when there's no-one around - Who's going to benefit from my indication, when a tree falls in the forest and all that. I don't not* indicate consciously, as I said before, it's mostly just laziness. Yes, even when there's no-one around, I probably should indicate anyway.

eoin_s, in response to that (1) its off topic. If you want to start a discussion on that start another thread and (2) Its irrelevant. (And I don't disagree with the fact that some cyclist are some of the worst users of the road, btw).

It's perfectly relevant. Cyclists are road users too and are bound by the obligation to indicate, just the same.

Seamus, as stated above there is nothing obvious about the fact that "vehicles" includes pedestrians. I would have thought the opposite myself. And as a pedestrian I always check to see if any cars are tuning onto a road before I cross it (near a junction obviously), but despite this there have been many occasions where cars turn left without indicating, thereby putting me in needless danger.

I have legs, so I'm a pedestrian too. I'm well aware of the need to give indication to pedestrians as well as other vehicles. When I say "vehicles", I mean "other road users", sorry if you saw it otherwise. From my perspective, all other road users are vehicles that could potentially result in my death - including pedestrians.

How does having and objection to this illegal dangerous behaviour turn me into someone who thinks "If it has an engine, it's evil" ?

It was your immediate need to jump on two posts, when clearly you failed to correctly interpret them, instead making up your own meaning. Perhaps it's because you're not used to this board, but there's a certain level of reading between the lines required. When prospect says "When there are no other cars around", obviously he still indicates when there are trucks, busses, trams, other road users, etc around.

*Sorry for the double negative

prospect

seamus wrote:

When prospect says "When there are no other cars around", obviously he still indicates when there are trucks, busses, trams, other road users, etc around

Correct.

the_syco

Macy wrote:

Enduro, surely cyclists should be "indicating" as much as any other road user?

They should, and I do.

The Atheist wrote:

FFS there's nothing wrong with not indicating if there's no other road users around.

Nearly crashed into a neighbour, as they decide to do a 3 point turn. 7pm, highly visable, coming down the midle of a road (was in an estate, cars @ both sides of the road parked), and she swings the car in my way. Indicators? Nope. Use of side-mirror? Nope: if she did she'd have seen me.

If I was a car, not a bycycle, I'd have slammed into the side of her car. Luckily [?] I was able to swerve to the right, and avoid the car.

Eoin

Enduro wrote:

eoin_s, in response to that (1) its off topic. If you want to start a discussion on that start another thread and (2) Its irrelevant. (And I don't disagree with the fact that some cyclist are some of the worst users of the road, btw).

Fine - I can't be arsed getting into a debate on a Monday, but I brought up the cyclists because you mentioned them first.

Macy

the_syco wrote:

They should, and I do.

So bringing in cyclists wasn't going off topic then, that's all I wanted clarification on.

As for your example, if you were coming down the road she shouldn't have been doing a 3 point turn. She should've stopped, indicators or not....

Scruff

absolutely hate it when drivers dont use their indicators on a roundabout.

Always wondered...If you are going on to a roundabout and end up being hit by a car already on the roundabout but was not using an indicators, are you still at fault?
hasnt happened me or anything, just wondering...

seamus

Scruff wrote:

Always wondered...If you are going on to a roundabout and end up being hit by a car already on the roundabout but was not using an indicators, are you still at fault?
hasnt happened me or anything, just wondering...

Yes you are. You must yield to traffic already on the roundabout. Simple as

prospect

seamus wrote:

Yes you are. You must yield to traffic already on the roundabout. Simple as

Even if they are not there!!!!!

the_syco

prospect wrote:

Even if they are not there!!!!!

If they are not there first, you are in the right. If you are not first, they're in the right.

prospect

Sorry, that was my poor attempt at a joke.

Apparantly it is absoloutly abhorant that i do not indicate when there is no one there to witness my indicating, let alone care about the actions i am about to make, as per my indications.
So, i was just curious whether it was also required, by the same rationale, to yield to someone who isn't there!

ando

any Bmw drivers going to contribute to this thread?

blastman

They don't know what we're talking about, I'd say...

DubTony

This thread has turned into one of those us against them threads. I love it.

I think it's despicable that people don't use indicators when there's no one to benefit.

Advanced drivers will know that you should always indicate when others can benefit from the signal. But if there's no-one there .... who gives a sh!t?

Personally I use indicators all the time, so I know where I'm going. ***Bom-bom - tisch***

Unless there's a cyclist nearby. They like to keep me guessing .. :rolleyes: ... 2 can play at that game.

As for BMW drivers ...

Enduro

Just to clarify why I think you should always indicate even if you think no-one is nearby. Its because you cannot be 100% sure that there is no-one nearby. Pedestrians in particular can be very hard to see under some circumstances. Just because you think that no-one is around does not actually mean that no-one is around.

Of course a second reason would be that not bothering to indicate could start to become a habit that creeps into your driving behaviour, so that you become more lazy about the need (and responsibility) to indicate, even when you know that there are other people around.

Just to logically extend the logic of not indicating when no-one is around, is it OK to speed when no-one else is around? Is it OK to run red lights when there is no-one about? Is it OK to drive drunk if you know with 100% certainty that there will be no-one on your route? Is it OK to drive the wrong way around a roundabout when no-one is around. These aren't wild fantasy scenarios. These are situations that I've heard have happened (with the no-one around justification).


And, Just 'cause it keeps creeping back into the thread...

Enduro, surely cyclists should be "indicating" as much as any other road user?

Yup. I agree. And yes, there are a large number of cyclist out there who disobey a large number of traffic laws. Cyclists should always indicate, and stop at red lights etc etc. But there many other issues that this area (cyclists indicating) throws up. For example, when a cyclist is in a cyle lane which goes straight on, but the cycle lane itself is part of a left turning lane, How does the cyclist indicate that they're going straight on (to the vehicles about to turn left accross the path of the cyclist)? (Dublin City Council, who build a lot of the facilites that lead to such dangerous situations have some truely bizarre ideas about what should happen here that have no basis in law).

It was your immediate need to jump on two posts, when clearly you failed to correctly interpret them, instead making up your own meaning. Perhaps it's because you're not used to this board, but there's a certain level of reading between the lines required. When prospect says "When there are no other cars around", obviously he still indicates when there are trucks, busses, trams, other road users, etc around.

I did actually read between the lines in so far as "cars" would include trucks, trams , buses and other 4+ wheeled vehicles. Personally I'd never interpret it to include pedestrians as well, and I can't think of any time in my life when Ive heard anyone use the word "cars" or "vehicles" to include pedestrians as well. If thats what was meant, then to my mind it wasn't very well phrased. As I said earlier, there are plenty of drivers out there who seem to drive with the attitude that pedestrians don't matter.

Shane Smith

sorry but I really cannot see the logic in any point of view that condones not using your indicators and saying "oh well there's noone around" is not a valid argument. You can NEVER be 100% sure (and if you think you are then may the force be with you!)

It just starts an extremely stoopid habit, and the poster who compared it to "belching when noone else is around" I don't think there is any real comparison to using indicators.

I didn't mean to start fights r anything but you non-indicators get right up my nose!

Lord Nikon

I don't really use them, unless i need to.

seamus

Shane Smith wrote:

sorry but I really cannot see the logic in any point of view that condones not using your indicators and saying "oh well there's noone around" is not a valid argument. You can NEVER be 100% sure (and if you think you are then may the force be with you!)

Of course you can, for the purposes of the indication. If you're not sure if there's anyone around you, then not using your indicators is the least of your problems.

There are certain situations where obviously things are obscured from view, but approaching a small open roundabout, it's extremely easy to see if there's anyone who might remotely benefit from your indication.

Enduro, you seem to think that indicating is as important as, say, driving in a straight line.

For the record, yes, driving home drunk would be fine - if you were guaranteed that there was absolutely nothing you could hit on the way home, i.e. if the way home was an infinitely wide field.

Enduro

If you're not sure if there's anyone around you, then not using your indicators is the least of your problems.

I disagree with this. If you assume that there are people around and drive accordingly, then you'll be a lot safer

There are certain situations where obviously things are obscured from view, but approaching a small open roundabout, it's extremely easy to see if there's anyone who might remotely benefit from your indication.

Given that its a legal requirement for you to use your indicators, and given that its extemely dangersous to other road users if you don't indicate your intentions, and given that you can never be 100% certain that there is no-one else around, can you give me one good reason for NOT using your indicators. The only reasons I can think of are (1) laziness (2) Ignorance (3) Arrogance or (4) stupidity, or any combination of those. In any case I can't think of any reason why it shouldn't be classified as simply being bad driving. I'd be interested if you can come up with a good reason why this is not the case.

Enduro, you seem to think that indicating is as important as, say, driving in a straight line.

Essentially yes. Failing to do either can quickly lead to crashes (accidents would be way too soft a word) and causalties. As it happens, the rules of the road also consider it to be an important mandatory non-optional part of driving.

For the record, yes, driving home drunk would be fine - if you were guaranteed that there was absolutely nothing you could hit on the way home, i.e. if the way home was an infinitely wide field.

In the real finite world I'm sure you would agree that there are many eejits in this country who decide to drive home drunk on the country roads from their local where where the likelihood of meeting anyone else on the road is extremely small. Is this OK? like you, they're deciding that there is no-one else around. Like you, most of the time they'll be right. But is it OK?

Curran

Funny thing about indicators is that they are only there for courtesy to let people know your intenion of turning!

But if im pottering along im my car and you are waitin say to turn right at the junction that i intend to turn left at i signal to turn left......you decide to pull out and i change my mind i keep going straight (stil with my indicator on) and i plow into the side of your nice car.......you are at fault.........good isnt it!

therecklessone

koneko wrote:

Without them, people aren't going to know where you're going.

And very often with them people still don't know where you're gonna go because of poor use of the bloody things...especially on roundabouts!

I know a guy who steadfastedly refuses to indicate right approaching a roundabout to take the 3rd (or subsequent) exit because he maintains he has to turn the car left on entering the roundabout! :eek: WTF?

halkar

I think it just happens with me and I indicate, even at 5am in the morning nothing around. Mind you I have came accross cows, sheeps, dogs, cats, rabbits, mice. Once I seen 6 cows gone for a walk on the road and I remember indicating to over take them. Got to love country roads

Capt'n Midnight

prospect wrote:

I am in the nasty habit of not using them when there is no other car around.
My wife gives out every time.

there is an add on ITN london region saying that half of the motorcyclists killed in the area are not seen by drivers who have looked in thier direction.

Just because you see no car doesn't mean they aren't motorcyclists or cyclists or pedistarians there.

Balfa

prospect wrote:

I am in the nasty habit of not using them when there is no other car around.

That's really bad. There are an infinite number of situations where indicators are useful, and we miss over half of these situations, so it's best to always use indicators regardless of what we think the situation is, because you never know for sure.

Not even from a safety point of view, but equally from a courtesy point of view. I'm going to start keeping golf balls in my car and throw one through the windshield of each car that turns into the lane i'm pulling out of when i'm waiting for them to drive past because they're not indicating.

Fair play to your wife though

Capt'n Midnight

From the BMW thread - applies to so many Irish Drivers.

bucks wrote:

528i

Who cares about 'indicating' ?

I've never heard such nonsense, its quite obvious that most bmw drivers (in their quest to get important things done) will overtake anything and everything given half a chance, so there's no real point, what they should do is indicate when they're 'not' going to overtake.

What I find highly amusing are the last minute turn ins to junctions where longanimously dispositioned motorists have been waiting patiently for hours to be allowed out, in typical bmw fashion you're going much to fast for them to 'chance it', then slow down to a snails pace while slowly turning in to that miserable, sorrowful looking 'jes I could'av gone long ago' impression out their side window, brings a smile every time, you should try it.

Dizzyblabla

Sunday morning I was driving under the jack lynch tunnel, it was 6.30 in the morning and there was 2 cars on the road, me and the taxi driver in front of me (on his phone) when you come out of the jack lynch tunnel, there is a roundabout, first exit is to the city centre, the second exit is for Dublin/Limerick, and the third one is for Waterford/Little Island (which was the exit I was going to take).

I went into the right hand lane, which was the correct lane to be in for this exit, and the taxi driver was in the middle lane, fair enough, so he should have been going to Dublin, he started to break at the Dublin exit, then changed his mind, (no indicators) and kept going towards the waterford exit...
This would have been ok if he had stuck to the outside lane as there are two lanes leading off that exit anyway, but he didn't, because he hadn't seen me and he went right over in front of me, driving in the middle of the two lanes (ie white stripy line in the middle of the road that separates one lane from the other) and still chatting away on his phone...

I saw him from the moment we got into the tunnel, cause he was in front of me, but he never saw me until I blew him out of it for his stupidity, he probably figure it's 6.30 on a sunday morning, who will be on the road, well, I was, and he could have caused a bad crash if I hadn't kept an eye on him..

now I'm only driving about 5 months, so maybe I am still a bit anal about things, but I cannot get over the lack of driving skills of people who have full licenses, mirrors and indicators are there for a reason, and they should be used...

halkar

528i wrote:

Who cares about 'indicating' ?

I've never heard such nonsense, its quite obvious that most bmw drivers (in their quest to get important things done) will overtake anything and everything given half a chance, so there's no real point, what they should do is indicate when they're 'not' going to overtake.

What I find highly amusing are the last minute turn ins to junctions where longanimously dispositioned motorists have been waiting patiently for hours to be allowed out, in typical bmw fashion you're going much to fast for them to 'chance it', then slow down to a snails pace while slowly turning in to that miserable, sorrowful looking 'jes I could'av gone long ago' impression out their side window, brings a smile every time, you should try it.

Wait till you come accross half dozen of cows gone for a power walking and see if they give a $hit about your badge. Maybe after when it is too late you will think if you had indicated

528i

you're talking about bray fitness centre arent you ?

Balfa

A list of situations in which you should indicate.

1. Turning. Duh.
2. Changing lanes. Don't forget to indicate well in advance (3 seconds for me). Mirror+Indicate, over the shoulder, start to move, over the shoulder again, stop indicating as soon as you touch the line, so that people in the next lane don't think you're heading all the way across. On a side note. Don't ever change across two lanes at once. Yeah, i know you don't often get more than two lanes in ireland, but if you do, change lane, stop indicating, drive, change lane again.
3. Moving sideways in the road even when not changing lanes! i.e. pulling away from the kerb, going around a parked car, etc.
4. When two lanes merge into one. Even if you're in the lane that doesn't end! If i'm driving in a dual carriageway and the lane to my right ends and merges into my one, i'll indicate right, to warn other road users that it's currently not a good idea to try and pass me on the right. Even though i don't actually move right. I do this even when there's "no one else around"
5. In car parks! The amount of people who don't indicate just because they're no longer on a public road really annoys me. Oh my goddd, when someone stops in front of me because they're waiting for someone ahead of them to vacate a parking space they want, and they don't indicate... it makes me want to zip around them and steal their space for not indicating.
6. BEFORE YOU BRAKE. When turning, you indicate first, then you start to slow down for your turn.
7. When your hand hovers at the indicator stalk for a moment and you're not sure whether it's worth indicating or not (every driver does this on occasion). This is a sure sign that you do need to indicate, so do it.

And remember, any indicator left on for more than about a hundred yards is useless. Because everyone assumes you're an idiot who can't figure out how to turn them off.

There are other situations, but i automatically do them when i'm driving and can't think of them when i'm not in that particular situation.

halkar

Naaaa, the ones I am talking about can't even afford the Dunne's ones.

Hi Ben Dunne here, bla bla bla.....

528i

Is that "Naaaa" as in sheepy avatar / farm-yard animal pun, are you a feirmeoir by any chance?

ok im going to bed

AMurphy

If the acceleration is greater than the response of the indicator relay, then forget it and use the accelerator as the indicator.

Macy

Dizzyblabla wrote:

now I'm only driving about 5 months, so maybe I am still a bit anal about things, but I cannot get over the lack of driving skills of people who have full licenses, mirrors and indicators are there for a reason, and they should be used...

Lack of driving skills, attention, and use of mirrors are by far the biggest factors in that. If he's used his indicators he still wouldn't have seen you...

Okay, I'll use my indicators next time, just incase theres a car, artic, cyclist, pedestrian hiding in a ditch ready to jump out if I don't indicate...

prospect

Shane Smith wrote:

You can NEVER be 100% sure[/i]

Bull****, my in-laws homeplace is on a long stretch of country road, there is about a half a mile each side of it without any turns, house or field entrances. It has a low hedge and about a metre of grass on each side of the road. I can see at the very least a mile in each direction when i turn into their place, and I can absolutely 100% guarantee you that when i turn in there without signalling, there is absoloutly no-one around to witness me turning.

Shane Smith wrote:

It just starts an extremely stoopid habit

I know, which is why i admitted in my first post that it was a bad habit, not a life threathning, potentially fatal excercise, just a bad habit, like picking your nose!

Enduro wrote:

is it OK to speed when no-one else is around?

Haardly, and if you can't see a difference in the situation, then you obviously have no idea what you are talking about. Speeding could result in someone jumping from a ditch onto the road, or meeting a pot hole to quickly that could take out your tyre, or rounding a bend to meet something stationary on the road, which you could not avoid. Slightly different, because a little orannge light flashing on the side of my car, will not make any difference in any of the above situations.

Enduro wrote:

Is it OK to drive drunk if you know with 100% certainty that there will be no-one on your route?

I think you are loosing the run of yourself here, no-one can guarntee that, ever. But if it was a closed private road, with 20ft walls on both sides, and absoloutly impossible for anyone else to get on it, and it was your choice, and your car, and your road, then why not?

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

Just because you see no car doesn't mean they aren't motorcyclists or cyclists or pedistarians there.

If this is the case, which it is not, then you could never turn anytime, anywhere, ever, indicators or not. Because you couldn't be sure that the motorcyclist saw your indicators. Brilliant logic, NOT.

Balfa wrote:

because you never know for sure

Yes I do, and if i'm not sure, on go the indicators....


Listen all you do-gooders, I know not using them when i am the only 'road user' is a bad habit.
But, that is all it is, because it is in no way dangerous at all when i AM 100% certain there is no one around effected by my turning.
So get over it.

englander

I was taught to drive in a sleepy town in the North of England.

My driving instructor encouraged his students not to indicate if there were no road users around.

He advised me to not indicate in these circumstances on my test, but to make sure I narrate my thoughts out loud
"no cars or road users around therefore no need to indicate..."

Apparently it demonstrates an entire awareness of your surroundings when you are making a turn etc.

Indicating when no road users will be affected by your manouvre demonstrates a lack of awareness in your immediate situation...apparently