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Original poster

Driving standards and use of indicators etc

31 replies

Flocke · 18/11/2024 09:31

AIBU to think that driving standards are just getting worse and worse or am I just getting old and grumpy?

I've been driving for about 25 years. Obviously there has always been dickhead aggressive drivers around but it seems to be getting so much more common.

The main thing that irritates me these days is what I feel is a new trend for what an indicator means.

I was taught it is to signal what you intend/ would like to do, BUT, you can only DO the maneuver if it is safe and you are able to do so. For example. You wish to turn right but there is a stream of cars coming. So you indicate, and wait until there is either a gap or some kind person let's you out. Also if you want to change lanes, you were meant to check mirrors and then indicate when it is appropriate and THEN do the lane change.

But these days people seem to think indicating means you ARE doing this manurevre IMMEDIATELY and all other cars just need to move out of the way.

So many times on motorways especially you are driving along and a car decides they want to be in your lane and they just indicate and start trying to come over pretty much into the side of your car. It's worse in traffic. If you're in a slip road queue there's always many cars who decide the queue doesn't apply to them so they go right until the hatched section then try to push in. I recently had 3 cars all trying to get in and one guy was screaming at me for not letting him in that "HE WAS INDICATING!!!" And??? It's taken me 15 minutes to get along that slip road and 2 other cars had already pushed in in front of me alone (not counting the many others who pushed in in front of all the other cars) so why should i let him in just because he's indicating?? The other 4 cars (that I could see) behind him were also indicating. I guess I'm meant to just live on that slip road for the rest of the day letting everyone push in because they're indicating.

So is it just me noticing this trend?

YABU - indicating means you have instant priority over the rest of the world

YANBU - indicating doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want and should still wait where necessary

Maybe I just should be thankful people actually use indicators at times. They're still in short supply on roundabouts.....

OP posts:
buffyspikefaithangel · 18/11/2024 11:38

I spend most of my time driving going
INDICATORS
ZIP MERGE

Original poster
Flocke · 18/11/2024 11:33

CoffeeCantata · 18/11/2024 11:16

I agree - and I do think driving standards have plummeted - basically because of an increase in aggressive and inconsiderate behaviouir.

I do realise that rules about what would have been considered 'undertaking' have changed with smart motorways etc, but one area I find scary now is the big spiral roundabouts. You will usually need to move lanes on these as you go round, but I find that, however much I check my mirrors and indicate, some prat will prevent me from getting into my lane and therefore make me miss my exit. Really horrible!

I get that you are complaining about people who perhaps indicate late and just barge in, but I find more issues with people who just ignore other people's indicators. I you're indicating in good time that you need (not just WANT) to move into another lane, the driver to your left should allow you to move in, surely?

Yes I mean the aggressive drivers that indicate last minute then move pretty much as they're doing it. You can tell the type. If someone looks a bit lost or has realised their turning is coming up you can normally tell different "body" (car?) language.
But. I do also think that even if you miss your turning possibly through no fault of your own, you just need to keep going round again as annoying as it is. The fact that you even mention the fact you miss your exit means you're likely to be a nice considerate driver. Rather than just stopping in the middle of a huge roundabout and forcing your way over causing chaos.
Obviously in situations like those roundabouts people should be nice and let you in as it's how the roundabout is designed. But those same aggressive drivers are likely the ones stopping you.

I recently was approaching a small normal quiet roundabout (in a small town) and the person in front was the only car around. They clearly didn't know where they were going. So what did they do? They drove half way round the roundabout and..... stopped. Just stopped. It's one lane. I can't get round them. I beeped once and they just gave me the finger. They must have sat there for about 20 seconds. I'm guessing looking on their phone for directions. It's a fucking residential area. Just take one of the turnings and pull over!!!!! Don't just stop on a roundabout to find out what exit you need! Idiots.

OP posts:
Ruffpuff · 18/11/2024 11:22

I only passed my test a last month and other drivers not indicating or indicating as they are making the manoeuvre are causing me so much stress.

CoffeeCantata · 18/11/2024 11:16

I agree - and I do think driving standards have plummeted - basically because of an increase in aggressive and inconsiderate behaviouir.

I do realise that rules about what would have been considered 'undertaking' have changed with smart motorways etc, but one area I find scary now is the big spiral roundabouts. You will usually need to move lanes on these as you go round, but I find that, however much I check my mirrors and indicate, some prat will prevent me from getting into my lane and therefore make me miss my exit. Really horrible!

I get that you are complaining about people who perhaps indicate late and just barge in, but I find more issues with people who just ignore other people's indicators. I you're indicating in good time that you need (not just WANT) to move into another lane, the driver to your left should allow you to move in, surely?

caramac04 · 18/11/2024 10:05

I was taught to indicate for pedestrians too. So often I am waiting to cross a road but waiting for a car - none of this pedestrians have right of way bollocks, I’m not stepping out in front of a car - it’s obvious I’m waiting to cross, at a T junction, and the driver turns off immediately before me without indicating. Makes me so cross, especially when it’s raining and I just want to get home. I’ve either got bags of shopping or a dog with me. Just bloody indicate - it’s not difficult.

Saddlesore · 18/11/2024 09:58

Agree! But also so many see indicators as optional. There's a bastard junction near me where a side road joins a main road. The main road follows a sharp right bend, but just on the bend is the side road, so any car approaching the bend can either go straight ahead into the side road or continue on the main road around the bend. I'm often sitting for ages on that side road watching cars sail straight ahead into it, rather than around the bend, without indicating, meaning I could have pulled out if I had known their intention.

Also, what are the unseen powers in supermarket car parks that disable so many cars' indicator lights?