Do you indicate if there's nobody else around?

[Cryingatthegym]

Hard hitting question of the day...

Was thinking about this yesterday as I drove to my gym which is along a quiet country lane - no other cars around at all but I still indicated as I turned in.

Got me wondering if I'm normal or not? Do you still indicate even if there's nobody else around to see it?

You're the one not understanding, look at the posts telling you that advanced driving instructors teach you not to indicate if there's no one to indicate to

It almost doesn't need to be said, its self explanatory

Your conclusion that I'm intelligent is totally bizarre, I didnt write the advanced driving curriculum 😂

I do just out of habit. The car also freaks out if I move lane etc without indicating.

Nope

That’s my view, too. When I was first taught, a long time ago, by an ex police driving instructor, he was adamant that I must indicate in case there was someone I’d not noticed or someone was not visible to me but was relying on my signalling.

When, years later and after a break in driving, I had refresher lessons, also with an ex police driving instructor, I was roundly told off for indicating when no one was around.

Personally, I don’t see the need to prove to anyone whether or not I’m aware of my surroundings, and indicating is automatic. Plus far too many drivers don’t indicate when they should, such as when turning left.

If I were on open moorland and no one was around for miles then I wouldn’t.

I hate when drivers don't indicate just because they don't see another car around. As a pedestrian I want to know what you are planning.

As a driver, I do indicate - I asses what's around me and made my decision clear to everyone including myself and the assistance systems in my car.

Does it really matter if you indicate on a deserted road? No. Who is around to judge your driving skills? Nobody.

On the other hand, if you don't indicate on a deserted road and somebody you haven't seen but they have seen you, assumes you're not turning because you're not indicating...

I'll stick to indicating 'on autopilot' thanks.

You should do, anyone could come out of nowhere......pedestrians maybe

No but I'm Emergency Services so trained not to

Yes I do.

Even if there are no other drivers around there may be pedestrians who would quite like to know what you are doing.

Yes i remember my driving instructor telling me not to do this but I do it all the time. Its good its a habit

It’s a bad habit.
doing something while driving without thinking is more dangerous than considering if it’s needed and making a conscious decision. That’s why it’s safer to not be on “autopilot”

interesting how many posters are saying they don’t believe this or will carry on anyway

This is what looking at your surroundings is all about. A good driver notices everything and will indicate when they need to, this includes when there are ‘no other drivers around and there may be pedestrians’

A proper driver is constantly assessing the whole situation. They don’t need to indicate when there is nobody to indicate to: that means cars, pedestrians and cyclists.

I do. It's just auto-pilot now. Far easy than looking around trying to decide if you need to!

Yes I do.

Yes because there might be a pedestrian who needs to know where you're going before they cross the road

No I generally don’t if no ones around, I don’t see the need as no one is there.

This

I run quite early in the mornings and noticed quite a lot of cars don't indicate if there are no other cars around. They seem to forget pedestrians need to know where they are going as well! So for that reason I always indicate just in case(and out of habit).

Nope, but I live in a very quiet area with very few pedestrians either.

I passed my test back in '86 and that was what I was told then.

No, I don’t. I don’t see the point in it.

Im not in autopilot driving, having a habit and not thinking are not the same things

No. If there’s nobody to indicate to, there’s literally no reason to do it.

I don't drive, but I can't abide people who don't indicate. We live on a one way street, drivers turning into it frequently fail to indicate. As a pedestrian, I'm standing at the junction expecting them to go straight ahead, stood still, carrying my shopping.

Yes I do.