To think that if someone doesn't indicate properly, any resulting accident should be wholely their fault?

[AKMD]

I've noticed in the years I've been driving that about half the people on my town don't indicate properly or at all, especially at roundabouts. There are lots of big roundabouts in my town and it's a nightmare trying to guess whether that car that's indicating left is actually coming off or if they're still going round (usually still going round ) or the car that looks like it's going right is actually going straight across etc. etc.

I think it would be a whole lot fairer if someone who caused an accident by indicating wrongly had 100% fault automatically. E.g. if car A is going round a roundabout, indicating left so car B pulls out but then gets smashed into as car A meant the next left, the fault should lie wholely with the driver of car A, even though car B should give way to the right.

AIBU? Or did that make no sense :o

It would be nice if everyone did but as others have said, the indication is not a promise! I accidentally knocked the left one on when driving straight and someone went to pull out of a side turning. Emergency stops all round and a deserved gesture in my direction but in the reverse situation I never pull out until I can see the path a car is definitely taking. Indicators stay on sometimes after shallow turns or get knocked off by a sharp bend just before the turn. If you have young kids in the car you are quite likely to be distracted at some point (more so than by a mobile probably) so best not to trust them.

I was crossing a side road on Saturday, with my 4 year old and 2 year old. We were half-way across when a car turned into the street without indicating and missed us by a whisker. I was really shaken. If we'd been a second earlier crossing the road, he'd have knocked us all down. Definitely his fault!

Does that include expensive German cars, as they don't seem to come with indicators.

True. And they don't appear to have speedometers either.

Some twat pulled out in front of me on Saturday. I slammed my breaks on so I didn't hit him. Guy behind me slammed into me.

The guy that pulled out in me fucked off!!

He didn't indicate. Bastard!

I just assume every other person on the road is a twat and can't drive. It's worked so far.

It seems to be mostly men who do not bother to indicate around here. I think they think it is not manly to indicate. Same with pedestrian crossings with lights, no one seems to slow down/stop when lights are amber going red. Get out of my way you daft person daring to WALK.
And don't get me started on driving/parking over pavements ......

:o at the rage on here. I do just assume that the people who do indicate are lying but then that means missing a good 2 or 3 chances because I wasn't sure. So it doesn't automatically cure all evils. If everyone indicated properly then it would be a lot safer and there would be shorter queues at roundabouts. If someone not indicating assumed 100% of the responsibility for an accident then people might learn to use those funny stick things by the steering wheel.

CCTV?

Indicating is an 'intention' - it is not set in stone. If you pull out in front of a car that is indicating to go one way and then changes its course, then you are to blame, I'm afraid. That's the law.

I know OldGrey, that's why I'm asking if anyone else thinks that the law should be changed.

Sorry for the typos BTW

The only thing of which you can be sure when you see someone indicating right or left is that their indicator is working.

Actually, if you have an independent witness (who wasn't in your car) who will confirm that the person was indicating and then didn't carry out the manouever it is quite likely that they will shoulder some of the liability from an insurance perspective in the event of an accident.

I used to work in motor insurance, and cases like this are often settled on a 75%/25% split of liability (the 25% belonging to the person indicating)

I was joining a main road from a T Junction.
There was a woman driving a people carrier indicting to turn left (into the road I was on)

My driving instructor used to say "don't make a move until you see them turn their wheels".
Just as well, she went straight across me and fecking laughed as she drove by.

oldgreywhiffletest What law is it that you're referring to?

I've not seen any part of either Statute or case law that says that.

The Road Traffic Act does, however state that driving without consideration for other road users is an offence.

I guess its all a mater of interpretation, but imo (and the opinion of insurance companies) that could well include indicating and then not turning.

mater? Of course I meant matter

My husband has a theory that Audis aren't actually fitted with indicators.

I trust no-one at roundabouts. This sometimes annoys the people behind me, who think they can better work out the intentions of the person on the roundabout who isn't indicating.

Are you serious Stranded?! you forget for an hour?

I have only been driving for a year and drive defensively because none of the other fuckers can be trusted it actually takes quite a lot of concentration, hard with two young DCs in the back, bit I'd hate myself if I was in an accident with them.

I regularly get pissed off at roundabouts because people don't use indicators properly. DH included.

I really think people should have to retake their test every ten years.

Audi stands for
Always
Uselessly
Driven
Innit

Ah yes, the people behind gifted with psychic abilities. Or possibly they just don't care if you put yourself in peril pulling out as long as you get out of their terribly urgent way. It's become increasingly popular in Ireland for people to use their horns if they feel the person in front of them is not going out into a (sometimes imaginary) gap when they feel they should.

I recently had someone honking away behind me and gesturing madly at the roundabout. Yes, there was a gap. There was also a big red traffic light in front of me as it's a light-controlled roundabout

It's a good habit to get into just indicating at all times. Road users may well be aware of lanes and priorities, but padestrians on the street may not, and so rely on looking for indicators when knowing when to cross etc.

It's safe, and polite to use them.

Yes, non-inidcators should be responsible if an accident happens that would not have if they had used them.

YANBU - this very issue always gives me blood pressure a little exercise...

I remember arguing with my driving instructor some years ago as he said I shouldn't indicate when there were no other vehicles around as I would be marked down for "lack of observation." This made little sense to me (and I indicate regardless). Hopefully that's not something that's still being taught.

With roundabouts your not meant to indicate until coming off although I like most people indicate as a curtusy to other road users.

I always indicate - other road users being around or not. It's useful for pedestrians (if you do it properly!) and it's just a good habit to get into