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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that drivers who don't bother indicating should have to retake their test?

97 replies

Jolleigh · 18/08/2013 23:07

Just broke down on a busy ish A road right near an exit, luckily there was somewhere to pull in.

Was there for about 40 minutes and only about 3 cars that pulled out at the exit indicated that they were doing so (possibly a slight over exaggeration but non indicators certainly made up the majority.)

Seriously, are there actually any valid excuses for not bothering to indicate? I get the odd time it may slip a person's mind but it honestly seems that indicating has become a 50/50 occurrence nowadays.

How would others propose enforcing this particular rule of the road? ?

OP posts:

TrinityRhino · 18/08/2013 23:07

YADNU

TidyDancer · 18/08/2013 23:09

Yanbu.

There are lots of reasons people should have to retake tests though. And there are tonnes of drivers who shouldn't be behind a wheel full stop. Retest or no retest.

TidyDancer · 18/08/2013 23:11

On another note, are you home now? Hope everything is okay!

NoComet · 18/08/2013 23:13

The white van driver who pull out in front of me. Then realised he was in the wrong lane and pull back into the left lane all without indicating should be shot.

Not only did he nearly cause an accident pulling off the end of the right turning lane as it ended, I couldn't swear as I had someone else's 10y DD with me.

Ilovemyself · 18/08/2013 23:15

Oh no. Not another driving thread. It will end in tears lol.

You are right - the number of people that do not indicate, especially on roundabouts is crazy.

My proposal is a person at every junction with a rocket launcher ..........

redrubyshoes · 18/08/2013 23:25

I have a dear, dear friend who drives me nuts. I am driving along a quiet and empty country lane and turn left/right whatever. She leans over and turns on my indicators. The road is empty ffs!

I use my indicators in town, on roundabouts, in cities, when changing lanes on a motorway and every other bloody time. Do NOT lean over and turn on my indicators on an empty road. I have looked in every mirror and KNOW the road is devoid of vehicles!

Not the point of the OP I know but just needed to vent! Who the feck am I indicating to? An F1 driver on a dirt track in deepest Cumbria? I can see half a mile ahead and half a mile behind.

BTW she has 6 points on her license and mine is clean.

So there.

theboutiquemummy · 18/08/2013 23:31

Jolliegh are you home safe now ?

As for indicators what about the ones who leave them on dont turn of then they go oops need to go that way opposite way to which they are indicating n crash into the side of you going about your merry way !!

Ilovemyself · 18/08/2013 23:33

Redrubyshoes. Your friend is in the wrong. But so are you. The one time you don't see a vehicle or cyclist or pedestrian and cause an accident is the time you will regret it.

Original poster

Jolleigh · 18/08/2013 23:37

Yep I'm home safe...the car just overheated (not sure why...I'll have to get her seen). Just sat there for quite a while with nothing better to do than counting indicators lol.

OP posts:

LongTailedTit · 18/08/2013 23:38

I reckon they believe that indicating is optional. Twats.

DH and I frequently mutter at each other "Oh look, they spent all that money on a nice new BMW but couldn't stretch to the indicators, what a shame". But it's not only expensive car drivers anymore, it's everyone.

Having said this, I do feel redruby's pain - I indicate out of sheer habit on country lanes, even tho there is no real need, but seriously, next time she does it say;
"If you ever do that again you will have to sit in the back seat", complete with Mum Glare.

nokidshere · 18/08/2013 23:43

I had no left indicator this week. I got a few rude signs from other drivers when I was driving to and from Halfords to buy a replacement bulb!!!! I got a few more rude gestures when I drove somewhere else the next day because Halfords gave me the wrong bulbs and didn't sell the one I needed.

LongTailedTit · 18/08/2013 23:46

PS Jolleigh - I see your car is a she! Does she have a name?
I have never yet heard of a 'male' car, they're always female, and called things like Emma or Julie.

Original poster

Jolleigh · 18/08/2013 23:50

She's called Fanny Fanny Adams on Sundays.

OP posts:

maja00 · 18/08/2013 23:51

I hate drivers who think they don't have to indicate if there aren't any other cars around - sometimes it is actually useful for pedestrians to know what the fuck you're doing!

Original poster

Jolleigh · 18/08/2013 23:51

nokidshere - even I'll forgive that one...but I'd say it's certainly the exception!

OP posts:

Lora1982 · 18/08/2013 23:54

It should be habit to use indicators at all times. They have hand signals for when they arent working not that id ever do them

jaggythistle · 19/08/2013 05:09

I agree, of you get into the habit of always indicating, you won't forget.

I think I have trained my Dad to indicate more, he was awful and I was when I was in the car with him. I did turn his on for him, but he's my faff so I could get away with it.

I am enraged daily by lack of indicating, especially at roundabouts.

jaggythistle · 19/08/2013 05:10

My faff? My Dad, clearly!

MrsKoala · 19/08/2013 06:26

Ilovemyself - i took my 3rd test (and failed) recently and i have always been taught (by 5 different instructors) that if you indicate when there is no one about you will get marked down as it demonstrates you aren't sufficiently aware of your surroundings. I have also been taught to drive 'defensively' and to generally disregard other cars indications as they are often wrong. I was told to pay attention to the position of the car and the direction of the wheels

My dad is an excellent driver but wont indicate on roundabouts. Drives me mad.

NewAtThisMalarky · 19/08/2013 06:38

My dad was in the military, and had done several advanced driving courses. I soon learned not to indicate when there were no other vehicles on the road, after driving him around when, due to illness, he couldn't drive any longer. I suspect the sane happened with most of the family.

Whether or not you are being unreasonable depends on how many other cars were around. If its anything like roundabouts here, op, I suspect YANBU.

CreatureRetorts · 19/08/2013 06:39

YANBU but I think lack of indication only scratches the surface!

CreatureRetorts · 19/08/2013 06:41

Reading other posts - yes not if there are no other drivers but when I'm driving, I can see you therefore indicate!

And as for not indicating on roundabouts - I had this argument discussion with DH the other day. He doesn't always indicate but got cross when someone else didn't when he was waiting to enter

Original poster

Jolleigh · 19/08/2013 06:43

I really don't know why an instructor would teach anyone not to indicate! I genuinly don't see why there's an advantage to it not being habit.

As someone else has said, the one time you think there's nobody to indicate to and you hit someone will be the time that lesson is learned.

OP posts:

pinkmagic1 · 19/08/2013 06:48

Indicators are not just for other cars, pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders also need to know what way a car is turning.

Lazyjaney · 19/08/2013 06:56

It's well known that if you buy an expensive German car or large upmarket 4x4 you no longer need to indicate as all other motorists have to give way....

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