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

[Jolleigh]

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? ?

YADNBU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Every time I'm out driving, I seem to be muttering "indicate idiot!!" My dh has started saying it too.

Drives me crazy!

What LazyJaney said. Plus loads of other drivers just don't bother.

I often sit there muttering, 'right, well now we know you want to go THAT way, but how were we supposed to know that asshole '

I do forget occasionally when I have someone in the car and am trying to drive and hold a conversation (hard work) but normally I make sure I do it. Especially on roundabouts.

There was a VERY near miss the other day and I actually put my hands up to my face and screamed, thinking that a car was about to hit us full on - they had either not indicated that they were turning off, and the lorry on their left had pulled out assuming they were going right round in the other lane - or the lorry had ignored their signal - and then they cut straight across in front of the lorry, which I was sure was going to hit them and shove their car into ours.

Thankfully they got away with it. But it was fecking close.

YANBU!

Drives me up the wall and makes me nervous.

My driving instructor was polish and she said its something lots of people don't bother with out there. She was really hot on indicating and I like to think I'm pretty good too.

Drives me mad as a pedestrian, lots of cars won't indicate that they are turning into the side road you are trying to cross. Grr.

I think everyone should have to retake their test every 7 years or so.

This is a bug bear of mine. Where I live there's the main street,and to the side is a small slip road. To cross you have to cross the main,wait at the island and then cross the slip road. Most of the time drivers don't indicate that they are going to come down the slip road so its a bit of a nightmare,especially if I have DCs with me.

That and impatient drivers beeping me as I cross when the green man is showing.
And no fog lights in foggy conditions. Do they not understand that I can't see them,worse when they drive a silver car.

There are lots of bad habits out there. I get annoyed at people who don't seem to know the correct way to indicate at a roundabout.

They either don't do it at all or just seem to indicate whichever direction their steering wheel is moving the whole way round - which tells me nothing!

I indicate when there are no cars just incase I haven't noticed a pedestrian. If there is very obviously not a soul around then fair enough.

I generally indicate automatically anyway.

OP - YANBU

people indicating incorrectly on roundabouts really puss me off too..

It seems there's nobody on MN who's willing to admit to not indicating on busy roads I can only assume it's because there really is no argument justifying it rather than it genuinly being a case of everyone who's read the thread being habitual indicators.

I do think the 'there's nobody around me' argument is a recipe for disaster though...not only on the off chance that you've not noticed someone, but also because it should be habitual rather than an extra thought process.

I am also relatively certain you won't incur a fault on a driving test for indicating with no cars behind you. I learned to drive in Manchester after the new style tests came in and was always taught that indicating had to become 2nd nature...you don't check your mirrors and blind spot to asses whether to indicate...you do it to be aware of your surroundings and potential hazards.

Yanbu. Personally I think we should all retake our driving tests every 10 years, and every 5 years over the age of 65. My own father is 68 and badly needs someone official to tell him he shouldn't be driving without glasses. He also has very little concept of lane discipline or indicating.

I passed my test in 1989 and was taught "Mirror, signal, manoeuvre.

Not "Mirror, signal only if you can see another vehicle, then manoeuvre."

I'm not aware that the Highway Code has changed in that regard.

Twattybollocks - epic name. Sure I shouted that at a non-indicator this morning

Sidge - that bit of it certainly hasn't changed. I'm pretty sure you're taught that in the first 6 minutes of your first lesson, yet somehow it appears to be optional!

Yanbu. Drives me mental.

However advanced driving courses do teach you not to indicate when there is no one to indicate to. It shows you're aware of you're surroundings. I had to go for long, fast, windy road drives in the country on my course and if I indicated my teacher would say "who are you indicating to?"..... Me "uummmm.......".

I'm also very much in favour of periodically retaking tests. A recently deceased neighbour of my mum's unfortunately only realised she shouldn't be on the road when she backed into my mum's garden wall. She didn't mean any harm and the poor dear was well into her 90s but it wouldn't have been nearly so forgivable if there had been a child in front of the wall.

I think it's dangerous to only use your indicators on certain occasions as it makes it easier to forget to use them when it's necessary. Far better to just get into the habit of using them at all times.

YANBU I REALLY don't understand this! People sliding in and out lanes on busy motorways and tearing off roundabouts not indicating - how much effort is it to indicate FFS!!

Meglet...do you mean the pass plus or a different course? I was even taught on my pass plus that indication wasn't optional

And I'm not too sure myself of the connection between awareness of surroundings and indicating...I honestly think you should always be indicating on the off chance you've missed something.

But I digress...it's still more about those on blatantly busy roads who don't feel the need rather than those who make a judgement call on a seemingly empty road.

Exactly shallweshop. My DH doesn't indicate all the time and it drives me potty. Driving is quite hypnotic and indicating should be part of that - an almost subconscious reflex.

I don't indicate when I'm going straight over at a mini roundabout - should I?

I indicate even if there aren't cars around. If I get marked down on my test for it I will be pissed.

It's a good habit to be in, especially for a learner.

People pull up outside a shop two doors down from me without indicating all the time. Tis infuriating.

I usually shout over and let them know, politely, that their indicator is not working after I have pulled into my driveway.

Most people apologise quickly

beepoff - nope. If you're going straight across there isn't a logical way to indicate so you don't. Theoretically this should show others that you're going straight over but with the sheer number who don't indicate but then go left or right, it's practically lost its meaning now.