to ask why so many people have stopped indicating?!

[GinDaddy]

As per title really. Out with DW, long car journey on Sunday, and we ended up talking about this (not because we are boring, but more because we were struck by the number of incidents we saw in an hour).

Counted at least eight instances of us at a junction, waiting to go straight on; car is approaching opposite, bombing onto roundabout at 30mph, no indicator on, so you think they're shaping to go straight on also.....but no! Suddenly they're turning right and cutting across you.

You can look at their road positioning all you want for hints, but there are just people who time and time again, seem to "forget" to use indicators.

Changing lanes on motorway....dozens of instances we counted where people suddenly pull out and hope you brake in time not to plough into them.

And yes I am boring, section 185 of highway code is in my head, I try and operate in a way that makes it easier for other road users.

So what is going on? Is it arrogance? Laziness? Are people more distracted by phones, etc that they think telling other road users what they're doing is less important?

AIBU?

OMG, OP ! Are you me. I said exactly this to my DD yesterday.

Drives me nuts - particularly on roundabouts!

I have to say, the indicators on modern cars are getting smaller and smaller, and are located closer to the centre of the car, rather than on the out edges of light units, and I think are getting less easy to spot. Also, with modern cars having LED running lights, the indicators are often outshone as well. I suppose there must be standard that needs to be met, but I'm not sure that the standard is right!

@Seeline that's very interesting I'd never thought of this and thank you.

I still think however in the conditions we were in (low gloomy light) it would have been easy to see any indicator lights - indicators are visible at any time of day, and I've never had any trouble seeing them when people use them.

The problem here is that the vast majority of people didn't use them. And because we were being geeks yesterday, and decided to actually notice how few did use them, it became shocking that essentially the majority go "I don't care what happens next - if I shoot through quick enough I don't have to lift the finger to click on my indicator"

Laziness I think, people just grow lax the longer they have been driving. Bad habits form and they’re hard to break. I hate it too, it’s so dangerous.

is this new, though? I know that back in the day neither of my parents indicated at roundabouts or changing lane on the motorway. I find it baffling that they didn't!

There is a junction near me, 2 lines of one way traffic. At the junction you can turn left, right or go straight on. No-one ever indicates and often people aren't even in the correct lane so as a pedestrian waiting to cross you have no idea what anyone is going to do and end up standing there for ages like a lemon.

This drives me absolutely nuts! My dp rides a motorbike and I am quite often on the back. The amount of times we have had near misses where people just don't indicate is horrendous. It should be second nature to any driver/rider to indicate.

@cassianandor I'm sure you're right and it's not new, it's just people getting comfortable and or lax as @pinkout suggested

Your example above is spot on though - it just slows everyone down, and causes this strange rush mentality when people shoot through to avoid being hit (when actually they could show people what they're doing, and therefore go through without fear of safety issues)

More people don't indicate than do ime and a good quarter of those indicating at roundabouts, indicate incorrectly. I drove from Norfolk to Devon recently and was pretty appalled by it.

It’s part of the general degrading of society. The rise of ‘I’m All Right jack’ and the lack of consideration for others. Also the general lowering of common sense, IQ and care.

@MadamHattie it must be harrowing to say the least for you and your DP!

It drives me bonkers as a pedestrian too. There's a junction near me that's a nightmare to cross because of the number of cars that approach as if they're going straight on, then turn without any warning. Surprised there haven't been more accidents.

I've noticed this too, it's so irritating! It's people only thinking of themselves with no consideration for others.

That and just pulling out on mini roundabouts without looking to the right! A learner driver did this yesterday, and they were going surprisingly fast, going any faster I would have crashed into the side of the car grr.

I was thinking modern expensive cars didnt come with indicators, optional extra type of thing ... 'you probably wont use them so we didnt add them and you dont have to pay for them'

I know its a far wider concern that just modern cars and perhaps its just more noticable as i am perhaps more visually aware of nice new sleek car.

Did they ever start?

I was complaining about this too yesterday. I agree the newer cars tend to have tiny indicators and if the sun is shining they don't show up. When my DC were little and we were out walking it would drive me mad that cars didn't indicate when you waiting to cross a road.

My personal favourite is people who, on main roads with smaller side roads, do indicate to turn but only after they have breaked heavily and started turning

@inuk2004 haha I know what you mean about the modern expensive cars thing!

There seems to be a correlation with general arrogance, plus the fact that cars are so much more powerful than before.

So people see a gap ahead in the roundabout, lane or junction, and rather than think about the impact their turn will have on the position of another road user, they jam the accelerator and go for "their" gap.

@fragglesrooke

This is a classic!! Amen

Me and DH have noticed quite a few people indicating one way then going the other which is just ridiculous!

I noticed this yesterday too. Sat at a junction at a roundabout, someone from opposite entered the roundabout without indicating so obviously I presume they are going straight on. I pull out, indicating right as I'm taking the third exit. They continue to go all the way round the roundabout, exiting off the exit they entered from! Did a full 360 round the roundabout without indicating. They were honked at by myself and the driver at the next exit. So dangerous. It drives me insane!

Mini roundabout, car approaching was going straight on so I went to also go straight on. Had to slam on my brakes as he suddenly decided to go around the roundabout, no positioning or indicating clues. He stuck his finger up and shouted some abuse out the window while I was "WTAF"

People who don't indicate when you're trying to cross the road- argh! You're stood there waiting for them and then they just turn off meaning you could've crossed, but now a whole line of traffic has showed up and you're stood waiting for even longer! Grr.

It also drives me mad.
It`s pure laziness.
I also find it rude when you pull in to let a vehicle pass and the driver doesn't acknowledge you.
Ignorance in abundance.

@yesqueen doesn't it make you mad! It makes you feel like tailgating them and ramming the arse of their car with your bumper then giving them the finger whilst driving off, wind in your hair. Of course we would never do that as we are rational human beings, so we just carry on feeling slightly annoyed and moan when we get home...