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?

Funnily enough I had this conversation yesterday too.
Don't get me started on people who don't know how to use a mini round about then block up the road by entering it when their exit road is blocked my cars sitting at road work lights.

I followed someone yesterday through a series of junctions and roundabouts and they didn't indicate once. It's so dangerous.

I drive rurally a lot and there are lots of junctions where you should indicate, but because there are rarely any other cars around, people don't bother (no pedestrians either due to the nature of the roads). I think if you live somewhere where you generally don't need to indicate, you get used to it and then don't bother at all.

The lack of indicating when changing motorway lanes terrifies me. I often use the M25 which often has 4 (and even 5) lanes sometimes. So cars can be changing lanes in all directions - even cutting across 2 lanes at a time. It doesn't matter how many times you check your mirrors - you cannot guess if cars from both sides are suddenly going to go for the gap that you are heading for!

No idea OP - roundabouts do seem to be the places where the problem is at its worst. Even if people manage to indicate right, they don't switch to left as they get to their unction. I was out running a few weeks ago and I counted 5 cars, one after the other, go straight across a roundabout without indicating left as they got to their exit. The 6th one did (and then I ran off).

The other thing is the people who virtue signal about driving at 29mph in a 30 limit, but can't indicate or get in the right lane (and then cut you up because they are in the wrong lane). I'd rather you drove at 31 and drove properly, love.

Careless, lazy driving where they aren’t thinking about anyone else except themselves. Or they indicate AS they’re turning - it’s meant to be a heads up, not a comment on what you’re already doing!

It drives me crazy too. I'm not the best driver, but indicating is the easiest thing to do to make roads safer - it requires no effort at all.

I have wondered whether Audis have those fancy indicating lights now to make the drivers actually want to use them!

I think more people ought to be fined or given penalty points. It’s dangerous. Just come back from US where it’s even worse and the undertaking, no lane etiquette at all.

So many newer cars these days have automatic lights, automatic wipers, keyless entry and keyless start. The fact that all this reduces the amount you might have to think about pushing a button or pressing a switch in order to operate things on a vehicle probably contributes to the laziness in indicating. Some people are just inconsiderate idiots though and think indicating doesn’t apply to them, either that or the are poor at lane management.

I learned to drive as soon as I could, so around 11 years ago. DP only started taking lessons 2yrs ago as wasn't interested in driving when he was younger. The difference in the way we were taught is unreal, he was actually told that you lose points on your test if you "over indicate" - I thought this was bizarre and thought they must mean if you indicate incorrectly, but no, apparently now it's taught that you can over indicate!

For example, if there are no other cars around, you shouldn't indicate at a junction as it's over indicating. I asked about pedestrians and apparently you shouldn't indicate for pedestrians at all

I still have no idea as to why this is the case, can't get my head around it, but was confirmed by 2 different instructors so might be why we're seeing more folk just not bothering?

@KT2019 this is concerning and I didn't know anything about this "over indicating" business!

I think the "if there's no other cars around you" thing is a bit of a silly thing for an instructor to say.

What it does is it adds a layer of judgement as to when to indicate, when that layer isn't needed.

As in, surely if there's no cars around, then it harms no one if a signal is put on that no one sees!

But if someone self-selects as to when to signal, then it means it can start to creep into not signalling at all times, which is where the serious problems start.

My driving instructor taught me that I need to signal EVERY time I change lanes, exit a roundabout, turn off on to a different road etc. He said it doesn't matter is there is nobody around and that indicating correctly will never harm anyone so just do it. He drilled it in to nrb

YANBU! This drives me absolutely nuts. Its inconsiderate, selfish and lazy.

The ones I could take a shotgun to are those who sit in the right hand lane at red traffic lights then put their indicator on as the light turns green so you’re stuck behind them.👿

I was told about over indicating 3 years ago but it was in cases like pulling over if no car was behind you definitely not junctions, roundabouts or changing lanes.

I asked about pedestrians and apparently you shouldn't indicate for pedestrians at all

That's pretty worrying. Highway code is clear that signalling is there for the benefit of other road users including pedestrians.

@KT2019 I learned to drive two years ago and certainly wasn't taught that. I was always taught to indicate at junctions/roundabouts, when changing lanes, when pulling out and pulling in to parking places.

I can kind of see the argument that if there's nobody/nothing else around then indicating is a waste of time but I'd rather "over-indicate" than not indicate and cause an accident.

I asked about pedestrians and apparently you shouldn't indicate for pedestrians at all

That's wrong advice, you absolutely should. How am I supposed to know what you are doing if you don't tell me? As a pedestrian I almost need more information as I am more vulnerable.

I'm usually a very calm, collected and patient person. I can happily teach a class of 30 odd hormonal teenagers and not lose my cool once. But get me in front of a wheel with a car that does not indicate and I absolutely lose my temper. A lack of driving etiquette is my pet hate and it drives me insane.

It actually concerns me driving on a motorway and I have started hesitating to swap lanes if there's a car 2 lanes over in case they are thinking about moving over too but haven't bothered to indicate. I've seen a few near misses because of this- it's scary!

This is one of my current pet hates and it certainly increasing where I live. So dangerous. People who think drifting from one lane to the other on the motorway is acceptable 🙄

I was taught that you only indicate if there is someone to indicate to

Totally agree, it's lazy & selfish in the part of drivers.
As with pedestrians just walking out into the road & expecting drivers to stop (esp in towns) I suspect it's also due to their assumption that ther drivers don't actually want to hit them, and therefore will slow down or otherwise avoid them.
And of course if that strategy fails & they are hit - well, that's what no win, no fee is for, innit?!

My other bugbear is pedestrians & road users lack of awareness of the space needed by trucks & buses, esp articulated ones. The are big! so, really, stay away!!

Drives me nuts!

@KT2019 Your DP needs to sack off their instructor if that is how they're explaining over-indicating! Like @adaline i'm a fairly new driver - passed nearly 2 years ago, and the importance of indicating was drummed into me! 'Over-indicating' is indicating too far before turning so possibly giving misleading messages about your intent. It's usually a minor in a driving test, a major if it causes other road users to take action. The only time you needn't indicate is when performing a turn in the road manoeuvre. Other than that, it's de rigueur! I'm still an absolute stickler for indicating and checking my mirrors/blind spots. I'd like to think i'll keep that up

@KT2019 I passed my test in March and I wasn't taught about using indicators when overtaking the way my late father did. It's left me very confused when overtaking buses, but you will be glad to know that I not only check mirrors but I indicate when pulling out.

There's a huge roundabout on the route I use on the school run, and the layout means positioning doesn't really help when you are guessing whether they are turning or not. It's also incredibly busy, with some fast (ish) feeder roads. It would be lovely and straightforward if people indicated. As it is, it's a challenge some mornings.

'Over-indicating' is indicating too far before turning so possibly giving misleading messages about your intent.

Yes, this is what I was taught too. For example, if you're on a road where there are two turn-offs coming up on the right, and you're taking the second one, then over-indicating would be indicating before you reach the first exit, leading people to assume that's where you'll turn off.

For the record I don't personally believe in over indicating, and DP followed their rules to get through his test only. It was a new thing when they took out the 3 point turn etc from the test.

Other than indicating the wrong way or too early, I can't see how you can over indicate because its not like its a scarce resource that needs protecting! Better safe than sorry and all that.

I do think the idea of over indicating might be adding to the fact that less and less people do so though, either confused about how or when to, or think that's it's not always necessary whereas drivers who passed at other times will have been taught other rules/ways.