Driving standards and use of indicators etc

[Flocke]

AIBU to think that driving standards are just getting worse and worse or am I just getting old and grumpy?

I've been driving for about 25 years. Obviously there has always been dickhead aggressive drivers around but it seems to be getting so much more common.

The main thing that irritates me these days is what I feel is a new trend for what an indicator means.

I was taught it is to signal what you intend/ would like to do, BUT, you can only DO the maneuver if it is safe and you are able to do so. For example. You wish to turn right but there is a stream of cars coming. So you indicate, and wait until there is either a gap or some kind person let's you out. Also if you want to change lanes, you were meant to check mirrors and then indicate when it is appropriate and THEN do the lane change.

But these days people seem to think indicating means you ARE doing this manurevre IMMEDIATELY and all other cars just need to move out of the way.

So many times on motorways especially you are driving along and a car decides they want to be in your lane and they just indicate and start trying to come over pretty much into the side of your car. It's worse in traffic. If you're in a slip road queue there's always many cars who decide the queue doesn't apply to them so they go right until the hatched section then try to push in. I recently had 3 cars all trying to get in and one guy was screaming at me for not letting him in that "HE WAS INDICATING!!!" And??? It's taken me 15 minutes to get along that slip road and 2 other cars had already pushed in in front of me alone (not counting the many others who pushed in in front of all the other cars) so why should i let him in just because he's indicating?? The other 4 cars (that I could see) behind him were also indicating. I guess I'm meant to just live on that slip road for the rest of the day letting everyone push in because they're indicating.

So is it just me noticing this trend?

YABU - indicating means you have instant priority over the rest of the world

YANBU - indicating doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want and should still wait where necessary

Maybe I just should be thankful people actually use indicators at times. They're still in short supply on roundabouts.....

I agree. I don't think the instructions are teaching to use signals as had two learners today without signals that needed signals. In my town a learner and instructor went down a one way street wrong way recently but luckily that was photoed and reported...how they missed the massive signs I don't know. Proper instructor as well.

I agree. I don't think the instructions are teaching to use signals as had two learners today without signals that needed signals. In my town a learner and instructor went down a one way street wrong way recently but luckily that was photoed and reported...how they missed the massive signs I don't know. Proper instructor as well.

Yea so many don't even bother to indicate at all though.
The slipping in an off ramp is a real bugbear - nothing to do with indicating, it's the 'oh I don't need to wait like everyone else someone will let me in', which then causes the other lanes to get backed up. I regularly drive down the A3 and the junction with the M25 is on a three year expansion plan. There are always tailbacks there, and there are always people who think they can jump in last second. And no excuses - there are half a dozen or more signs about the queues and what lane you should be in.
Roundabouts - ugh. People seem to have totally forgotten how these work too.

Omg I didn't know that was a thing! It's so bad, along with the crime etc, owning a car in London is a nightmare

I still use indicators as I was taught by my instructor back in 1964. No excuse for anyone not to use them.

He hadn't left his indicator on; I saw him switch it on as he approached the second exit. Plus, he was in the outside lane. If he had always intended to take the third exit, he should have been in the inside lane and indicating right.

I'm generally cautious at junctions/roundabouts and you'll find posts from me on here telling new drivers to take their time at junctions, don't worry about people behind you getting annoyed, move off when you're 100% sure of what's going on, etc.

The fact that this bellend was in the outside lane and deliberately signalling left as he approached the exit meant I was satisfied that it was safe. Regardless, my trust in other drivers has gone from 10% to 0% since then, so I won't make that mistake again.