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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

in thinking indicators aren't just a pretty accessory????

51 replies

juneybean · 16/04/2009 15:04

Why do people not use them?! I mean indicators on cars in case you don't know what I'm talking about lol.

Today I was coming home and the car in front decided to break suddenly then move over into the next lane...if they had their indicators on I could assume they were going to slow down.

Then at the top of the slip road they still didn't indicate.

Would I have been unreasonable to start pipping my horn at them (I didn't)

OP posts:
TheHedgeWitchIsNAK · 16/04/2009 18:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

lalalonglegs · 16/04/2009 18:18

Or the double flickers - people who think that if they put on their hazard lights, their cars defy physics and is not blocking the road by its sheer bulk and/or bad parking.I had someone "park" at the traffic lights a few months ago, just got out of his car that we were queueing behind but, it was ok! He'd put his hazards on so his car had become a kind of plasma we could all drive through.

BlueIsTheColour · 16/04/2009 18:30

Absolutely not unreasonable at all. Probably the same people who I saw all winter driving wirh their highbeam on cos only one of their headlights was working. They never dipped either - I spent all winter blinded by their lights............obviously a whole breed of drivers who don't know what those funny sticks are at the side of the steering wheel!!!

Gentle · 16/04/2009 18:48

YANBU, it's lazy, dangerous, dim, small-minded.

Can I also add that pedestrians and cyclists would like to have a clue where cars are going, too? I'm so tired waddling across sideroads after checking all around to see if anyone is about to turn, only to find someone ploughing into the junction and going all red in the face because I have the audacity to be walking my pregnant arse across the place where THEY wanted to go and no, they shouldn't have to indicate because there aren't any other PROPER road users around.

And breathe...

Stayingsunnygirl · 16/04/2009 18:49

Ohhh I met one of those idiots today, lalalonglegs!! This old dear thought that using her hazard lights meant that she didn't have to park her car properly whilst she nipped across the road!! I should have tootled her with vigour.

LoneStranger · 16/04/2009 18:59

HedgeWitch, you nicked my moan. I cant abide drivers who do the 'one flick' thing. Must confess that my DP does this and it winds me up no end. At his worst, I notice that he actually indicates AFTER he has startd the manouevre - drives my mad especially when he cuts into the front of queue of traffic that has patiently waited in the correct lane. I usually end up looking apologetically to the offended driver. When I scorn DP, he just says "what?" He really doesnt seem to get it.

cyteen · 16/04/2009 20:48

Ooh yes, DP had a splendid rant about flickers last weekend after one almost forced us into the path of a speeding BMW tearing up the fast lane

ChezzaB · 16/04/2009 21:54

I am just learning to drive and my instructor informed me that it is actually not a legal requirement to use your indicators but they 'can' be used if it will help other road users!! I was gob smacked by this as I get reallt annoyed as a pedestrian when people don't use their indicators so I dont know if it's actually safe to cross a road. Just thought this was food for thought!

Pan · 16/04/2009 21:59

no, they are optional extras on BMWs, Volvos and 4-wheelers.

noonki · 16/04/2009 22:01

my best ever driving tip was

Never trust an indicator...

for some reason I c an no longer remember my boyfriend when I was a teenager and I used eto find it really funny to say this to each other

but reackon it has saved me from a numbver of crashes over the years!

MommyHasaHeadache · 16/04/2009 22:05

OOh this is my biggest bug bear!! Especially when people decide they want to reverse into a parking without giving you any prior warning such an indcating!! When I was quite heavily pregnant and very hormonal, I gave someone a mouthful for doing just that - not normally something I would have done!! But really - I could have crashed into her! Grr!

MommyHasaHeadache · 16/04/2009 22:06

Noonki - my DH says that too - he will never turn until he is sure that the person who has indicated to turn is REALLY turning.

Simplysally · 16/04/2009 22:07

My brother used to say that indicating left or right at junctions showed your political alligences and was nothing to do with your intentions when driving (he doesn't drive).

I'm starting to think that he's right - driving where I do requires a certain amount of nerves or rather lack of them.

Original poster
juneybean · 17/04/2009 00:46

Yeah if I'm waiting to come out of a junction and someone is indicating to go in I still won't go just incase they've forgotten to take it off or whatever.

OP posts:
EyeballsintheSky · 17/04/2009 00:51

In the days before road rage when I was young and foolish I actually stopped behind a car in Tescos car park, leaned in his window and showed him the indicator stick, 'move it up and the right one flashes, push it down and the left one flashes blah blah'. I think he was a bit shocked but he probably still doesn't indicate...

ChippingIn · 17/04/2009 01:05

It's a bugger having the kids in the car, as now I have to inwardly seethe most of the time, when a 'USE YOUR FUCKING INDICATOR YOU TWAT' is so much more satisfying!! There are a lot of complete knobs out there.

I feel sorry for any 'adult' learning to drive. I got my licence at 15 (legal age in NZ), it was great, because you have no fear at that age!! I love driving, but would hate to be learning now.

HecatesTwopenceworth · 17/04/2009 07:33

My husband has an irritating indicator habit.

He seems to think that indicating gives you right of way. Example - duel carrigeway/motorway. He thinks that once you have indicated, the car behind is legally obliged to give way. So he just goes over and if they pip, or don't let him in, or are up his arse, he is cross with THEM because ........

Furball · 17/04/2009 07:48

Has anyone noticed on the new VW cars the indicators are in a circle within the break lights and really hard to spot in daylight when the car is breaking. Not sure how they passed safety tests.

HecatesTwopenceworth · 17/04/2009 07:57

oh yes, some new cars indicators are TERRIBLE! You just can't see them at all.

nannyogg · 17/04/2009 08:02

ShowOfHands I'm so glad you told that story.

It's often a fantasy of mine when seeing someone speeding, using their phone, generally being a crap and dangerous driver that they'll get seen and pulled. I'm so glad to know it really happens.

when I'm out walking I have to cross a roundabout just at the entrance to a slip road. The number of people who don't indicate is staggering. Now of course I'd never assume that just cos they're not indicating they're not coming off the slip road, but many times I've feigned being about to cross and then shouted "bloody indicate then" when they've beeped at me. I must be quite a sight in their rear view mirror shaking my fist as they drive off.

giraffesCantRunA10k · 17/04/2009 09:19

I am learning to drive and I think its mad that on a test you will be marked down for using an indicator when theres no one around to see it. Surely it doesnt matter?!

Simplysally · 17/04/2009 10:13

I do indicate if I'm at the end of a filter lane that has spilled back onto the main carriageway so the cars behind get an idea that I want to go left or right instead of straight on. I don't sit there ticking away once I am safely into the lane though.

BigBellasBeerBelly · 17/04/2009 10:24

My DH seems to see indicating as optional. It drives me up the wall.

It's as if he doesn't want anyone knowing what he is up to. he will hover his hand over the indicator when a reasonable distance from the turn, then leave it til the last second to actually press it. The other day he hovvered his hand and then simply took it away again...

I always go on and on at him, indicators are there so that other traffic and pedestrains cyclists etc can have advance warning that you are going to brake turn etc and if you do it a split second before the manoevre you almost might as well not do it at all.

He is a lovely kind person he just seems to have this blind spot. He has no explanation for his ludicrous behaviour.

If I'm with him I often so the indicator for him

In response to sarahl2 the reason people are indicating right and then turn left off a rondabout is that they were turning right when they went on and their indicator hasn't gone off and they haven't changed it. I'm not sure you have to on that situation...(?)

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 17/04/2009 10:26

I went on the motorway last week for the first time in ages and arrived at Dover a gibbering wreck. The lack of indicating when changing lanes and driving in general, was absolutely appalling.

We then went on through a bit of France, Belgium and Holland and it was all fine, whereas over here I had 3 close misses which were really not my fault.

minesacheeseandpicklesandwich · 17/04/2009 13:58

If you are indicating to turn right at a roundabout and then leave it flicking right as you turn off left, then you're just damn lazy... and about to cause an accident.

I used to drive in a town where the planners loved to put a roundabout in where there was a perfectly good junction before (men, obviously, they love mending things that ain't broken), and so learnt this very early on in my driving career. Just like any other exit, you have to let people (drivers and pedestrians) know where you are going. As I keep telling my DP, people ain't psychic!