Send the right signals on the road
Posted by Richard Sinclair
Driving on the UK's roads can be frustrating enough, with potholes to avoid and Sunday drivers to negotiate, but one thing that is more infuriating than anything else is poor or incorrect use of indicators.
There is nothing worse than sitting at a roundabout waiting to pull out when someone turns off without indicating, forcing you to miss a clear opportunity to get on your way.
Luckily, driver training specialists, the Institute of Advance Motoring (IAM) Drive and Survive has offered a number of tips on the best way to use indicators – something some people on the roads clearly need.
Making sure your indicators are in working order is the main concern, so make sure to check your bulbs at least weekly as you can't give clear signals if you have a dead indicator bulb, and driving with one is illegal – so it could save you a warning or a fine from the police.
The organisation notes that clear signalling is the way forward as failing to indicate your intentions to other road users is at best annoying and at worst dangerous. Failure to indicate approaching a junction or when changing lane has the potential to be fatal and should most definitely be avoided.
Simon Elstow, head of training at the IAM, recommends signalling early as there really is no point flicking on the indicator once you have started a manoeuvre.
Mr Elstow explained: "Giving signals is a way of talking to other road users so they can plan their actions. Make sure these signals are clear, timely and necessary, to give other people as much notice as possible when you plan to change speed or direction."
He also recommended giving signals to pedestrians even if there is no traffic around as people walking on the pavement may need to know your intentions.
Almost a fifth of motorists recently claimed servicing their car is a "complete waste of money" in a survey carried out by Manheim Auctions, with many admitting to only doing so when they can afford it, rather than when recommended.
yes tell me about it almost 90% of road uses dont indicate i think their should be a fine for it esp when you have a large vehicle and they either cut in front of you or pull out and dont give any warning of what they are doing as large vehicle driver always indicate esp me when im driving a coach that is 15 meters long its gets really annoying and its a pet hate of mine, please educate them or get the police to fine them by some part of the law.
Most drivers indicators are working just fine. They just don’t care to use them because they simply don’t feel like it and even the risk of the fatal accident will not encourage them to use it. They simply do not care. Where I live, pretty much no one uses signals. Everyone changes lanes and cuts other people off without using indicators. I would say like 70% of drivers I see don’t use indicators. That’s just how it is.