4 ms·

In the uk I was taught that indicators were to signal intent, not action. Signaling that you intend to merge, even if you can’t merge currently, would be the th

by wlll 8y ago

In the uk I was taught that indicators were to signal intent, not action. Signaling that you intend to merge, even if you can’t merge currently, would be the thing to do. I guess the rationale being something to do with giving other road users an idea that you car might do something so they can be prepared if you do.

maxxxxx 8y ago
"In the uk I was taught that indicators were to signal intent, not action." In LA they are used to signal that you just finished crossing 5 lanes on the freeway all at once to get to the exit you almost missed :-)
- reaperducer 8y ago
  Every time I go to L.A., I say to my wife, "Yay! I don't have to use my turn signals for a whole week!"
- kurthr 8y ago
  Yes, those are called victory blinks!
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
thedrbrian 8y ago
It's supposed to be: MIRROR SIGNAL MANEUVER. By the time you've hit that indicator you've worked out what you want to do and had a bloody good look round to make sure there's no one in the way and now you're going. Technically you shouldn't need the indicator because you're driving into the available space for the maneuver.
- wlll 8y ago
  Just to be clear I wasn't saying "don't use your mirrors". I missed out all the stuff that was irellevant to the discussion like using your mirrors or starting the engine. Also, it's a cute mnemonic device to help people remember to drive better, but as my driving instructor said, you might need to use "mirror, signal, mirror manouvre" because the mirror is to check what's going on, the indicator is to indicate intent, but you might not be able to manouvre immediately so you might need to check what's going on around you again before you actually make your move. People who indiate as they are making their manouvre are a PITA and almost universally despised. Almost as much as people who don't use their indicators at all. There's a few issues with the "Technically you shouldn't need the indicator" world you describe. First, you assume that there's flawless information available to you. You know where everyone and everything is and you've not missed anything. Indicators give people around you a chance to see what you're up to even if you don't know they are there, or don't think they are relevant to you. Second, you're describing a world in which you always have space and time to make a manoeuvre without impacting others around you. My reality of driving round the North West of England is lots of cars in a small space. People who don't use their indicators are a PITA. It's just selfish. That sudden deceleration for a left turn or sitting in the middle of the road, are you turning right, or have you broken down? Using an inicator is just polite and helps other people drive more comfortably. Third, it helps people plan. This is linked to the other two things, but I think it's important enough to have as a separate point. Have you ever seen pedestrians look at you/your indicators to work out wether they should cross a road? It happens when driving around town. One particular case I remember, I wanted to turn left, I was driving along and turned my indicator on. Guy about to cross the road, looks over his shoulder, sees my indicator and stops. I make my turn, he crosses the road. Smooth, organised, orderly. Sure, if he had just walked out I would have stopped in plenty of time, but on the main road, with people behind me wondering what I was doing.

by wlll 8y ago

maxxxxx 8y ago

"In the uk I was taught that indicators were to signal intent, not action." In LA they are used to signal that you just finished crossing 5 lanes on the freeway all at once to get to the exit you almost missed :-)

reaperducer 8y ago
Every time I go to L.A., I say to my wife, "Yay! I don't have to use my turn signals for a whole week!"
kurthr 8y ago
Yes, those are called victory blinks!
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]

thedrbrian 8y ago

It's supposed to be: MIRROR SIGNAL MANEUVER. By the time you've hit that indicator you've worked out what you want to do and had a bloody good look round to make sure there's no one in the way and now you're going. Technically you shouldn't need the indicator because you're driving into the available space for the maneuver.

wlll 8y ago
Just to be clear I wasn't saying "don't use your mirrors". I missed out all the stuff that was irellevant to the discussion like using your mirrors or starting the engine. Also, it's a cute mnemonic device to help people remember to drive better, but as my driving instructor said, you might need to use "mirror, signal, mirror manouvre" because the mirror is to check what's going on, the indicator is to indicate intent, but you might not be able to manouvre immediately so you might need to check what's going on around you again before you actually make your move. People who indiate as they are making their manouvre are a PITA and almost universally despised. Almost as much as people who don't use their indicators at all. There's a few issues with the "Technically you shouldn't need the indicator" world you describe. First, you assume that there's flawless information available to you. You know where everyone and everything is and you've not missed anything. Indicators give people around you a chance to see what you're up to even if you don't know they are there, or don't think they are relevant to you. Second, you're describing a world in which you always have space and time to make a manoeuvre without impacting others around you. My reality of driving round the North West of England is lots of cars in a small space. People who don't use their indicators are a PITA. It's just selfish. That sudden deceleration for a left turn or sitting in the middle of the road, are you turning right, or have you broken down? Using an inicator is just polite and helps other people drive more comfortably. Third, it helps people plan. This is linked to the other two things, but I think it's important enough to have as a separate point. Have you ever seen pedestrians look at you/your indicators to work out wether they should cross a road? It happens when driving around town. One particular case I remember, I wanted to turn left, I was driving along and turned my indicator on. Guy about to cross the road, looks over his shoulder, sees my indicator and stops. I make my turn, he crosses the road. Smooth, organised, orderly. Sure, if he had just walked out I would have stopped in plenty of time, but on the main road, with people behind me wondering what I was doing.