SIGNAL

Have been thinking about the roundabouts and wondering if I had been doing it wrong. Looked up the highway code and it says left lane for turning left. Right lane for straight on and right. Glad I'm doing it the proper way as I am often in Milton Keynes and there are plenty of roundabouts there.

Roundabouts in Stockport have great lane organisation. Once you get into the lane marked with the exit you want, it takes you round to the right exit - no having to manoevere across lines of traffic. However, I remember the Magic Roundabout in Swindon....

When I was learning to drive I was taught to use the left lane for turning left or going straight on, and the right lane for turning right. I was also taught that a signal was not necessary for going straight on at a roundabout. Some modern roundabouts are much more complex of course.

Soon after passing my test I complained to my aunt (I was driving her car) about lack of signalling at junctions. She said that one can usually – usually being the significant word – tell what manoeuvre a car is going to do if one has been "reading the road" (including anticipating other road users actions) with enough attention.

I still think of that advice, particularly when driving on motorways and I find my predictions, before there is any indication of what a car will do, is usually correct.

Penstemmon. I have to say I do that, as there is a local roundabout where you can get stuck in the R/H lane [in my case a 5 exit roundabout], and the roundabout is so designed, that if you want the third exit, there is virtually no time to get there, as the distance between the second and third exit is too small.
Sp easier and safer to stay in the L/H lane in the first place, so that you dont have to move from the R/H to L/H lane later.

Penstemon, if there are two lanes, the left hand one is for turning left so one would signal left or going straight on, in which case one would signal left after passing the left hand turn. The right hand lane is for turning right.

Yes, I've noticed that, Penstemmon. Never take anything for granted!

There are often two lanes at roundabouts. Some drivers line themselves in the L/H lane implying taking the first exit but some like to trick their fellow drivers donn't use the little flashing lights and whizz to the second exit just as said fellow drivers have begun to move onto the roundabout. Well it livens up the day!

Funny you should say that Jalima I was taught the same thing about indicating at roundabouts. I was told "why indicate on approach, where else would you be going other than round. Just indicate to exit.

Have to say, I always indicate in approach and on exit. I think some drivers are just lazy and others forget but lack of indication can lead to confusion and accidents.

It just seems logical that if you let everyone else know what you're doing, they are less likely to try to get in the same bit of road as you - hopefully!

When I learnt to drive we had to learn the hand signals! Straight out of the window for turning right and a circular anti-clockwise arm movement for left, up and down for slowing down.
My first car had those little sticky-out indicators, but I still had to put my arm out and wave it up and down for slowing down.
I was also taught never to indicate going round a roundabout until you intended to leave, then signal left. However, the DGC were taught to signal right all the way round the roundabout until they intended to leave, then signal left.

I think everyone ought to have lessons on motorway driving before they pass their test.

I think that would be a clot in a Corsa Ethel, but how on earth could you drive around for that length of time with no indicators?

Bloody dangerous AND irresponsible, if you ask me, which you didn't, but I'll say so anyway.

Oh dear my last car was a corsa so was i a c.... in a corsa because my indicators never worked for 2 years,it passed its mot by the garage man temporarily fixing them but they broke next day. I couldn't afford to get them done.

Oh is hat what those pretty little lights are for? I often play with them but I thought they were just for decoration

It doesn't do to over use indicators. If it is necessary then they only need to be used at the same time as you manoeuvre, and not before. Otherwise you'll wear them up!

Kitty only if he was in a Waitrose in Surrey??

I apologise if it was DH! He thinks everyone knows where he is going. And if he does signal, he forgets to check it's cancelled!!

We have a lot of drivers here in southend who don't have a uk driving licence.
Only on Friday I had to guide a chap driving a mini through a gap that had plenty of room. He said that he was from South Africa and wasn't used to cars being parked so close together!

North Devon, apart from seeming to be HQ of the non indicators society, is also home to the "only one headlight" club, hence usual late summer/early autumn post about checking car headlights!

phoenix the main problem is that we all drive in state of the art cars with 4 wheels and a driving wheel and we also have working indicators. I am 100% certain that most of the cars around here do not have indicators fitted on their cars.

Not only other drivers, Penstemon pedestrians too!

When walking across car parks, I do find it quite handy to know if the numpty in the Nissan or the idiot in the Isuzu, the fool in the Fiat or the moron in the Mercedes is going to suddenly change direction!

YANBU. Vital when driving!