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Giving signals
(imagine you're behind me)
Everything written about signals stresses the following simple points
- Where necessary
- Correctly timed
- When you signal to the left or right you are the only one who really knows what your signal means
- Other road users guess (pedestrians guess as well)
- You've got just one chance at getting your message across to everyone else
- It's easy to assume that just because you've signalled that everyone has seen your signal
- But what if they haven't responded to it?
- Yes ok, you've signalled
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(But did you check your mirror to gauge a response from your signal?)
- Or, do you just assume that everyone else has seen your signal?
This page might help you see it from another driver's point of view
Here's an example: I signal to the left
(imagine you're behind me)
- Am I turning left at the next junction?
- Am I stopping on the left just before the junction?
- Am I pulling into a driveway?
- Am I stopping on the left just after the junction?
(It's for me to know and for you to guess)
So, what do I consider before I signal?
- I check my mirror, how close are you behind me?
- If you are too close
- Do I need to warn you earlier than necessary?
- Will you understand me?
And what do I do after I signal?
- I check my mirrors again
- And I ask myself?
- Did you understand me?
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BUT....
Here's another example: I signal to the right
(imagine you're behind me)
- Am I stopping on the right just before the junction?
- Am I pulling into a driveway?
- Am I stopping on the right just after the junction?
- Am I turning right at the next junction?
- Am I passing a parked vehicle on my left? This final signal causes the most confusion
(More about this further down the page)
Here's another example: I have stopped behind a bus to allow oncoming traffic a safe path (imagine you're behind me)
When it is safe to move around the bus
- I will signal to you (behind me) to tell you I am going to move
- I will signal to the bus driver warning him/her that I intend to move
- I will signal to oncoming traffic that I intend to move around the bus and it is safe for me to do so
- I will signal to other road users warning them also
(More about signalling to pass a stationary vehicle)
- Signalling to the right to pass a stationary vehicle often causes confusion especially if you are close to a junction on the right
- Large vehicles will often signal to pass parked vehicles simply because the driver is aware that you probably cannot see the parked vehicle ahead
I have not (at this stage) included how signals help pedestrians!
Forgetting to signal is a common mistake
It's often the case that the problem ahead of us is taking all of our attention and we simply forget
And it's easy to forget to signal when we drive a route that we use daily
BUT
It's at this very moment we should consider how important our signal can be
- Many drivers forget signals because they are on a route they take day in day out
- They probably don't realise that they haven't signalled
- If you are ever in doubt about another road users signal then wait
- 5 seconds lost is better than a £500 repair bill
(and of course a hike in Insurance costs next year)
Insurance companies don't forget
Think through the scenarios above to consider how important it is to check your mirrors before you signal.
NOW go to Mirrors
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 Incorrect signals confuse and annoy
Late signals are as useless as no signals at all
No signals are downright dangerous and (unconsciously) contribute to road rage
Signals are for all road users not just car drivers
Most drivers, if asked, would say they always give signals
There's a lot written about signals on this page
But it's not the definitive statement on signals
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