Signalling (a lost courtesy)

How many ways are there to communicate with other road users? Signals are the obvious start. Sadly very much lacking on today’s roads. The whole point of a signal is to advise others where you are going and should be timed to avoid confusion. Signalling too early could suggest turning earlier and a driver could pull out from a side road into your path. Signalling late isn’t going to help anybody and other drivers may have assumed you were going straight ahead.

If you are turning into the second of two roads close to each other then delay the signal just enough to show you are not taking the first turning. Moving around parked cars shouldn’t require a signal generally speaking, but if you are passing a bus at a bus stop then the driver will need to know as he/she may be preparing to move away. It does of course warn oncoming drivers you could be encroaching onto their side of the road and it tells the following drivers as well. This applies to any large vehicle where your movement is exaggerated, but passing parked cars shouldn’t require a warning unless they are badly parked or there is somebody in the vehicle (brake lights are on).

The worst example of incorrect signalling or no signal at all is at roundabouts. Drivers either do not know the correct procedure (and let’s assume they have passed a driving test) or are totally lacking in any consideration for other road users. Just simply forgetting is no excuse either.

It’s quite straightforward really. If you are taking the first exit left you signal left on approach. Any exit to the right – signal right (signalling left as you pass the turning before your one). If your exit is directly ahead or intermediate (second left for example) – no signal until you are passing the exit before your one. On mini roundabouts no exit signal unless you have time, by the time you’re on the roundabout, you’re off of it!