Signalling Left

Adrian Boliston said:

This morning I had a sort of "argument" with a work colleague who was complaining that I had not
signalled left to turn into a side road.

The colleague had been waiting to turn *right* into the same side road, and when I *have* signalled
left in the past I have almost always had a close shave with right turners turning into the side
road at the exact same time as me on the belief that a cyclist probably only needs to use the area
near the curb so it's OK, when in fact I need the entire lane width to make the turn safely as it's
a sharp & narrow turn.

Of course I will indicate left if someone is waiting to turn *out* of the side road, so they know
it's OK to pull out, but I can't see how indicating left can be of an benefit to anyone in the
situation of my collegue as they would have to give way whether I'm turning left OR going straight
ahead as I basically have priority over them.

I remember during my driving tuition my instructor telling me to never take an indication as being
'gospel', always wait until you can see 'what's happening' before you make your move. I've
remembered that a few times and realized why he told me so.

Garryb

On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 18:53:07 -0000 someone who may be "Adrian Boliston" <[email hidden]>
wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

This morning I had a sort of "argument" with a work colleague who was complaining that I had not
signalled left to turn into a side road.

The colleague had been waiting to turn *right* into the same side road, and when I *have* signalled
left in the past I have almost always had a close shave with right turners turning into the side
road at the exact same time as me on the belief that a cyclist probably only needs to use the area
near the curb so it's OK, when in fact I need the entire lane width to make the turn safely as it's
a sharp & narrow turn.

You did the right thing. Signals should be given when they will help someone else, provided that
doing so does not endanger the person giving the signal. Turning left with a motorist waiting to
turn right into the same road is a classic case of where one should not signal, for the reasons you
gave. I would tell your colleague that you will do precisely the same thing in the same
circumstances and explain why. It might eventually penetrate the space between their ears.

Another example is turning left with a motorist behind a cyclist. The motorist may well also want to
turn left and decide that the junction is an excellent place to do so.

Keeping the devils guessing is an important skill in some circumstances.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E I will always explain revoked
keys, unless the UK government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

"Adrian Boliston" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This morning I had a sort of "argument" with a work colleague who was complaining that I had not
signalled left to turn into a side road.

The colleague had been waiting to turn *right* into the same side road,

and

Quoted message said:

when I *have* signalled left in the past I have almost always had a close shave with right turners
turning into the side road at the exact same time as me on the belief that a cyclist probably only
needs to use the area

near

Quoted message said:

the curb so it's OK, when in fact I need the entire lane width to make the turn safely as it's a
sharp & narrow turn.

Of course I will indicate left if someone is waiting to turn *out* of the side road, so they know
it's OK to pull out, but I can't see how

indicating

Quoted message said:

left can be of an benefit to anyone in the situation of my collegue as

they

Quoted message said:

would have to give way whether I'm turning left OR going straight ahead as

I

Quoted message said:

basically have priority over them.

Signal really late, then they can't complain that you didn't signal, but haven't got time to make
life difficult for you.

I'm always staggered at the number of cars that signal as they start to turn, when they don't have
anything like the above situation as an excuse.

"David Hansen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Another example is turning left with a motorist behind a cyclist. The motorist may well also want
to turn left and decide that the junction is an excellent place to do so.

I've had this happen a few times but it never seems quite so scary, as at least they are following
approx the same course as you round the junction rather than coming "broadside" at you (as in the
"colleague" example).

It can also be quite funny when they suddenly realise that the cyclist is going a lot faster than
they expected and they speed up to overtake, meaning they are going far too fast for the corner
resulting in loud squeeling of tyres as they turn!

Alan Moffatt said:

I'm always staggered at the number of cars that signal as they start to turn, when they don't have
anything like the above situation as an excuse.

What about those who signal left and then turn right?!

Saw it happen one night last week.

"Alan Moffatt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Signal really late, then they can't complain that you didn't signal, but haven't got time to make
life difficult for you.

Thought about this, but "really late" is normally the time I would like to have both hands back on
the bars to make the turn!

Adrian Boliston said:

"Alan Moffatt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Signal really late, then they can't complain that you didn't signal, but haven't got time to
make life difficult for you.

Thought about this, but "really late" is normally the time I would like to have both hands back on
the bars to make the turn!

I've always considered it safer not to signal when turning left.

If you do signal there is the possibility, or likelihood of a vehicle from the opposite direction
turning across you, or, a vehicle behind may start to overtake then turn left with you squeezing you
into the kerb.

Not signalling makes the driver 'think' - assuming they have seen you at all.

John B

Simonb said:

Alan Moffatt said:

I'm always staggered at the number of cars that signal as they start to turn, when they don't
have anything like the above situation as an excuse.

What about those who signal left and then turn right?!

Saw it happen one night last week.

I thought that indicators on cars were not used for signaling a turn or changing lanes any more
- I thought that they nowadays mean "I'm barging in front of you - whether ther'e room for me
or not." ;-}

--
Paul Lydon Winster, Derbyshire, UK --> Remove the 'DELETE' in email address to reply <--

Simonb said:

What about those who signal left and then turn right?!

Saw it happen one night last week.

I've had one who signalled right, positioned himself to turn right into a side road, sat there for a
while as I approached from behind, then turned left into a driveway (still signalling right) just
before I passed on the inside.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
speedy5.freeserve.co.ukdannyOpen ↗ "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

JohnB said:

Not signalling makes the driver 'think' - assuming they have seen you at all.

John B

I'd have to agree with this, there's something to be said for leaving them wondering what the idiot
in front is doing, it means you've got there attention on a conscious level.

There is a particularly nasty stretch of narrow road I have to go down with a central barrier and
riding like a drunk seems to do the trick! 😉

"Vincent Wilcox" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

JohnB said:

Not signalling makes the driver 'think' - assuming they have seen you at

all.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

John B

I'd have to agree with this, there's something to be said for leaving them wondering what the
idiot in front is doing, it means you've got there attention on a conscious level.

There is a particularly nasty stretch of narrow road I have to go down with a central barrier and
riding like a drunk seems to do the trick! 😉

This thread reminds me of a posting some years back, describing a driver's excuse for pulling
out of a side road into the cyclist's path: Well, you lot never signal so I assumed you were
turning left ....

Stupid comment, but I still think it's best to signal and try to achieve the rest through road
positioning.

Alan

In "]news:[email hidden], Just zis Guy, you know?
<[email hidden]> typed:

Quoted message said:

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers said:

Could be. Tonight Vernon was driving home from Norwich, on the A47 - single carriageway bit. He's
driving along - an overtaking car comes up alongside him from behind - signalling left and it cut
straight across Vernon the front of Vernon's car to make the left turn, missing the front of
Vernon's car by inches. The reason it missed is Vernon noticed the left-hand signal of said car
along his right and braked. If Vernon hadn't braked, I may have been minus a husband tonight :-(

I don't know whether to be encouraged by the fact that they do it to cars as well or despair of
the incredible levels of cluelessness on the roads these days.

I've definitely seen someone SMIDSY a Transit in the last couple of months. Luckily, the Transit
stopped in time.