Comments on: The lost art of indicating http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2009/08/25/the-lost-art-of-indicating/ Road safety, road rules, fuels, car care and everyday driving - NRMA Motoring & Services Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:30:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Alex Ozanne http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2009/08/25/the-lost-art-of-indicating/#comment-4427 Alex Ozanne Fri, 04 Feb 2011 05:22:42 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/?p=86#comment-4427 Lol, indicating... In Sydney one really *has* to indicate because the roads are so crowded there's *always* going to be someone close by who needs to know... In my experience, Sydney drivers are actually far better at using indicators on average than other states, the one I most notice is Adelaide... I am sure Adelaide motorists believe the indicator is ornamental, because they rarely seem to use them, especially when changing lanes! My advice if travelling around Adelaide in particular is to keep a sharp eye out for lane-changing vehicles because generally the first hint you have that they're changibng lanes is as their car crosses the lane markings! I hope that DT article is wrong, ppl should be up for a penalty if changing lanes on busy roads without indicating.. Undicating in roundabouts is another matter. Sure, I understand the law - indicate where you're headed when entering the roundabout, then just as you leave the roundabout indicate left just before you exit... However, the dificulty comes when dealing with smaller roundabouts such as we have in Darlinghurst where old fashioned grid streets intersect and they squeeze a roundabout in there... It just impossible to indicate right as you enter and left as you leave because by the time you enter and turn the wheel you're about to exit right away... SO in my opinon the law should be re-written to definie a different indicating equirement when on very small roundabouts -because following the law in that situation is almost dangerous and ceainly ridiculous! Lol, indicating… In Sydney one really *has* to indicate because the roads are so crowded there’s *always* going to be someone close by who needs to know…

In my experience, Sydney drivers are actually far better at using indicators on average than other states, the one I most notice is Adelaide…

I am sure Adelaide motorists believe the indicator is ornamental, because they rarely seem to use them, especially when changing lanes!

My advice if travelling around Adelaide in particular is to keep a sharp eye out for lane-changing vehicles because generally the first hint you have that they’re changibng lanes is as their car crosses the lane markings!

I hope that DT article is wrong, ppl should be up for a penalty if changing lanes on busy roads without indicating..

Undicating in roundabouts is another matter. Sure, I understand the law – indicate where you’re headed when entering the roundabout, then just as you leave the roundabout indicate left just before you exit…

However, the dificulty comes when dealing with smaller roundabouts such as we have in Darlinghurst where old fashioned grid streets intersect and they squeeze a roundabout in there… It just impossible to indicate right as you enter and left as you leave because by the time you enter and turn the wheel you’re about to exit right away…

SO in my opinon the law should be re-written to definie a different indicating equirement when on very small roundabouts -because following the law in that situation is almost dangerous and ceainly ridiculous!

]]> By: Bob http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2009/08/25/the-lost-art-of-indicating/#comment-4336 Bob Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:46:28 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/?p=86#comment-4336 Thanks for alerting us to that, Morgul. I can't find any confirmation of that on the net, so like you I hope that it's just more journalistic distortion of the facts by the Telegraph. According to the RTA website at http://tinyurl.com/2aaqdjj, there are still penalties for turn signal non-use and breaking rules at roundabouts. And did you know that the penalty for "Drive/stand vehicle with speed evasion article" is $1346 and 9 demerit points?! How disproportionate is that? I sure won't be voting for those Keneally clowns this time around - I'll vote for the party which supports some kind of order on our roads and taking them back from the hoons and idiots. Thanks for alerting us to that, Morgul.

I can’t find any confirmation of that on the net, so like you I hope that it’s just more journalistic distortion of the facts by the Telegraph.

According to the RTA website at http://tinyurl.com/2aaqdjj, there are still penalties for turn signal non-use and breaking rules at roundabouts. And did you know that the penalty for “Drive/stand vehicle with speed evasion article” is $1346 and 9 demerit points?! How disproportionate is that?

I sure won’t be voting for those Keneally clowns this time around – I’ll vote for the party which supports some kind of order on our roads and taking them back from the hoons and idiots.

]]> By: morgul the friendly drelg http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2009/08/25/the-lost-art-of-indicating/#comment-4333 morgul the friendly drelg Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:47:48 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/?p=86#comment-4333 Someone please tell me that this is not true. I am appalled to read in "The Daily Telegraph" today ( page 3 - More demerit points ) that quote "Offences such as not using indicators and roundabout offences would now incur no loss of demerit points." What is this government doing - pandering to the mindless idiots on the roads ? Come on NRMA and Wendy Machin, use whatever muscle you have to get this stupid piece of legislation repealed. Not having to indicate a desire to change direction - ye gods, what next !! Someone please tell me that this is not true.
I am appalled to read in “The Daily Telegraph” today ( page 3 – More demerit points ) that quote “Offences such as not using indicators and roundabout offences would now incur no loss of demerit points.”
What is this government doing – pandering to the mindless idiots on the roads ?
Come on NRMA and Wendy Machin, use whatever muscle you have to get this stupid piece of legislation repealed.
Not having to indicate a desire to change direction – ye gods, what next !!

]]> By: Jason Crouch http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2009/08/25/the-lost-art-of-indicating/#comment-4323 Jason Crouch Wed, 17 Nov 2010 10:32:02 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/?p=86#comment-4323 I host an online TV show with a few mates and we have a road rules segment in which we set up a hidden camera and evaluate driver behaviour. In our 6th Episode we looked at indicating and our test showed a really positive result in Brisbane. 89% of drivers we observed indicated. <a href="http://www.neutralcarshow.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117&Itemid=181" rel="nofollow">Neutral Episode 6</a> I host an online TV show with a few mates and we have a road rules segment in which we set up a hidden camera and evaluate driver behaviour. In our 6th Episode we looked at indicating and our test showed a really positive result in Brisbane. 89% of drivers we observed indicated.
Neutral Episode 6

]]> By: Xandro http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2009/08/25/the-lost-art-of-indicating/#comment-4276 Xandro Sun, 24 Oct 2010 23:36:18 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/?p=86#comment-4276 Hmmmmmmm if this is the LAW as indicated, why isn't the police raking it in? One single trip up the M4 from Parramatta to Penrith will rake in 10 or 20 drivers for breaking the rule - and on the way back, another 10 or twenty. Imagine, all the money that could be "raised" on just one single stretch of road, the police could rake in millions and millions if it were done Sydney wide. In no time, we would not have any more P-platers on the road, L-platers would be a thing of the past, and everyone would be catching the train as their would hardly be anyone left on the roads. Only good drivers like me would be left to roam the roads, free of traffic. Xandro. Hmmmmmmm if this is the LAW as indicated, why isn’t the police raking it in? One single trip up the M4 from Parramatta to Penrith will rake in 10 or 20 drivers for breaking the rule – and on the way back, another 10 or twenty.
Imagine, all the money that could be “raised” on just one single stretch of road, the police could rake in millions and millions if it were done Sydney wide.
In no time, we would not have any more P-platers on the road, L-platers would be a thing of the past, and everyone would be catching the train as their would hardly be anyone left on the roads.
Only good drivers like me would be left to roam the roads, free of traffic.
Xandro.

]]> By: Morgul the friendly drelg http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2009/08/25/the-lost-art-of-indicating/#comment-4269 Morgul the friendly drelg Sat, 23 Oct 2010 23:41:56 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/?p=86#comment-4269 The wording of this is entirely wrong. The road rules state that a driver must indicate a change of direction. Surely this is a "desire" to change direction, not an "intention". The road rules also state that a change of direction can only be made if it is safe to do so. For example, when changing lanes or merging, where a vehicle has to cross a broken line, it MUST give way to a vehicle already in that lane. A little courtesy goes a long way, and a thank you is always appreciated, but I get very peeved at drivers who "force" their intentions without regard to my safety space. ( I'm a latent road-rager !! ) I do a return trip of about 40k most days and there isn't one trip where I don't have to take evasive action because of these idiots. And speed/safety cameras don't offer any penalties for not indicating, or changing direction in an unsafe manner do they. The wording of this is entirely wrong.
The road rules state that a driver must indicate a change of direction.
Surely this is a “desire” to change direction, not an “intention”.
The road rules also state that a change of direction can only be made if it is safe to do so.
For example, when changing lanes or merging, where a vehicle has to cross a broken line, it MUST give way to a vehicle already in that lane.
A little courtesy goes a long way, and a thank you is always appreciated, but I get very peeved at drivers who “force” their intentions without regard to my safety space. ( I’m a latent road-rager !! )
I do a return trip of about 40k most days and there isn’t one trip where I don’t have to take evasive action because of these idiots.
And speed/safety cameras don’t offer any penalties for not indicating, or changing direction in an unsafe manner do they.

]]> By: Maree of Casula http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2009/08/25/the-lost-art-of-indicating/#comment-4266 Maree of Casula Fri, 22 Oct 2010 11:52:42 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/?p=86#comment-4266 Reading on the actual website NRMA Motoring Blog tonight advising that a $2,200 fine for "not using an indicator" and the money goes to the Office of State Revenue. Do any of you know anyone who has been imposed with such a fine? I drive M5, Hume H'way, Woodville Rd to Granville every day for the past 6 years and have only seen possibly 2 police patrol cars and never encountered any of the bad drivers been pulled over for offences. I will black list the so called experienced "P" drivers as they pounce in and out of lanes (without indicating) to get ahead of the traffic, only to find I pull up beside them at the next set of traffic lights. I will also admit that some"black licenced" drivers also do the same. Last year I experienced a driver (at the time I had no idea of age or sex) sped down the 3rd lane of a merge to 2 lanes to try and get in front of a double bogie semi and this vehicle got clipped on the front of the vehicle as it then realised it could not make it (also causing me to brake heavily). The driver of the so called vehicle then bolted into the right lane, pulled in front of the semi, slammed on the brakes stopping the semi, jumped out of her damaged car accusing the truck driver negligence and damaging her car. I was stuck behind the semi and decided that I would give support to the semi driver as I witnessed the whole incident. The driver (a "P" plater female" abused me in so many "f" words that I was lying and that she was in the right). I ignored her abuse and gave my details to the semi driver if he required me as a witness. I never heard any more from this accident/incident but I would strongly advise that this driver should attend some sort of traffic school, at their expense and in their own time. I personally think a well thought out training course for infringements of a technical nature, such as ‘how and when to indicate,’ "speed" slow down, merge at a safe and practical allowance lof distance would be much more effective than the big stick of fine/demerits. As much as I agree with the new "safety camera ahead" signs do make some driver slow down I also feel that it could cause major accidents as I myself am continually looking at the lights and am unsure if I proceed through a green light and get caught with traffic backlog and then I proceed through the intersection it turns to amber am I going to endure a fine and loss of demerit points, so impulse says" hit the brakes suddenly" to avoid an infringement notice and a loss of demerit points but could also cause a rear ender accident if the vehicle behind me is not aware of the safety camera or assumes I will continue through the "amber light". This senario could cause a lot of innocent accidents and injuries,. RTA, NRMA and Police Commision needs to look into these situations and resolve the problems. Commit themselves to "saving lives" and not gaining "revenue" as none of this is actually is going to the improvement of roads. Woodville road has so manypot holes that have been temporily fixed in the last 4 months but it feels like your driving in the outback and need a 4 wheel drive. Reading on the actual website NRMA Motoring Blog tonight advising that a $2,200 fine for “not using an indicator” and the money goes to the Office of State Revenue. Do any of you know anyone who has been imposed with such a fine? I drive M5, Hume H’way, Woodville Rd to Granville every day for the past 6 years and have only seen possibly 2 police patrol cars and never encountered any of the bad drivers been pulled over for offences. I will black list the so called experienced “P” drivers as they pounce in and out of lanes (without indicating) to get ahead of the traffic, only to find I pull up beside them at the next set of traffic lights. I will also admit that some”black licenced” drivers also do the same. Last year I experienced a driver (at the time I had no idea of age or sex) sped down the 3rd lane of a merge to 2 lanes to try and get in front of a double bogie semi and this vehicle got clipped on the front of the vehicle as it then realised it could not make it (also causing me to brake heavily). The driver of the so called vehicle then bolted into the right lane, pulled in front of the semi, slammed on the brakes stopping the semi, jumped out of her damaged car accusing the truck driver negligence and damaging her car. I was stuck behind the semi and decided that I would give support to the semi driver as I witnessed the whole incident. The driver (a “P” plater female” abused me in so many “f” words that I was lying and that she was in the right). I ignored her abuse and gave my details to the semi driver if he required me as a witness. I never heard any more from this accident/incident but I would strongly advise that this driver should attend some sort of traffic school, at their expense and in their own time. I personally think a well thought out training course for infringements of a technical nature, such as ‘how and when to indicate,’ “speed” slow down, merge at a safe and practical allowance lof distance would be much more effective than the big stick of fine/demerits. As much as I agree with the new “safety camera ahead” signs do make some driver slow down I also feel that it could cause major accidents as I myself am continually looking at the lights and am unsure if I proceed through a green light and get caught with traffic backlog and then I proceed through the intersection it turns to amber am I going to endure a fine and loss of demerit points, so impulse says” hit the brakes suddenly” to avoid an infringement notice and a loss of demerit points but could also cause a rear ender accident if the vehicle behind me is not aware of the safety camera or assumes I will continue through the “amber light”. This senario could cause a lot of innocent accidents and injuries,. RTA, NRMA and Police Commision needs to look into these situations and resolve the problems. Commit themselves to “saving lives” and not gaining “revenue” as none of this is actually is going to the improvement of roads. Woodville road has so manypot holes that have been temporily fixed in the last 4 months but it feels like your driving in the outback and need a 4 wheel drive.

]]> By: Bob http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2009/08/25/the-lost-art-of-indicating/#comment-4265 Bob Fri, 22 Oct 2010 10:55:47 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/?p=86#comment-4265 I had a bit of a look through the comments and I couldn't see anyone picking on P platers - it might have been very early in the discussion. Regardless, I agree with Shaddow that many of the worst offenders are in their 40s and 50s and they should know much better. And yes, they are setting a very bad example of "anything goes" for young drivers, and then more young drivers soon learn to believe that there's no point using turn signals because no-one else does. The end result is the near-chaos which exists on NSW roads where there are no police patrolling and booking bad drivers like they did 20+ years ago. I had a bit of a look through the comments and I couldn’t see anyone picking on P platers – it might have been very early in the discussion.

Regardless, I agree with Shaddow that many of the worst offenders are in their 40s and 50s and they should know much better. And yes, they are setting a very bad example of “anything goes” for young drivers, and then more young drivers soon learn to believe that there’s no point using turn signals because no-one else does.

The end result is the near-chaos which exists on NSW roads where there are no police patrolling and booking bad drivers like they did 20+ years ago.

]]> By: Shaddow http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2009/08/25/the-lost-art-of-indicating/#comment-4168 Shaddow Tue, 28 Sep 2010 11:36:45 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/?p=86#comment-4168 I had a good read of most of the comments here. Why is everyone picking on P platers? Get over it. I'm a motorbike rider and as a result of the way car drivers drive I ride like I'm invisible, cause not only do they not indicate they don't look! The biggest offenders I find for not indicating aren't P platers. Its the MIDDLE AGED driver that thinks because they have X amount of years experience they know how to drive AND THEY DON'T. In fact they have probably always been a bad driver. Don't get me wrong I think the current lot of probby drivers is crap but who taught them the bad habits in the first place? Oh wait it would be the age group who complains the most about p plate drivers. And in case you are wondering its been 16 years since I had a P plate on my car. I had a good read of most of the comments here. Why is everyone picking on P platers? Get over it. I’m a motorbike rider and as a result of the way car drivers drive I ride like I’m invisible, cause not only do they not indicate they don’t look!
The biggest offenders I find for not indicating aren’t P platers. Its the MIDDLE AGED driver that thinks because they have X amount of years experience they know how to drive AND THEY DON’T. In fact they have probably always been a bad driver. Don’t get me wrong I think the current lot of probby drivers is crap but who taught them the bad habits in the first place? Oh wait it would be the age group who complains the most about p plate drivers.
And in case you are wondering its been 16 years since I had a P plate on my car.

]]> By: Fiona Howell http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/2009/08/25/the-lost-art-of-indicating/#comment-4135 Fiona Howell Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:18:57 +0000 http://www.mynrmacommunity.com/motoring/?p=86#comment-4135 What can be just as dangerous is people who don't notice their indcators haven't turned off automatically or forget to turn them off. This can be a disaster when turning at a busy T intersection. Sometimes we need to act quickly and the only opportunity is when someone is turning into the road you're coming out of. If they end up going straight ahead instead of turning then there's your collision. Also if we are travelling behind someone who has their indicator on we may alter what we are doing. We may wait to overtake or change lanes until the person indicating in front carries out their intention. After a few kilometers down the road you realise they have no intention of turning. What can be just as dangerous is people who don’t notice their indcators haven’t turned off automatically or forget to turn them off.

This can be a disaster when turning at a busy T intersection. Sometimes we need to act quickly and the only opportunity is when someone is turning into the road you’re coming out of. If they end up going straight ahead instead of turning then there’s your collision.

Also if we are travelling behind someone who has their indicator on we may alter what we are doing. We may wait to overtake or change lanes until the person indicating in front carries out their intention. After a few kilometers down the road you realise they have no intention of turning.

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