Signalling query

[Phonesis]

Recently passed my test and have had a car for a week now. Doing a bit of driving and thought I knew the correct signalling procedure for parking and pulling away from parked space on roadside. But now not sure.

Do you generally need to signal when about to reverse / parallel park? My instructor told me I didn't but friend reckons I def always should. My thoughts are that I don't as reverse lights tell drivers I'm about to attempt to reverse park.

Secondly, do you signal when pulling out of a space on the roadside? My instructor told me not to if there are cars about to pass me. Again, friend of mine is adamant I should signal when pulling out.

 

[Hades]

I think your instructor is a numpty. I was always taught to mirror, then signal if clear, before any change of direction. I would always signal when reversing into a space because it clearly advises other road users of your intention. The front of the car may swing out as you reverse into it. That's valuable information for all road users. Similarly I'd always signal when pulling out of a space. Yes I agree you should only pull out if the road is clear but what about any traffic you may not have seen? By indicating it gives them warning that they are approaching a possible hazard.

 

[Six6siX]

I recall also being told not to signal immediately when moving off from the side of the road if there are other cars approaching. It could cause them to misinterpret your intentions (or something like that - you aren't supposed to affect other road users) and think you are going to pull out straight away. Apparently you're supposed to wait till there is nothing immediately approaching before indicating.

 

[chanjy]

You should indicate before you start slowing down. How will the drivers behind know you are about to brake otherwise? You could cancel the indicator once you start reversing, but always indicate to start with.

 

[Hades]

I recall also being told not to signal immediately when moving off from the side of the road if there are other cars approaching. It could cause them to misinterpret your intentions (or something like that - you aren't supposed to affect other road users) and think you are going to pull out straight away. Apparently you're supposed to wait till there is nothing immediately approaching before indicating.

Well yes you're supposed to wait until it's clear before signalling for any manouvre. That also includes changing lane. If it's not clear to move then you shouldn't signal (although in reality most people do). But you should always signal when you intend to make a change of direction (and the way is clear).

 

[Haggisman]

Well yes you're supposed to wait until it's clear before signalling for any manouvre. That also includes changing lane. If it's not clear to move then you shouldn't signal (although in reality most people do). But you should always signal when you intend to make a change of direction (and the way is clear).

This basically.

I wouldn't indicate to change lane/pull out unless it's clear, otherwise, as Six6siX said, other drivers might think you are going to pull out in front of them. However I would indicate when approaching a space I intend to park in, and when I intend to change lane.

Saying that, I also indicate in supermarket carparks and when "turning" left/right out of a junction (even if the physical road layout is straight on).

I think I'm doing it wrong however - as I understand it, indicators make you immune to other cars, so the correct procedure appears to be to indicate and then move into the path of other traffic, regardless of whether they're 1m behind you doing 20mph faster.

They're even more effective when used in pairs, and fully entitle you to stop in the middle of the road to make/take a phone call, have a sandwich, do your makeup etc.

 

[Kaeo]

Reverse lights tell people you are about to reverse, not where you are reversing too. Generally it is accepted that when you pull just past a space, people will know you're going into it.

However, if you're pulling in on a busy road, signal left before you come to a stop, otherwise, there's a 999999% chance someone will stop right behind you. Don't see anything wrong with leaving the signal on while you're reversing into the space, either.

Quite often see people indicating in, then putting warning lights on while reversing in. Terrible idea, once you're halfway in people can only see your outward indicators and think you're pulling out.

 

[tom_e]

You should indicate before you start slowing down. How will the drivers behind know you are about to brake otherwise? You could cancel the indicator once you start reversing, but always indicate to start with.

That magical thing called brake lights? Unless you signal any time you plan on slowing down

 

[Ryan-3]

I think your instructor is a numpty. I was always taught to mirror, then signal if clear, before any change of direction. I would always signal when reversing into a space because it clearly advises other road users of your intention. The front of the car may swing out as you reverse into it. That's valuable information for all road users. Similarly I'd always signal when pulling out of a space. Yes I agree you should only pull out if the road is clear but what about any traffic you may not have seen? By indicating it gives them warning that they are approaching a possible hazard.

This. It also shows your intention to cars coming down the road where you'd expect to be out and driving off before they arrive where you are, such as in streets with speed humps. Some idiots seem to race between them, but take four hours over them.

 

[Haggisman]

However, if you're pulling in on a busy road, signal left before you come to a stop, otherwise, there's a 999999% chance someone will stop right behind you.

I've noticed people tend to stop right behind you anyway, then it's somehow your fault that they weren't paying attention

 

[chanjy]

That magical thing called brake lights? Unless you signal any time you plan on slowing down

Ha ha ok you got me

I meant slowing down unexpectedly on an otherwise clear road where you would never stop unless you were parking. And if you don't indicate there is a bigger chance the car behind ends up in your backside and you can't reverse

 

[Antony101]

I'd normally indicate left to pullover, then leave the indicator on while reversing into a space. When pulling away I'd indicate right as the last car passes me. Check mirrors again and pull out if it's still clear.

 

[mjt]

As an aside, I've been wondering who would be at fault if you swing out to parallel park and hit the overtaking numpty who's too impatient to wait.

I live on a one-way street and parallel park outside the flat. Indicate, brake and put reverse lights on but have to put up with impatient fools pushing past.
Who would be at fault if I hit them with the front of the car when reversing in?

 

[Clarkey]

I would imagine it would go 50/50 as it would be impossible to prove who ran into who. Unless they had dashcam I suppose, if they were stationary and you were backing up then of course it would be your fault.

 

[Haggisman]

As above, or possibly against you as the person performing a manoeuvre.

but yes, some people have no patience at all, I've had idiots mount the kerb to drive past behind me as I've been reversing into my drive before! (it's quite tight so I have to swing right out onto the other side of the road)

 

[DereksDontRun]

generally, the more you indicate the better - you're informing others around you of your intentions. But, I personally get frustrated by people indicating to overtake things like parked cars, and buses at stops, when there's also right turns as it's confusing where they're indicating to go.

reversing into a bay - say the bay is on the left, indicate left as you're driving past it. It shows you're expecting to slow down and swing out right before reversing left. Say there's spaces on both the right and left side, if you don't indicate and swing out right then people will surely assume you're going forwards into a space on the right, and possibly try to drive around behind you. If you then stop and slap the car into reverse, they'll be quite surprised, especially if they're now behind you. Indicating just helps inform those behind, so they don't get too close.

parallel parking - same deal, indicating help shows your intentions. Say it's busy start-stop traffic and there's a space coming up on the left you want to reverse parallel park into. Indicate before the space and drive past it slowly, thus informing the car behind to (hopefully) stay back, so that when you stop and slap it into reverse there's space behind (just obviously be aware the front of the car can swing out into the oncoming traffic a little). If you don't indicate then the car behind will only assume it's normal start-stop busy traffic and hug your bumper leaving you little space to reverse into the space.

Pulling out. According to the highway code you "should" indicate when there's a space, and then pull out, which is frankly unhelpful. If you're pulling out from a space then indicate to show your intention to leave the space, then wait for a gap and move. Waiting until there's a gap and then slapping on the indicator milliseconds before moving doesn't really help anyone, and footage on a dash-cam will just look like you've swung out without notification.

just my 2c

 

[Janesy B]

Well yes you're supposed to wait until it's clear before signalling for any manouvre. That also includes changing lane. If it's not clear to move then you shouldn't signal (although in reality most people do). But you should always signal when you intend to make a change of direction (and the way is clear).

Indeed, if I see someone signalling while I am by their side overtaking them, it's safe to assume that they're an idiot.

 

[iaind]

generally, the more you indicate the better

No, this isn't a good mindset.

Often there's a significant disconnect between what's taught for the test, what's taught in advanced driving qualifications and common sense. In this case the latter 2 align quite well but none of them say "the more you indicate the better"

What you're taught to pass your test is to always indicate in certain circumstances.

It's been a while since I took IAM lessons, but the thinking there was "talk if you have something useful to say" - eg indicate when there's a benefit to another road user. If you're approaching a roundabout and turning left then you'd normally indicate - this is what you'd be taught to do by your driving instructor. My IAM instructor quite sensibly said that if you can clearly see there's no other road users that would benefit from you signalling....what's the point? If your signal will be useful to another road user then do it. If your signal *MIGHT* be useful to another road user, even one you cant yet see, then do it. If your signal is definitely no use to anyone else or may cause confusion then don't do it. An example would be indicating to pass parked cars, when there's a right hand junction in the road ahead... the benefit of this is almost nil but is also likely to be misinterpreted.

As far as the OP goes, I don't recall what should be taught in the driving test, but in this instance common sense would suggest that an indication might be more beneficial than not. If there's a car behind then indicating as you slow down should help them to anticipate what you're doing and prevent them getting too close (in theory!). However, if there's a left junction within a distance where it might be misinterpreted, make a judgement on a per situation basis.

Either way, indicating "as much as possible" is just poor driving

 

[ttaskmaster]

Do you generally need to signal when about to reverse / parallel park? My instructor told me I didn't but friend reckons I def always should.

Is your friend also a qualified driving instructor?

My own instructor says:
Indicate as you approach the parking space, to show those around you that you're pulling in. Stop, then cancel the indicator. Once it's clear and you're ready to reverse in, your reversing lights are what tells people of your intentions. You do NOT need to indicate.

Secondly, do you signal when pulling out of a space on the roadside? My instructor told me not to if there are cars about to pass me. Again, friend of mine is adamant I should signal when pulling out.

About to pass you - No, as it may throw them.
You are supposed to see if it's clear enough (Observation), then indicate (Signal), then if it is still clear you may proceed (Manoeuvre).

 

[Dr Who]

Current correct advice is.

No signal when reversing round corner or parallel parking. The reversing lights are your signal of intention.

No Signal when moving away if the road is clear, but if another car is approaching from the front, signal, if another car is a long way behind signal, but if another car is close behind, don't signal, wait for him to pass, as a signal may cause him to change course speed or direction.

This is the technique I used on my recent ADI part 2 with zero faults earned.

Signal all the time is old advice and times have changed.

I would signal to stop for either manoeuvre and then cancel the indicator.