Signalling query

[DampDog]

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.

When performing the parallel park you should always set a signal on approach. Remember you are constantly giving information to other road users and pedestrians. Using the indicator is only part of that, you are giving information via you speed, position and brake lights even before you set the indicator. Generally you should be able to see or have observed the persons/vehicles you are signalling, it not just I'll signal and hope someone see's it.

Once you've identified the parking space as you approach you should set a signal and slow your approach. Once you've bought the car to a stop get the car into reverse quickly, that way you will also be showing your reversing lights to other road users. Latest best practise is that you can cancel your signal at this point, however remember signals are for pedestrians as well as other drivers. (As an instructor in the past, I have advised the signal be left on. (If it's busy pedestrians will try and cross the road from the gap you're aiming to park in, generally they wiil see a signal they can miss reversing lights.) What you hope will happen is that the following vehicle will have seen your speed, signal and positioning then hold back to give you enough room to complete your manoeuvre. Unfortunately every other driver on the road except yourself is an idiot! (Or that how you should treat them) More often than not they will follow so closely they will make it more difficult or impossible to complete your manoeuvres and generally protest at you for their poor driving. (Even with a Topbox on covered in big red 'L's') If you haven't already cancelled your signal at some point during your manoeuvre it will cancel automatically due to you changing steering lock. It's not a show stopper if you leave your signal on. The important part is good control and observation.

When moving away you should do the appropriate observations and set a signal when you see a gap in traffic. (remember it also includes oncoming traffic) Again the world is not perfect and it may be some locations/situation are very busy. There maybe a constant stream of slow moving traffic with no gaps. In that situation set you signal so that other motorist can see you are trying to emerge. Be 110% sure the vehicle that acknowledges your signal as either stopped or slowed for you before emerging.

You signal if it could be of benefit to other road users. Generally if there is no one there to see it as you move away there is no need to signal. But can you ever be 100% no one is there, either pedestrian, another driver or even someone about to reverse out of their drive.

 

[JBuk]

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.


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).

That's what I was taught

 

[DereksDontRun]

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

but, isn't there a difference between advanced (experienced) motorists and a fresh driver?

with my iam hat on, yes, "indicating as much as possible" isn't technically ideal, but I was trying to suggest that if he's a new driver then if in doubt, cover his ass and indicate, especially with the ever growing number of dash-cams. You're going to get far less frustration from other drivers by over indicating than under - in the long term, sure, they're both bad to the extreme, but if the OP is unsure then surely it's better to show an intention to park/set-off, etc?

I was taught the same as you on my iam lessons - indicate to the conditions. If there's nobody about then why? I was pretty much told that indicating for the sake of it suggests a lack of awareness of what's around you. If you're turning and it's empty or in a right turn only lane, etc. then don't indicate.

BUT.... I have to admit, that through time I've been walking and cycling a lot more, and it's v frustrating to have people not indicating to turn. Whether they're rubbish drivers and just not indicating, or observing iam's methodologies of only choosing not to indicate because of a lack of other traffic, it can be annoying when it's not clear a car is planning to pull into a space or turn when you're on the pavement and thinking of crossing etc.

While i wasn't trying to state "do this according to iam or the highway code" but more suggesting that through experience (that I'm sure 90% of us have) it surely helps to use indicators more than less if you're in doubt.

I do a fair bit of teaching snowsports, while yes it's not driving, it's something technical and generally v new to a lot of people (as driving is). When teaching someone something new, it's surely better to provide small nuggets of info such as "try to indicate" instead of getting into the complexities of "in such and such an instance do this, but otherwise do that" etc. Methods and mindsets can be refined and improved through time, with experience. Filter and nudge people to the goal, instead of swamping them with info. Well, that's my thinking

 

[muon]

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.

Which is what you quickly learn, even without advice, just driving for a bit.

It makes no sense to scare cars you will let past anyway and signalling whilst reversing achieves nothing when you have bright reversing lights. Signalling when coming to a stop is also useful if you want to park, again something you'll learn after not doing it once.

I don't remember getting taught what you've written, but do exactly that.

Pedestrians is also another reason I might signal when moving off.

 

[bainbridge]

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.

You could be there all day waiting for a gap. Indicating while waiting might induce some kind soul to let you out or even someone looking for a space, which you're about to give them when they let you out.

 

[Rich1988]

Depends on the situation, if you are on a tight street with people behind you, indicate. It lets them know you are pulling over and then stick it in reverse when you are ready to park, they will either wait or carry on driving but the indicator and reverse lights lets them know you are parking, depending on how decisive/kind people are will dictate how long it takes.

if you are on a wide street I would still indicate to be honest as you are stopping, in the same way I would indicate if I was pulling over, (to do otherwise makes you a tart and I tend to get angry at people who pull over without indication) but you can just perform the maneuver without worrying too much.

if the street is empty however I wouldn't bother indicating at all, there is no wrong or right its all about observation and reading the situation

 

[ttaskmaster]

I was taught the same as you on my iam lessons - indicate to the conditions. If there's nobody about then why? I was pretty much told that indicating for the sake of it suggests a lack of awareness of what's around you.

This is where I always end up in arguments with the IAM guys...
How do you *KNOW* you haven't missed someone, though?

You can't see anyone - off you go... CRASH, SMIDSY.
This is why we always indicate on the test even if you can't see anyone else around - Because all you can be sure of is that *you* cannot see anyone.

BUT.... I have to admit, that through time I've been walking and cycling a lot more, and it's v frustrating to have people not indicating to turn.

There's also the argument of whether the car is actually turning, or just parking and whether there's a difference betwixt the two.
I probably will do it in the future, but I believe it is officially a misleading indication and might even be a minor on the test.

 

[Phonesis]

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.

This seems to be the general consensus and makes sense. I'll try and stick to this.