It’s Amazing How Many New Cars Don’t Seem To Have …

… functioning indicators!

You’d have thought that the name gave it away, really, wouldn’t you?

I mean, they’re not called “orange lights that flash for no apparent purpose” or “spare parts”!

They’re called “indicators” for good reason – they’re meant to be used to indicate to other drivers and pedestrians where you intend going.

It’s not a particularly hard concept to grasp, is it?

Traffic is so bad these days in most towns that it’s hard enough to turn out of a side road as it is, without some idiot not bothering to indicate that they’re turning, thereby robbing you of that fleeting opportunity to pull out.

Are people really so wrapped up in their little metal cocoons that they cannot even seen other road users?

Are they so absorbed in (now illegal) mobile phone conversations?

Are the so rapt by their MP3 players?

Are they so engaged in conversation with their passengers?

Or is it to do with the generally decreasing levels of courtesy in modern life (which, you’ll be glad to know, may be be the subject of a future rant)?

And what about using indicators to let other drivers know that they’re about to change lanes?

Well, what about it!?

Are we all meant to be psychic and “know” that this is what the idiot in the next car is going to do?

And what about the so-called “professional” drivers? If this is what these people do all day, every day, for their living, then why not behave in a professional manner and let the rest of us mere amateurs know where they’re about to move their several tons worth of heavy good vehicles?

Another worrying sign is the fact that even learner drivers don’t seem to be taught to use indicators.

An excuse used by some seems to be along the lines of “well, there was nobody around to benefit from it”. Fair enough, you might say? But why go to the trouble of expending brain power on making this decision – why not simply indicate every time as a matter of course, regardless of who else is around?

Indicating shouldn’t be aimed at specific people, but at “to whomever it concerns”. After all, do you actually see everybody who might need to know your intentions?

In my opinion, for what it’s worth, if an accident is caused because somebody didn’t indicate, then they should bear the full responsibility for that accident.

But I’m not just having a go at the drivers, because the road planners must bear some of the responsibility for this.

In particular, I’m referring to those modern excrescences, the “mini-roundabout”.

By definition, they’re so small, and occasionally built, like hydrogen atoms, in pairs, that there is no real opportunity to indicate safely, as the distance between exits is too short.

Well, I think that’s it for this topic.

I will, as they say, be back, with more gripes and whinges!

Tags: professional drivers, apparent purpose, road users, mobile phone, phone conversations

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