indicating at a roundabout

[ilovemarkb]

When going straight over a roundabout ...do you indicate just before you turn off.


I was told this isnt necasary (in 1987) However my stepson is having lessons and his instructor says he should be indicating as it is courtious. But is it Law?

(posted in 2 sections)

[quizman55]

You should indicate left as you pass the exit previous to the one that you intend to take. This tells anyone wanting to enter the roundabout from the opposite direction to that which you have come that you do not intend to cross their path and they can enter the roundabout safely. Lack of indication leaves them wondering what you mean to do. If you are leaving the roundabout by any other exit past straight ahead then you should indicate right before entering the roundabout and carry on indicating right until you reach the exit before the one you want and then switch to left indicator as above.

[wiltsman]

Wouldn't it be great if every driver did this quizman?

[hammerman]

roundabouts are one of life's most misused things. Designed to keep the flow of traffic moving, i can't believe how many drivers pull up at a roundabout whilst looking straight ahead. When they stop, they look right. This happens even if there's no other vehicle within a country mile of the junction.

Are you reading this Mrs Hammerman !!!!!!!!!

[ilovemarkb]

I cant believe I was taught not to! Well time to change!!! as from now!!

[woofgang]

if the roundabout is big or has the kind of centre that you can't see across, how can other users tell where you entered? Point of entry isn't really relevant.....

[andy-hughes]

Opinions vary, and like most things in life, change with time.

I was always taught to signal as I passed the exit before the straight-on exit which I was taking, and was also taught to signal right if going right round, switching to left as above when passing the exit before the one I was taking.

Some people are taught only to signal for the exit they are taking, which in my view is incorrect, because there is no way to distinguish you from the hundreds of numpties who don't signal at all.

[erin-x]

You get minors for it in a driving test. You don't need to do it for mini roundabouts though.

[NoMercy]

You should not not indicate as you approach the roundabout but should indicate as you prepare to take your exit.

Also, may I just point out, you should never indicate if your are going around/overtaking a cyclist!

[erin-x]

I was taught to indicate while approaching a roundabout Nom.. Mainly to show what lane you're going into etc..

And why shouldn't you indicate when overtaking a cyclist? <genuinely curious....

[baza]

NoM whats a cyclist, is it one of those lycra clad persons on funny little metal things.

[NoMercy]

Because indicating is for turning off, not passing round a cyclist.

If you approach a roundabout that has, say, 3 other exits, you should indicate left for first exit, right for third exit but should not indicate for second exit (straight ahead) except to indicate when taking the exit.

[chrissa1]

Try driving in Malta, roundabouts are a free for all there. Anything goes.

[erin-x]

But you indicate to pull away into traffic. It's just to let other drivers know what you are going to do. What if the guy behind you decides to overtake you when you go to overtake... That's why I would always indicate.

And I get the roundabout thing... I thought you were talking about all exits, not just going straight ahead lol! =s

[237SJ]

I agree with Nom. If you have a roundabout with 3 exits (for example at 9 o clock, 12 o clock and 3 o clock) you would indicate left if you are leaving at 9 o clock, you wouldn`t indicate at 12 o clock because you are just, in theory, driving in a straight line and you would indicate at 3 o clock.

[NoMercy]

Try driving in Cairo. One tends to close one's eyes and hope for the best...

[237SJ]

And try driving in India. Close one`s eyes and don`t even hope for the best :-)

[El-Cid]

You should indicate when passing a cyclist, but only when it will be beneficial to other road users. Which in practice, means don’t indicate because people might think you are turning right.
It not the law to indicate, but if your negligence causes an accident, then you can be held responsible.

[jno]

it's just telling the drivers behind you what you're going to do next. Exits off a roundabout can be so close together (some roundabouts are just a blob of paint on the road) that there's often no time to indicate. It's courteous, if you can do it, but I'd be surprised if it's the law.

If you're definitely turning right or left you can indicate as you approach the roundabout.

[ummmm]

I was taught that you don't indicate to go straight over a mini roundabout but always on a big roundabout.