Indicator ignorance

Whenever I’m out driving, I spend a lot of time swearing at other road users. A lot of the time, my expletive-laden outbursts are prompted by the failure of other drivers to use their indicators. I used to think this was simple laziness. Now I’m starting to wonder if some people actually have no idea what they’re for.

The other morning, as I was driving to work, I approached a truck parked on the side of the road. As I eased into the centre of the road to pass, it pulled away from the curb and began to accelerate. I had to brake hard to avoid hitting it. “Let the truck out!” yelled one of the driver’s aceboys, who was still standing at the side of the road. “Perhaps if he’d indicated!” I shot back angrily.

I regularly get to see indicator ignorance because of where we live. Getting up to our house involves making a tricky left turn off the main road, up a side road that meets it at an acute angle. The only way to do it is to pull out onto the right hand side of the road before locking the wheel hard left.

I always indicate left before starting this manoeuvre. But you’d be amazed how often the vehicle behind interprets the flashing orange light on the side of my car as its cue to start overtaking me on the inside. Bikes are particularly bad for this. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to jam on my brakes mid-turn to avoid a collision.

After this happened to me for the second time in as many weeks today, I began to think that perhaps my rear indicator wasn’t working. But no: on checking it, I discovered that it was working just fine.

Perhaps it’s because I indicate left but start by moving right. Nevertheless, overtaking on the inside is foolish at the best of times. Doing it while the vehicle is indicating left is plain old retarded.

Comments

[Triforce on 30.07.06 at 22:28]

Indicator abuse/misuse/lack-of-use is so prevalent here, it ought to be considered right up there as a serious danger to all road users.

You see it all the time, people indicating when they don't have to, not indicating when they absolutely need to, it's like indicating is no longer on the driver's exam at TCD or something with what I see on the roads.

Silliest thing? People stopping, turning and while in the middle of the turn, choosing to signal. Joy.

[Martin on 30.07.06 at 22:29]

I had thought Phil that after some time here, you would have realised by now the local game of "Guess which way I am going".

It is important to realise that when the indicator flashes left, it is highly likely that the driver will turn right - and vice versa.

Furthermore, a flashing indicator is not to be interpreted as an indication that the driver is about to turn. He/she might turn today (if so when?) - or indeed tomorrow.

I guess it is fair to say that for many bike riders for example, the indicators are often not self cancelling. Ok - so maybe they should check...but I have some sympathy with that one.

Whether people know what they are for or not, is specualtion. At the end of the day, hoewever, IF they are used, that is a significant advantage over some of the hand signals I have encountered on the Island.

Like many others, I grew up knowing what a "one fingered" salute meant. However - when that one finger is "waggling" outside the window like some flacid organ... sheesh...that takes some interpretation. Slowing down perhaps...or...going to move the car over to the other side of the road...or...please overtake...or...ah well I give up.

Happy driving.

[Rob on 31.07.06 at 06:35]

The "simple" answer is to introduce trams.

As an ex-pat, upon leaving Bermuda I moved to Melbourne where the Hook Turn is a necessary manouver due to the trams.

It certainly teaches people to pay attention!

[RedOnion on 31.07.06 at 07:20]

How about the people who slow to a crawl, and in an amazing feat of dexterity flip the indicator on as they are half way through their turn, as if that makes a difference to the driver behind who has finally figured out that when the wheels turn that is their turn signal, not the indicators.

As annoying as the lack of indicator usage is the total misuse of high beams, especially by bike riders who tailgate. Grrrrr.

[ace on 31.07.06 at 07:49]

Even more annoying are the people who think they are being nice by locking up their breaks to allow someone to enter traffic or totally disrupting the flow of traffic while stopping half-way around the roundabout to let someone in.

These people think they are being good citizens and fail to realise their actions can be very dangerous.

[Full Fullish on 31.07.06 at 08:13]

Wow, Phill you hit on one of my big pet peeves. It amazes me just how extremely stupid people are when it comes to something as simple as putting on your indicator. This annoys me to no end. If these morons were to do this on a highway anywhere else in the world they'd be roadkill.

[Adjustah on 31.07.06 at 08:35]

Indicator? What's an indicator?

[sandgrownan on 31.07.06 at 08:45]

Highbeams? Highbeams? What about friggin' fog lamps? When is it ever foggy in Bermuda?

For the sake of looking cool, every other road user is blinded by these morons. Use of fog lamps when it's not foggy should result in a ticket, as it does in the UK. Better still, ban them.

[Jamaican Q on 31.07.06 at 08:46]

Stop moaning guys.....the situation could be worst. I guess because I grew up in a crufty society why I feel you are all making a mountain out of a mole hill.....suppose you lived in a country where when the cop stops a taxi driver and asks him if he didn't see the pedestrians in the road when he was speeding....and the taxi driver retorts that he did...which is why he blew his horn hard for them to get out of the way!!

[Pitts Bay on 31.07.06 at 08:54]

I always figured that indicators should be optional on cars in Bermuda. Most people don't use them anyway, and the cost of cars could be reduced in a number of ways (i.e. reduce the cost of the car in the first place, and the $300-$400 for the indicator lens after a fender bender would no longer be necessary)

[VB on 31.07.06 at 09:19]

Given how much some us travel & rent cars when we travel I often wonder if they drive the 'Bermuda way' when they are at the wheel of a rental car.

I think not because if they did we would be hearing of some dumb Bermudians death on the highway somewhere in the world caused by the Bermuda habit of not signaling or tailgating.

Why is it such a big secret to advising others on the road of your intentions? Don't want to prematurely wear out the lightbulb? Need the hand to operate the signal lever rather than hold the cellphone? Maybe you think it does not matter if any other road users are around?

The most popular method, if you get a signal at all, is to (a) begin to slow down, (b) start to make the turn (c) as the turn is being made, SIGNAL. Well, DUH, now we know what you are up to!

I doubt if, collectively, we are the worst drivers in the world but we certainly deserve an honorable mention for such a samll place in the worst awards.

Hey, but don't worry, Independance will improve the standard of driving too. Indicator lights will no longer be required.

[ace on 31.07.06 at 09:42]

I witnessed a real treat this morning. A guy driving a small Honda Fit (with a Free Palestine bumper sticker on it) was reading his newspaper while driving up east broadway into town. I have a picture of it on my mobile.

[sandgrownan on 31.07.06 at 09:48]

Post it here! Or better still, send to The Gazette.

[Bill Cook on 31.07.06 at 11:20]

Must have been ok to take photos while driving I guess ?

[pastor smith on 31.07.06 at 11:23]

So 2 drivers not paying attention to driving....Thats wonderful!

[ace on 31.07.06 at 11:38]

I had pleanty of time to take the picture as "Mr. Newspaper reader" would be reading his paper as traffic moved ahead in front of him. He would advance at the end of a paragraph I guess.

Unfortunately I did not have time to store the picture. My phone doesn't store them automatically, so I wasn't able to get the shot recorded. Rather than endanger anybody I put the camera away.

Pity.

Say...Bill...out of curiousity what kind of car do you drive?

[Andrew on 31.07.06 at 11:56]

Every evening, returning from work, I have to make a right hand turn onto my street. To do so requires that I cross over oncoming traffic. Almost weekly, some future organ donor overtakes me, up de middle, as I start to turn right. I drive a bike, and I'm as close to the centre line as I can be when I turn. I also have my indicator on. If I don't look over my shoulder as I turn right, I crash.

Unfortunately, I'm one of those morons that drives for four miles with my indicator on. When my bike was new, it would "click" when my indicator was on, reminding me to cancel the indicator after the turn. Unfortunately, it stopped clicking, and now I'm conditioned to forget. I wear a full-face helmet, so I can't see the indicator flashing on the dash unless I look down. So if you see a black Axis with a black full-face helmet driving witht he indicator on, cut me some slack.

[Bill Cook on 31.07.06 at 12:00]

Say ACE what kind of car do YOU drive ?

Just out of curiosity as I dont approve of using cell phones while driving.

[ace on 31.07.06 at 12:17]

I don't drive a car much...that is something I basically pay for but don't get to use alot. It is a Mitsubishi Lancer, grey in colour with a spoiler on the back. I don't have any bumper stickers.

See, the incident happened while I was on my bike, basically stuck in traffic on East Broadway. I saw this idiot open up his newspaper and begin to read it so I quickly put my hand in my pocket, grabbed my phone and snapped a quick shot. The newpaper reader must have finnished his paragraph and started to move forward after noticing a gap had been created due to his lack of attention in front of him.

As soon as I realised he was going to move I closed the phone, pocketed it, and then carried on.

Unlike most bike riders I do not split the lane on East Broadway. I stayed right behind the newspaper dude the whole way up to where the Reid Street cutoff occurs. I did notice that a couple of bike riders had some choice words for the newspaper man though when they had enough room to sqeeze past...these same guys seemed to approve of my attempt to record the incident though. "What an idiot! WTF is he doing...reading a newspaper???" was something I heard right before I was overtaken.

So, I wasn't "using" my phone per se....I just took it out to snap a quick picture.

[SmokingGun on 31.07.06 at 12:21]

"Bikes are particularly bad for this. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to jam on my brakes mid-turn to avoid a collision."

Why brake?

[Renato Adams on 31.07.06 at 12:30]

Comes down to the lack of police presence on the streets enforcing the traffic laws.

There are 2 lanes of traffic heading into town, not 3 or 4 to accomodate bikes. I have no pity on the bike rider creating a third lane who strikes a car and falls off.

Oh and the white line in before the red light is where the stop line is, not halfway in the junction. Unless you stop BEHIND the white line, you have disobeyed a traffic sign(red light) and should be ticketed. Ask the people on Pitts Bay road a few mornings ago at the junction with Bermudiana Road.

[Pitts Bay on 31.07.06 at 12:37]

Bill

Looks like a "feeling guilty" response there. Was that you reading the newspaper?:)

Pitts Bay

[ian on 31.07.06 at 13:24]

The indicator disease is highly contagious - in fact it is a downright epidemic. Regardless of the country you're in, you can be assured that some moronic driver(s) will fail to use it, use it incorrectly, or indicate blocks in advance. On positive note though, isn't it nice to finally find something that trancends all races, nationalities, etc.? Stupid drivers break all the barriers and may be the key to racial harmony!

[SmokingGun on 31.07.06 at 13:34]

Hmmm... wonder if they handed out free newspapers on the buses and ferries if we could get a few of the idiots off the road.

Although I would have to include myself in the idiots list. I have been known to go through my mail when sitting in grid-lock heading out of town. But I guess I'll have to be a little more discrete in future. ;-)

[ace on 31.07.06 at 13:42]

You will indeed Smokes.

;-)

My cell camera will be like the Spanish Inquisition...you will never know when it will show up.

Drive safe now y'all.

[kristen Sousa on 31.07.06 at 14:25]

A pet peeve of mine as well. I'm a bit of an 'indicates too far in advance' i figure perhaps people need more time to notice i'm turning.

personally.. i'm still waiting for the 'about to parallel park' indicator.. so that idiots don't get all confused when i indicate .. and then reverse. i'd stick my hand out to signal.. but, well.. i actually like my hand .. and .. well. that's enough surely :)

[SmokingGun on 31.07.06 at 14:48]

How about we all just get GPS and we program in our route plan before each trip just like the pilots do. Then we can hook up the GPS to our indicators and as each turn approaches they will automatically start blinking. As an added bonus for drivers such as Kristen it can incorporate a soothing voice that repeats over and over "Don't worry, I'll turn the blinkers on shortly". ;-)

Oh and Kristen - by chance are you reffering to "Parallel Parking on Par-La-Ville"?

[Git on 31.07.06 at 15:36]

I face the same issue as Phil turning onto our street. Indicate left but need to pull out wide to make the lock. I feel your angst. Missed an inside overtaker just this weekend by half a knat's ****. That idiot is lucky to be alive.

[save d cut on 31.07.06 at 15:52]

I think pedestrians should indicate too.
How many of you had to jam brakes when you think they are walking straight and they take this quick about face move on to the pedestrian walk. causing you back seat passengers to have a brief visit to the front? Crazy. I think they should stop and make sure they are not going to cause someone to stop short, then proceed. However once in a pedestrian they have the right.

[Roger on 31.07.06 at 15:56]

You guys should check out the rant room on bermudasucks.com

There is a section dedicated to the whole Bermuda driving experience......

[save d cut on 31.07.06 at 16:00]

I must give it to Bermuda on the round about thing (stop and waiting for your turn on ). In Boston instead of stopping before you get on, you accellerate and cause the traffic already on it to stop. Dangerous

[SmokingGun on 31.07.06 at 16:20]

I thought Boston changed that law? I know in the past when I was in school people entering the round-a-bout/rotary had right of way. And yes coming from Bermuda it called for some creative driving techniques. I'm just glad I had some training from dealing with London's round-a-bouts.

[SmokingGun on 31.07.06 at 16:25]

Bingo Bango Bongo - The Aussies have something new to drive us nuts.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=18898&vf=26

[Andrew on 31.07.06 at 16:26]

Stopping behind the white line? How about the location of the light on East Broadway (or is that Front Street?) where the trucks turn into the docks. If you pull up to the stop line, you can't see the light. People pull up, stop, and then have to wait for the vehicles behind them to start laying on the horn so they know the light has changed.

[OnDeWata __/)__ on 31.07.06 at 16:32]

Good Blog (but a bit out date!)
http://bdaroadhog.blogspot.com

[RedOnion on 31.07.06 at 17:16]

That light at East Broadway to allow trucks to enter the dock is the dumbest setup going. It's true what Andrew said, you can't see the light, but the sensor for it is almost in line with the opposite lane, therefore if you are travelling into town and swing a little wide you cause the light to change behind you. This morning the light was literally changing back to red after every ten seconds, I was in the traffic line and had to stop 3 times before I got past, and only the first time did a truck actually turn onto the docks. The other times there was nothing turning.

[Martin on 31.07.06 at 18:38]

Ace...

What was the Newspaper guy using to steer with?

On second thoughts - don't answerr that.

[Martin on 31.07.06 at 18:46]

Talking of indicating, wouldsomebody please explain to me what all of those wonderful handsignals mean?

I've had a wiggling middle or index finger...an arm and wrist falpping left to right and top to bottom that looks as though it's about to screw itself of it's thread...and a permanantly extended finger, which I trust is some gay guy drying his nail polish unless he is trying to tell me something.

On a serious note - my real worry is that a hand that is waving up and down...to which the owners cousin on the pavement is acknowledging...will also be interpreted by the courts as.."She indicated she was slowing down"...what's your problem. Fine $250 for careless driving - Next case"

Sheesh!!

[tilti on 31.07.06 at 21:22]

someone I am working with for the summer drives a truck with the bumper sticker "Jesus would indicate." pass those out at TCD and reduce road accidents in no time.

[Renato Adams on 01.08.06 at 09:31]

The traffic lights on Crow Lane in front of the docks malfunction constantly. As stated in a previous post, they allow traffic on Crow Lane to have a green light for 5 seconds, go red for 30 seconds and then back to green. A cycle that can continue for hours with nary a container truck in view.

What irritates me, is the drivers who see the lights are malfunctioning yet sit at the red light. Now I am the first to champion a law abiding society but in this case - please!!

There isn't a police officer around who would ticket someone for that if the driver proceeded through cautiously and the lights were obviously defective.

Or perhaps people love sitting in grid locked traffic on Crow Lane at 2:30 pm?

Another pet peeve is the brainiacs who obey the law and rightfully buckle themselves securely in the car then allow their 5 year old son to jump around in the back seat of the same car. They also have their 6 month old daughter in a pumpkin seat resting on the front seat not buckled at all.

Congrats to all those wonderful parents who will walk away from a 45 km/h fender bender without a scratch. What will happen to your children? After they are pulled out of the smashed windscreen I really hope you feel good about yourselves!

This is an offence that also has no gender or race barrier. Well done!

[Raptor on 06.08.06 at 12:18]

Boston’s law on rotaries has always been that the car on the rotary has right of way. Finally, they put up signs saying what people were supposed to know.

I used to see people speed up approaching rotaries (I still do, but not quite as much). And I have actually seen a person reading a newspaper going round a particularly bad rotary, and a woman applying mascara in her rear-view mirror driving into the same rotary. It's mindboggling.