LTSA Stuff I hadn't picked up on.

[Wolf]

Assumptions kill people. Personally I wait until I'm sure what their intentions are. Even if someones indicating I wait to see the start to turn.

Likewise. I've seen too many numb-nuts driving down the road with their indicator on, or flick it on then change what passes for their mind, for me to trust other people''s indicating. They've got to slow and commit before I do anything.

[Clockwork]

Not too sure about you but when I'm on a roundabout I'm a little occupied with traffic and the unexpected...........I will indicate when turning no problem but tell me officer why should I indicate when I am going straight ahead.

Skyryder

When I approach a roundabout I don't know or care where the guy approaching from my right entered the roundabout, only want to know if he is exiting down the road I am entering from or not. Frankly I just want to see an indication left or right. None of this "I'll leave them off and you just guess which way I am gong to go"

[Jantar]

You do realise you indicate as you approach the roundabout dont you. Hopefully your not dumb enough to wait until your on it before you indicate

The new rules require you to indicate "left" before entering the roundabout if and only if you are turning left off the roundabout at the first exit. You indicate "Right" before entering the roundabout if and only if you are turning right off the roundabout. You do not indicate at all before entering the roundabout if you are going straight ahead. You are supposed to indicate "Left" as soon asoon as you pass the exit imediately prior to one you wish to take.

So in fact if you are heading straight ahead, then by law "you MUST be dumb enough to wait until your on it before you indicate ". How else can you do it?

[vifferman]

Of course, the rules are completely different in D'Auckland. Here you must use your confirminator after turning, and then only momentarily, just to confirm that your turn wasn't the (involuntary) result of poking yourself in the eye with the mascara brush, dropping your cellphone, or pouring hot coffee in your lap.

Other rules are:

• When using a multilane roundabout, be sure you are in the lane which appears to be moving fastest. Usually this is the innermost lane, due to its smaller diameter, but sometimes the greater curvature of the outer lane ensures a faster terminal velocity. Change lanes several times if necessary to confirm this. Do not indicate while lane changing, but give a cheery wave/rude salute if anyone tootles you.
  If you are not sure which roundabout lane is the fastest-moving one, drive with two wheels in each one until you have made your decision. (Note that having decided on a lane does not commit you to being in that lane.)
• If you're not sure which exit you are taking, use both indicators alternately, in random fashion, swerve violently a few times, then take advantage of the clear space this creates to slip in another CD, do some urgent housework, apply makeup, or fix yourself a meal.
• Do not under any circumstances indicate your intention to leave the roundabout, but do confirm that leaving the roundabout was not a mistake. Other motorists will take advantage of you if you do use your indicators prematurely. Instead, swerve down your chosen exit at the last possible moment, and with the greatest escape velocity achievable.
• Upon leaving the roundabout, drive as slowly as possible, especially if the roundabout exit was also a motorway onramp. This ensures that drivers behind you have time to gather their thoughts, repair their makeup, or start on the second course of their meal.

[Ixion]

Of course, the rules are completely different in D'Auckland. Here you must use your confirminator after turning, and then only momentarily, just to confirm that your turn wasn't the (involuntary) result of poking yourself in the eye with the mascara brush, dropping your cellphone, or pouring hot coffee in your lap.
..

Or, as spotted recently by Mrs Ixion, **on the notorious Panmure roundabout, no less**, instead of making the long and tiresome journey around the entire roundabout, when you need to turn right, simply drive *the wrong way round* the roundabout. Thus your desired turnoff will be the first one you come to, instead of the last. Think of the time saving. Then drive off, you and you passenger both giggling. Yes, ethnicity is what you suspect it to be.

[Milky]

By not signalling I am giving the driver my intentions. I am going straight ahead. Seems to work on normal intersections why not on roundabouts??

Skyryder

There be a problem with this in the case of the end of my street. The centreline of the road curves to the right, and there are two exits to the 'left' - one straight ahead, the other a 90 degree left turn. If one were to follow your practice and not indicate when leaving the centreline but going straight ahead, it follows that, for the purpose of differentiating your movements, one must indicate right to contine following the centerline. Following this to it's logical conclusion means that we need to indicate right around right hand bends, and left around left hand bends, just incase some one assumes that we will not be turning the steering wheel.
Methinks the rationale of indicating deviations from the centreline is the better one of the two

[Skyryder]

When I approach a roundabout I don't know or care where the guy approaching from my right entered the roundabout, only want to know if he is exiting down the road I am entering from or not. Frankly I just want to see an indication left or right. None of this "I'll leave them off and you just guess which way I am gong to go"

So what do you expect at a normal intersection. Don't tell me. The indicator on in the dirction of the turn. If it is not on then the vehicle is going straight ahead. So why should a roundabout be any different??

Skyryder

[Waylander]

It's all a moot (SP) point anyway. Most Cagers (and a few bikers) don't use thier indicators anyway so why argue about it?

[Skyryder]

There be a problem with this in the case of the end of my street. The centreline of the road curves to the right, and there are two exits to the 'left' - one straight ahead, the other a 90 degree left turn. If one were to follow your practice and not indicate when leaving the centreline but going straight ahead, it follows that, for the purpose of differentiating your movements, one must indicate right to contine following the centerline. Following this to it's logical conclusion means that we need to indicate right around right hand bends, and left around left hand bends, just incase some one assumes that we will not be turning the steering wheel.
Methinks the rationale of indicating deviations from the centreline is the better one of the two

You raise an interesting point that applies to the odd intersection here and there. You fail to mention if there is a roundabout or not so I shall presume..... not. If you are exiting from a main road and that exit entails a ..... no change of direction, (as one of the roads you described)....... then you are deemed to be making a left hand turn and the right hand rule applies

If you are entering the main road from the straight ahead road, you give way to me. I am not required to indicate even though I am changing direction. I will admit that, not knowing the intersection you describe it may vey well be prudent for me to do so, in the said circumstances. However having said that I am still of the opinion that to indicate a turn when not turning is dangerous and I for one will not be risking my life for some dickhead law.

Skyryder

[Skyryder]

It's all a moot (SP) point anyway. Most Cagers (and a few bikers) don't use thier indicators anyway so why argue about it?

I agree AD. It just seems a pity that the police do not enforce the current indicator laws instead of a new one that is uneccessary.

Skyryder.

[Skyryder]

The new rules require you to indicate "left" before entering the roundabout if and only if you are turning left off the roundabout at the first exit. You indicate "Right" before entering the roundabout if and only if you are turning right off the roundabout. You do not indicate at all before entering the roundabout if you are going straight ahead. You are supposed to indicate "Left" as soon asoon as you pass the exit imediately prior to one you wish to take.

So in fact if you are heading straight ahead, then by law "you MUST be dumb enough to wait until your on it before you indicate ". How else can you do it?

And if the dimwits on the other side of roundabout cant see where you are going they should not be driving. So the LTNZ are making laws for drivers who should not be driving and do not know where they are going. Sounds about right.

Skyryder

[Milky]

You raise an interesting point that applies to the odd intersection here and there. You fail to mention if there is a roundabout or not so I shall presume..... not. If you are exiting from a main road and that exit entails a ..... no change of direction, (as one of the roads you described)....... then you are deemed to be making a left hand turn and the right hand rule applies

If you are entering the main road from the straight ahead road, you give way to me. I am not required to indicate even though I am changing direction. I will admit that, not knowing the intersection you describe it may vey well be prudent for me to do so, in the said circumstances. However having said that I am still of the opinion that to indicate a turn when not turning is dangerous and I for one will not be risking my life for some dickhead law.

Skyryder

I attached a picture of the intersection in question. I would contend that you indicate left for both the 90 degree left and the straight ahead left turns, as it seems the safest option (coming from the bottom up the main road). The thing that makes this intersection a little strange is that not all people use the same rationale, so you cant rely on indication or your own perception of the rules.

[Ixion]

I would contend that you indicate left for both the 90 degree left and the straight ahead left turns, as it seems the safest option

I would agree. And I think the Road Code would also. The centre line is shown as bending to the right,so any deviation from that path is a turn. Obviously a left turn for the 90 degree left and either a left for the "straight ahead" turn if it is really another left off the "main" road, or a left then an immediate right, if the "straight ahead" road actually opens off the left turn road.

The example is similar to the Y fork example in the Road Code. It is the centre line that gives the clue

[Clockwork]

So what do you expect at a normal intersection. Don't tell me. The indicator on in the dirction of the turn. If it is not on then the vehicle is going straight ahead. So why should a roundabout be any different??

Skyryder

Normal intersections are normal intersections, roundabouts are roundabouts. Some drivers may feel (legitimately) that once you are on the roundabout, that staying on the roundabout equates to going straight ahead, ergo no indication. I'm simply pointing out that when I'm entering a roundabout that I prefer all confusion were eliminated. On a single laned roundabout I can see no other reason for indicating other than for the benifit of drivers entering the round about.

[Wolf]

I attached a picture of the intersection in question. I would contend that you indicate left for both the 90 degree left and the straight ahead left turns, as it seems the safest option (coming from the bottom up the main road). The thing that makes this intersection a little strange is that not all people use the same rationale, so you cant rely on indication or your own perception of the rules.

What in-bred goat-buggering, limp-wristed, son of a whore local council member came up with that one.

The law on this is: any deviation from the center-line requires indication hence both of those roads are a left turn, requiring indication, as pointed out by others on this forum. This would mean that poor saps coming down either road and seeing a car approaching and sigalling to turn left, would have no idea which of the two roads he's going to take. That's an accident waiting to happen.

Vehicle coming up from bottom of map, indicating left. car on lefthand road wanting to turn down road assumes approaching vehicle is turning into "his" road and that it is safe to go. Oops, gets T-boned by car that was turning left into "straight-ahead" road. Only one of a number of potentially nasty scenarios.

WTF were they thinking when they set up the centre-line as such? OK, their argument would be that the "primary route" through that (former crossroad) intersection is indicated by the centre-line and that it was done for convenience to the greater number of vehicles - but obviously they didn't stop to think of the consequences.