Indicators

[Viking01]

Two interesting little events today involving indicators and basic driver
awareness.


1. In the first case, we were going down to the supermarket this morning
(being chauffeured by SWMBO) and we were approaching a round-about in
Petone. Good visibility all around, and right across the round-about.

A chap on a V-Strom 1000 was approaching from the opposite side (at the
same time as we were), and we each went around our respective sides of
the round-about at approx the same time.

He clearly turned on his indicator prior to entering the round-about,
and he turned and came around behind our tail as we went through.

After we had gotten into the carpark, SWMBO said to me "That was a
surprise. I didn't see him indicating to go around the round-about".

"Well, my dear, he started indicating before entering the intersection,
and was indicating all the way around".

"Are you sure? I didn't see an indicator".

"Well, where were you looking ?", I replied. "The indicators are located
to the sides of the headlight, and I can assure you he was indicating".

"I'll take your word for it" (getting the last word in ..... 8-)

When we got home, I pointed out the location of the front indicators
on the VFR to SWMBO. I'm not sure if I won any brownie points doing
so ... 8-)


But maybe some car drivers are not conditioned to look for indicators on
motorcycles, or maybe they do not find them that visible.


2. In the second case, I had to go down to the Hutt in the afternoon to
do some more shopping. In the carpark, I stopped right on the tee of a
controlled T-intersection (waiting to turn into a two way passage way).

Another driver was just coming to the end of the lane, wanting to turn
right and exit. The ground at the end of the lane in front of him was
clearly marked STOP - and so yield right of way.

I was already positioned there, and my indicator was on (indicating that
I wanted to turn in).

Well, b@#$%r me, he then suddenly pulled across onto the RIGHT hand
side of the passage way (blocking me turning in), but all the time yapping
away to his wife.

Effectively behaving as if my car was not even there. Hello !!

He sat there and yapped away for about 10 seconds, and then when a
gap did open up, he then simply pulled out to his right - fully across in
front of me - but at no time even looking to his left to check for any
traffic.

He was fortunate that I was watching, and that I wasn't in any hurry.

It didn't stress me at all (surprised more than anything), but I did have
to wonder exactly where his attention was focused during that whole
manoeuvre.

Maybe he was "getting some instruction", and could do only one thing
at a time.

Maybe I need an SUV, with bull bars ..... 8-)

[HenryDorsetCase]

Indicators? Why should I tell you where I am and what I will be doing. Thats a breach of my privacy! How dare you! If you want to know what I will be doing next you need to check my Farcebook and Insta feeds like everyone else. The NSA and GCSB know what I am doing and thats good enough for me.

[AllanB]

I think the summary is even easier - car drivers are just not looking for motorcycles. And if they are, they have no awareness for the speed one may be travelling (hard to judge a single headlight coming your way).

And......

Anybody riding a motorcycle near or in a roundabout who expects other road users to be taking notice of them is asking for a fall.........

Life is not fair, suck it up and ride to suit.

[pritch]

Maybe he was "getting some instruction", and could do only one thing
at a time.

But he would consider himself a good driver and would be very upset if you suggested otherwise.

Just remembered Grayling the idiot Brit Tory politician who when Minister of Education said that he wanted all British schools to be above average.

Similarly all NZ drivers consider themselves above average.

[GazzaH]

We are invisible. People look straight through us.

Here's an interesting vid:

[nerrrd]

One observation I’ve made lately is with the super-bright headlights and driving lights cars (and probably some bikes) have these days, it can be quite difficult to pick up an indicator flashing in daylight if it’s located anywhere near the lights.

My Jap used import bike has indicators on as running lights all the time, I often wonder if that confuses other drivers.

[Honest Andy]

My bike has indicators on as running lights all the time, I often wonder if that confuses other drivers.

Is that the system ironically marketed as "Visibike"? I wonder the same thing.

I'm also very unimpressed with the tiny hipster indicators I see around, even though they're pretty bright they just can't be seen against most backgrounds on a sunny day.

And for the record... I'm generally unimpressed with hipsters. All that hair. Flowing and stylish. With no thought of the coming recession. Smug bastards.

[pete376403]

My GS1100GK has indicators/ running lights and motorists seemed (when I last rode it) see it. But that may be because, the barn door fairing, plus me in hi vis and white helmet could quite easily be mistaken for cop-on-bike and thus encourage extra attention.

[imac]

Is that the system ironically marketed as "Visibike"? I wonder the same thing.

And for the record... I'm generally unimpressed with hipsters. All that hair. Flowing and stylish. With no thought of the coming recession. Smug bastards.

Word

[YellowDog]

I just think that the rider should have been indicating, prior to the roundabout, and that not indicating early enough, in order to stand a better chance of being seen, is a part of the problem.

I'm presently considering an LED indicator upgrade, which shows both brake and indicator lights, on the reverse side of the indicator stalk.

[jasonu]

A good proportion of cagers don't even see whole motorbikes let alone the attached indicators...

[rambaldi]

I just think that the rider should have been indicating, prior to the roundabout, and that not indicating early enough, in order to stand a better chance of being seen, is a part of the problem.

I'm presently considering an LED indicator upgrade, which shows both brake and indicator lights, on the reverse side of the indicator stalk.

It depends very much on which LEDs you go with but keep in mind that some have a very narrow beam. You can't really see them from the side at all.

[Swoop]

I sat behind a harley which had modified indicators at the rear. These were small skulls and after a bit of looking I noticed the eyes of the skull blinked as the indicator. Presumably they worked well at night because they were fucking useless in daytime.