Indicate Intent – Road Refresher Series

In your car, there is a beautiful little contraption. Usually found on the right or left side of your steering wheel, it humbly rests within flicking distance of your finger. It’s a wonderful thing, promising safety and understanding from other drivers and pedestrians on the road. No, not the headlights, nor the windscreen wiper.

The indicator.

Indicators are an overlooked but essential part of driving. They’re one of the most important pieces of hardware that your driving test instructor will ask you to point out. The indicator allows you to signal your intent to other drivers and people on the road. It lets them know that you’re about to slow down, where you’re turning, or if you plan to change lanes. Everyone can react and behave accordingly. It’s idyllic.

Changing lanes without indicating is a disastrous behaviour that is, sadly, common on the road. It has dire consequences, with accidents, heavy fines, and complicated insurance claims. It may count as a non-criminal traffic violation, but it can result in demerit points, licence suspension, and severe injury. This is a road rule in place not just for practicality, but also for safety. If you get into a traffic accident because you or another car refused to indicate, the best-case scenario is a whole lot of wasted time and a trip to the car doctor. Worst case is someone gets hurt or killed.

There are several important and common places where indicating is vital. They are:

1.      When changing lanes in traffic

You must give way to the lane you are merging into. Indicate long enough that the cars in your destination lane have time to react accordingly, and move over calmly. If you have to change multiple lanes you still have to keep your indicator on and give way to the other lane.

2.      When merging

If your lane is coming to an end, you have to merge into the next. Road signs are posted up to warn drivers of an ending lane, giving you plenty of time to prepare. Flip your indicator, give way, and move into your new lane.

3.      On a roundabout

Roundabouts are where indicators are most often ignored, especially in ones with a single lane. The rules for indicating on roundabouts are, when approaching the roundabout, use your indicator immediately if you are taking the first or third exit. It’s not necessary to turn your indicator on early if you’re taking the second exit straight through. However, you should use it when exiting the roundabout! This goes for all exits, no matter which one.

4.      Driveways, turning corners, and parking

Indicating when you’re approaching a driveway, turn, or carpark is key, as it tells the people behind you that you’re about to slow down. No one wants to arrive at their destination only to be rear-ended because they didn’t give the people behind them enough warning. Indicating in these situations removes a lot of mystery about your movements – it even allows you to call dibs on a parking spot! The less mysterious you are on the road, the safer everyone is.

Don’t forget, the average car weight in Australia is 2 tonnes. You are behind the wheel of something that can easily become a destructive weapon, to people and infrastructure alike. Indicating where you are going is not just a courtesy, it’s a basic necessity.

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