INDICATING - Some people hardly ever use their indicator; others indicate at the last moment.
Early indicating allows other drivers time to position themselves in readiness for their proposed manoeuvre and take advantage of safe opportunities.
Ia – you approach a roundabout; there is a car on the roundabout coming from the right and not indicating, you wait for it to pass, but suddenly it takes the exit before you; you cannot join the roundabout as there are other vehicles a little further behind on the roundabout; an opportunity lost.
Ib –last minute – you are behind other vehicles in two lanes approaching traffic lights; the vehicle in the near-side lane indicates left turn, the vehicle in the outside lane is not indicating therefor it must be going straight on; you move to the outer lane; all stop at the lights; the lights change to green; all vehicles move forward, suddenly the one in front of you indicates right turn; it is held up by oncoming traffic; you are forced to wait as other traffic are using the inside lane to turn left or travel straight on
Ic -similar to Ia but you are on the leg of a ‘T’ junction waiting to turn right. The line of vehicles coming from the left is some distance away and there was an opportunity to cross over but there is a vehicle coming from the right and too close to move out. You wait patiently, the vehicle coming from your right reaches your road, suddenly indicates and turns into your road. The line of vehicles coming from the left are now too close. If only that driver had indicated much earlier
Some might not be interested in helping others, if you are one of them, remember you could be on the receiving end.
ROAD POSITION
Pa- a vehicle planning to turn right should move to the centre of road enhancing the chance of other vehicles to pass on the inside.
Apart from Highway code warnings of driving too close to vehicle in front I add the following.
Pb- A vehicle travelling too close to the vehicle in front has restricted view of the road ahead and may miss an opportunity to overtake.
Pc- If you travel too close to vehicle in front which stops and you wish to overtake; although there is an oncoming vehicle there is space to overtake, but you cannot take advantage as your closeness to the stopped vehicle means you need to swing wider and need even more space; you must wait until the oncoming vehicle(s) pass.