Advanced Driving Hub

Suburban 30 limit road. Light traffic.

Van (post office) stopped with two wheels in the pavement. Passing requires moving out.

What are the considerations for signalling to pass it?

I signalled, as information for the driver following as they might not have seen it.

Learner ahead didn't.

Could signalling have been mistaken for an intention to turn into a side road or entrance, or even to park in the wrong direction on the other side of the road? Could a following driver have seen that you were passing a vehicle? Was the signal actually conveying any useful information?

Gareth wrote:1 Could signalling have been mistaken for an intention to turn into a side road or entrance,

2 or even to park in the wrong direction on the other side of the road?

3 Could a following driver have seen that you were passing a vehicle?

4 Was the signal actually conveying any useful information?

1, 2 Unlikely, all three of us continued at 30mph, no slowing required (no oncoming traffic).

3 Driver was possibly not able to have a reasonable view. That's based on how it appeared to me with a single car ahead. Also, the road is slightly undulating. I think I may have had a better long-distance view, which reduced as we neared.

4 *if* the driver behind's view was obstructed, it would inform them that my move was intentional. I moved out slightly earlier than the learner, partly to open the view for the following driver.

Edited: spell checker altered obstructed to instructed ... And I omitted 'view', so added.

"Driving - the essential skills" 2013 page 96:

"Unnecessary signals
A signal might not be necessary where there is no one to benefit from it, or where the signal could confuse other road users. Consider whether a signal is necessary before
Moving off
Pulling up
Passing stationary vehicles, when you can position early and maintain a steady course.
..."

If the car ahead didn't signal, how did you manage to avoid crashing into the parked car?!

crr003 wrote:"Driving - the essential skills" 2013 page 96:

"Unnecessary signals
A signal might not be necessary where there is no one to benefit from it, or where the signal could confuse other road users. Consider whether a signal is necessary before
...
Passing stationary vehicles, when you can position early and maintain a steady course."

Thanks. My L car experiences were some time ago. And, so was my L bike trainer time. So I was intrigued to know what the current advice / guidance/ assessment is.

I cancelled my signal after moving out and there was no change of speed, so I don't think it caused any confusion.

If the car ahead didn't signal, how did you manage to avoid crashing into the parked car?!

As post above:

Horse wrote:Driver was possibly not able to have a reasonable view. That's based on how it appeared to me with a single car ahead. Also, the road is slightly undulating. I think I may have had a better long-distance view, which reduced as we neared.

*If* the driver behind's view was obstructed, it would inform them that my move was intentional. I moved out slightly earlier than the learner, partly to open the view for the following driver.

I couldn't be certain the driver behind could see the van. The situation was a driver who might benefit.

If I get really bored any time tomorrow I'll get the memory card out of the dashcam to see whether my thoughts on the view of the van are correct.

I rarely signal to pass parked vehicles. There are so many these days.

I do stick a right signal on if I've had to tuck in for the oncoming and I'm concerned the vehicle further back may assume I'm a parked vehicle.

GTR1400MAN wrote:I do stick a right signal on if I've had to tuck in for the oncoming and I'm concerned the vehicle further back may assume I'm a parked vehicle.

Despite doing that recently, it didn't stop someone piling past me in the local village (long section of parked cars, I was looking far enough ahead to see the oncomer, they clearly weren't....)

jont- wrote:it didn't stop someone piling past me in the local village (long section of parked cars, I was looking far enough ahead to see the oncomer, they clearly weren't....)

Once or twice I've used a (very) long horn warning to alert the sleepy driver.

Horse wrote:

crr003 wrote:"Driving - the essential skills" 2013 page 96:

"Unnecessary signals
A signal might not be necessary where there is no one to benefit from it, or where the signal could confuse other road users. Consider whether a signal is necessary before
...
Passing stationary vehicles, when you can position early and maintain a steady course."

Thanks. My L car experiences were some time ago. And, so was my L bike trainer time. So I was intrigued to know what the current advice / guidance/ assessment is.

You'll get a DF for not signalling if necessary. You won't get a DF for signalling if unnecessary (if not misleading).
So it's easier/quicker to teach signal anyway.
It's like the "six point check" before moving off. Even if you're in the middle of nowhere.

Thanks