Q for ADIs

[Horse]

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.

[Gareth]

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?

[Horse]

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.

[crr003]

"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?!

[Horse]

"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:

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.

[GTR1400MAN]

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.

[jont-]

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....)

[Gareth]

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.

[crr003]

"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.

[Horse]

Thanks