[airavat@22]

Hi

Many a time, I have been caught unawares when the vehicle I am following turns right/left at a signal and instead of just turning 90 degrees proceeds to carry out a U turn. I personally feel that most of us expect a vehicle which has indicated a left/right turn to do just that and there are chances of either tailgating the vehicle ahead or maybe even a collision when it begins a U turn that you did not expect.

Which begs the question : Should there be a different indication on all vehicles when carrying out a U turn? If so, what is the best way to do it incorporating minimal changes in the present standard layout of most vehicles?

My suggestion: on cars , maybe a two position knob on the turn indicator. The first position indicating a turn and the next one a U turn.

The indication itself: the blinking light for the turn as is presently in use and for the U turn, a U on the tail light assembly which lights up when the knob is turned to the second position.

I am sure there are better ideas around.

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by airavat@22

I am sure there are better ideas around.

Here is a novel idea, when somebody indicates left/right you expect them to slow down, ultimately turn left/right and perhaps more.

I am not quite sure what a left/right indicator means under India traffic laws and regulations, but in most countries it means that drivers behind the vehicle indicating need to exercise caution.

Don’t overtake, slow down if you are behind it,

Exercise caution is legal/governmental speak for “use common sense”.

What does the Indian traffic laws say about how to respond to somebody indicating?

Jeroen

[Dry Ice]

Even if this is adopted, the fundamental problem still remains - how do you ensure people actually use it (correctly)?

With just 2 indicators (left and right), people have derived various uses for them - signal intent to turn, stay put, overtake etc. Not to forget use of hazards during rains, tunnels, low visibility, going straight on junctions, roundabouts etc. It would be really interesting to see the uses this uturn indicator will be put to, apart from its actual purpose.

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Exercise caution is legal/governmental speak for “use common sense”.

What does the Indian traffic laws say about how to respond to somebody indicating?

Use common sense not common at all in India unfortunately. There is absolutely no discipline or traffic sense a majority of the time. It’s a free for all where you need to be careful to save yourself and damage to your vehicle.

Somebody indicating - now this can mean anything, if they indicate at all in the first place. It could be that person is going in the other direction than signalled also. It’s entirely possible the rider/driver is not turning at all, it’s just that they have forgotten to turn off the indicator signal.

Be careful and alert at all times, traffic signal, turn signal, one way street means nothing in India! Traffic rules are followed only if a cop is visibly present at the spot. Sometimes the cops themselves hide a little further from the traffic signal or one way street sign to catch people who break them for a fine if you catch my drift.

Cheers

[saket77]

One needs to keep distance from the vehicle in front which is about to turn. Plus, if you don’t intend to overtake the other vehicle while turning (which you should never do), I don’t see this as much of an issue.

[Chetan_Rao]

What would a dedicated U-turn indicator achieve that avoiding tailgating wouldn't? It's far simpler to avoid driving into another vehicle's turning circle while they're making a turn.

If they're adjacent at a turn, hold your lane. If they're taking a turn ahead, stay out of their turning circle until there's clearance to proceed safely ahead.

[adisan]

Originally Posted by airavat@22

Many a time, I have been caught unawares when the vehicle I am following turns right/left at a signal and instead of just turning 90 degrees proceeds to carry out a U turn.

I have faced a problem when I am the one taking a U-turn. My right indicator is on. But I need to leave a bit of space on my right to execute the U-turn comfortably.

That is when, smaller vehicles like 2- or 3-wheelers which are actually aiming for a right turn squeeze into that gap assuming that I am also taking a right turn. The resulting situation can get complicated if there is peak-hour traffic.

[PaddleShifter]

When I am driving on the highways and someone tailgates me for the sake of overtaking, I flash my left indicator to signal that I will be on the left lane and they can overtake from the right. People expect me to flash the right indicator instead (courtesy our truckers who have made this trend famous) and come left after seeing me flash the left inficator.

Lets keep the confusion of two types of inficators aside. Already people are confused with American/ European cars having inficator stalks on the left side while most other cars have them on the right.

As per traffic rules, the vehicle in front of you has to signal their intent by flashing the indicator and the vehicles behind it are supposed to let the car in front take their time and take 90 degree turn or U turn or anything they want. So one indicator type is sufficient in my opinion.

[MT_Hyderabad]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

What would a dedicated U-turn indicator achieve that avoiding tailgating wouldn't? It's far simpler to avoid driving into another vehicle's turning circle while they're making a turn.

If they're adjacent at a turn, hold your lane. If they're taking a turn ahead, stay out of their turning circle until there's clearance to proceed safely ahead.

Sorry, to counter this very valid statement, but it is not applicable in certain situations, especially when a two wheeler is involved in bumper to bumper traffic. Unfortunately, I had one accident due to this very reason.

Place: A traffic signal near Faiz road, Delhi.
Year: Around 2002-2003
All vehicles are waiting at the signal. Some have to go straight, some have to turn right. I am just entering the signal on my splendor(motorbike) at 10 to 20 km/hour. Signal turns green. A black colored Ikon has its right indicator flashing. I am at extreme right, just behind it. All vehicles turning right, so does this car.
I am little behind but still on the right of this car. Suddenly, the driver makes a right U turn. I brake, but still hit the rear right side door. My bike falls on the right side along with me. My left hand was bruised a little, left indicator was broken, no other damage. On quick glance I realised that the car doesn't even have a scratch, forget a dent.
Car was chauffeur driven, the owner comes out from the back seat and start shouting. I told him, that 'your driver is wrong and didn't signal correctly before making a U turn. I am hurt my bike is damaged and you are still shouting at me?' I was quite composed that day and very calm, I don't know why (maybe I was thanking God that I am alive! and nobody ran over me).
He realised his driver's mistake and patted me a little and we went our own ways within 3 to 4 minutes of the event.
Indicator befooled me into thinking that as everyone is going right, this vehicle will also go right.
I never imagined that it can make a u turn. I know it now and am cautious, but that was a learning for me and also for that driver, who didn't speak a word and appeared to have accepted his mistake or maybe he was a new driver.

[karanddd]

I'm not sure I follow. What would you do differently if the car ahead was taking a U turn as opposed to say a right turn? Either way don't you have to slow down and wait for them to have turned before you can proceed? You are not supposed to try to overtake in either scenario, and all you've gotta do is hang back. You'll find out soon enough what kind of turn it was, you don't need an indicator for that.

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by MT_Hyderabad

... I am at extreme right, just behind it. All vehicles turning right, so does this car....

...I am little behind but still on the right of this car. Suddenly, the driver makes a right U turn. I brake, but still hit the rear right side door...

The accident is unfortunate, and glad you made it out without significant damage, but that quoted bit right there sums up my point.

You were behind the car, then moved into his turning circle (very likely from his blind spot) as he was making a U-turn. The right thing to do here was to hang back, let him complete his turn, you make yours and move on.

[kushagra452]

I generally use a hand signal along with the indicator - make a circle by turning my index finger clockwise.

[urbanzameendar]

Originally Posted by airavat@22

My suggestion: on cars , maybe a two position knob on the turn indicator. The first position indicating a turn and the next one a U turn.

With that it becomes a 'three position knob/stalk' along with lane change, 90° turn & U Turn. Too much of a task for most people who don't even use a single indicator or turn on the indicator right before taking the turn

[Jangra]

Originally Posted by kushagra452

I generally use a hand signal along with the indicator - make a circle by turning my index finger clockwise.

This was the trend when I attended driving school in 2001. Are these still valid hand signs per RTO? I mostly want both my hands on the steering especially when I'm taking right or U turns.

[SS-Traveller]

In a country where people turn on their hazard indicators at a junction to indicate their intention to go straight, and turn on their right indicator to tell the following car that it is safe to overtake, it comes as no surprise when someone comes up with a suggestion to incorporate U-turn indicators in cars!