| Use Your Indicators | ||
|
Flashing indicators on cars become legal in 1954 All new cars must have flashing turn indicators from 1st September 1965 Indicators were first included in the MOT test from 1977 Did you know they can actually assist other road users and pedestrians? Some people would say no need to indicate if there's no one around - I would disagree as by using them you get into a good habit - and you never know when that fast car or motorbike will appear - and therefore will instantly see your intended manouvre - you must be aware at all times but round the corner surprises are always there. |
What they are - they are usually yellowy orange coloured things made of plastic or glass with a bulb inside, modern ones are sometimes disguised behind clear lenses, see a picture here. They can be found on each corner of lots of vehicles - probably on yours as well. They are really usefull - which is why they were first invented in the first place to warn or tell (indicate) other people what there intentions were on the road without freezing your hands Using them helps lots of people including drivers of cars, lorrys, vans, emergency service vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians and anyone else that happens to notice them. To activate them the most common method is by moving (by hand) a lever or stalk type of thing commonly found in-front of the steering wheel (a round thing in front of the driver used to steer vehicle) - this activates a switch which then makes a circuit eventually sending electricity in pulses to the aforementioned bulb in each corner of the vehicle being driven. The bulb emits a yelowy orange type of flashing light easily noticed (in day or night) by people with working eyes They are simple to use really Many drivers would be forgiven for thinking that cars have them for decorative purposes or that people just don't know what they are there for or that they simply forget there cars are equipped with them - perhaps relying on telepathy to communicate there intentions or maybe they are simply too busy with other things (making phone calls, sandwiches, reading maps, gps, doing hair, playing with cds, ipods - oops - running out of ink) to use them Anyway who cares? Me because I think it's really annoying ! Use Your Indicators! Thanks to these sites for some ideas: www.roadsafetyuk.co.uk www.motoring.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/ www.highwaycode.gov.uk/ Wikipedia Alpha Couriers |
Start indicators before you do these manouvres : turning left or right negotiating roundabouts changing lanes overtaking parked vehicles overtaking cyclists joining motorway coming off motorway when pulling out or moving off from parked position pulling over to stop signalling to emergency service vehicles and lots more times they have their uses too!
|
|
|
||
