How to Pass an Advanced Driving Test - Signalling

[@dlevi67]

100% agree on proper signalling. BTW - you have swapped the hand signals for stopping and turning left. Up and down is for stopping, rotating is for turning left.

[@rogerduerden373]

Great video, Reg, but I think you got your hand signals for slowing down and turning left the wrong way round...

[@TG-pd3ft]

That's great Reg - enjoyed that. 10:02 Totally agree. "don't need to top up with indicator fluid" 😂👍

[@pjzz2000]

All good advice. I would also add that communication on the road can go further and be more nuanced. Anybody with a desire not to have an accident will never trust absence of indicators so should be on the lookout for more subtle indicators of intention. There are other ways of informing people of your intention such as road position, speed, slowing down, speeding up.... angle of approach, wheel direction. Difficult to explain but it's important to use the most appropriate form of communication given a particular context. I realise this may not figure in advanced driving tests but they become a significant factor of advanced defensive driving

[@ashley_neal]

No sure of a few of those points Reg! You need to correct people on what you said about arm signals also, as some people will take that as gospel (I think it was just a mistake rather than you not knowing) Mums the word about your overtake in the last video in the M2 😬

[@TG-pd3ft]

LOL yes I saw that one too Ash, pedal to the metal 🤣

[@MK-1973]

I've got to go and find that one now!

[@R04drunner1]

@@MK-1973 the video has been deleted now apparently. Loads of other overtakes Reg has posted, especially on his Scottish trips. But sounds like that one was a doozy.

[@MK-1973]

@@R04drunner1 many thanks :)

[@kevinbarker3366]

Due to take an advanced test next week (weather permitting). It will be my 13th test for different organisations, hope it's not unlucky! I will let you know what my examiner thinks of my signalling!

[@R04drunner1]

Loved the video and agreed 100% with what was said. When preparing for my Advanced Test, I found myself not signalling and then suddenly somebody would appear and a signal would need put on at the last second! As you say, best to signal if in any doubt. On a test I would use spoken thought to explain why I am not signalling (or why I am signalling when nobody is visible but in case somebody appears). Another reason to use a turn signal (indicator) is if the car has Lane Keep Assist activated. The LKA will trigger an alert if you try to change lanes without indicating. Personally, I don't use LKA but some people might. Perhaps the arm signals got mixed up? A slow flap of the arm vertically up and down means slowing down or stopping. A circular motion means turning left. Might be worth mentioning that drivers can give hand signals to a person directing traffic. Holding up your left hand means you want to go straight on. Putting your arm to the left inside the car means you want to go left. Arm out to the right means the same as normal arm signal: a wish to turn right. In practice, I suppose, indicators do the job just as well (apart from the "I wish to go straight ahead" which might be useful on occasion). Are there any special hand signals used for "sorry"? And I've seen a single flash of hazard lights used when somebody is saying "thank you" e.g. after being let out at a junction. Obviously that's not in the Highway Code but worth a mention even if you say, "Don't do it!" Lots of things to consider about "signals" and I really enjoyed the video. The idea of using the left hand for a courtesy wave, rather than my more natural right hand, was new to me and I'll take that on board from now on. Thank you!

[@ibs5080]

Great post there!

[@alderny]

I'm glad you spotted that mistake with the hand signals for slowing down and turning left being the wrong way round. I was surprised to see Reg get them wrong.

[@R04drunner1]

@@alderny Reg corrected it in a subsequent video. If that was the only mistake I'd ever made while driving, I would be a happy man!

[@alderny]

@@R04drunner1 Thanks for letting me know, and I completely agree with you about making mistakes driving, we all do from time to time, especially on today's busy roads. However, I was surprised to see it carried right through to the video.

[@stevenmarshall8128]

Showing my age Reg but your hand signals not quite right. I’ve watched hours of your vids though and have learned so much . Massive fan.

[@paulsheppy5146]

Thanks, Reg. Many years ago, my RoSPA tutor used the phrase "signalling for vehicles as yet unseen". That was good, but I am encouraged that you remind us about pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders who share the road with us. I also signal when returning to from lane 1 to lane 2 (or from 3 to 2) to let faster moving vehicles that I am clearing their way and to let lorries know that I am returning (but not before I see them in the internal mirror!). A signal is a conversation, so why talk to yourself...?

[@severnsea]

I want to give you a huge thank you for this. I've been following these vids from some time and am in the middle of my advanced driver course, but I've been at odds with and confused by this instruction NOT to signal unless it's necessary. I've been driving for many years and always signalled when I thought it was necessary, which for me is most of the time even if there is nobody else around. Why? Because for me, there might be a pedestrian just around a corner I'm about to turn into who knows I'm there, but I might not be able to see them. If they don't see a signal they don't know what I'm doing. Likewise, if I pull up at a junction and waiting for traffic to pass before I pull out, they don't know which way I'm going which could be important to them if they're about to turn, and if anybody comes up behind me they don't know what I'm doing either. I think to change your mind later "if it becomes necessary" just gives you more to think about and can confuse other people who initially thought you were not going to make a turn. I've been massively impressed so far and would like to book a day at some point (I'm not that far away from you), and you're the only other person besides myself who I've ever heard to say that it's not courteous and can be dangerous to "flash" another driver out of a side street.

[@mgprewett]

1. My IAM observer's mantra about only signalling when it could benefit someone is something which has contributed to less competent signalling subsequently. I was consistently told that I signalled too much, including during the test. 2. But, my car, a 10 year old MINI, has a signalling system which seems to have a life of its own , either not cancelling after a 90 degree turn, or cancelling after the smallest change of direction. It seems to demand a disproportionate amount of bandwidth to manage, so I try to signal as little as possible. 3. The horn; I once used the horn to warn two pedestrians about to step into the street; result? Two empty cider cans hurled at the car! 4. As a driver, I think that almost all other drivers indicate very badly: indicating right at roundabouts whilst exiting; changing lane and starting to indicate simultaneously. At a guess, I'd say that 90% of indicating is unhelpful.

[@earlescourt66]

Already mentioned in comments but I don’t see any response (one way or the other)- to my understanding the slow down and left turn signals your explain are the wrong way round. Slowing down is up and down, turning left is waving your hand anti-clockwise? Huge fan of your videos.

[@vladimirl8753]

Nice and clear explanation, Reg, thank you! Love snowy English roads! You videos inspire and make me think! Looking forward to the next one!

[@mikefarrar8071]

I Had an Observer from the IAM who said I indicated to much but I agree with you Reg. better too often than to late. He often remarked do the seagulls want to see which way you are turning. He didn't like the fact I used all the gears in the gearbox going up I should miss some out, he went on his demo drive 1st 2nd then 4th in fact his driving in my mind was below standard. After covering over 800,000 miles in the last 20yrs of my working career with no speeding tickets or accidents if I couldn't drive better than him I'll chuck the car keys in canal. When we got to cornering as a past rally driver I threw the towel in, enough was enough!! He did actually say he wanted to meet me to discuss it but he cancelled at the last minute and I've never heard any more. Pity really because I would have liked to have volunteered for blood bikes but they wont trial anybody who hasn't passed IAM or ROSPA might be their loss eh!

[@ibs5080]

Another aspect of "signalling" would be to consider the "body language" your vehicle is projecting to others simply by your own road positioning and / or speed. Example #1: You are on a regular two way road in the city in slow moving traffic. One lane in your direction. However, further ahead the road gradually widens out to two lanes. By positioning yourself early either to the extreme left or right of your side of the road, you are effectively sending other road users a "signal" as to which lane you intend to be in once your side of the road eventually widens out to two official lanes. Example #2: You intend to let someone out of a side street due to continuous heavy traffic for the priority road you are on. As you mentioned, you should not flash someone out. But simply by holding back, you are sending the other driver a "signal" that you are giving them the opportunity to check that all is otherwise clear for them to emerge.

[@davesmc1]

Excellent Video clearing things up on this topic as there is always big debate. I liked your choice of words and will be stealing them .

[@richardbower8707]

I love the way you start off casually driving along ever narrower, ever snowier roads. Is there an out-take where you get stuck?? :)

[@SouthWest-jj8yu]

Good presentation of the use of signalling and the thing I find most annoying when I’m on the road. I’m not perfect but advanced rider/driver like to think I drive at a reasonable level. People don’t seem to know how or when to indicate many don’t even bother. Roundabouts are probably the worst where they don’t indicate or do so as they actually move on to the exit road. The other problem again on roundabouts is when people stop even when there is no traffic on the roundabout or any of the roads around it. The example of misuse of flashing your headlights is the reason I never use this to let people know I’m there because most people see it as an invite to make a manoeuvre out of a junction or across the traffic to turn right.

[@RussRyan7713]

Interesting video. Thanks for taking the time to record it. I generally indicate all the time at the correct times. Unless I am literally the only thing on the road and turning into a junction I can see for a long way has no one around. Other than that I signal. Also agreed on a motorway if coming from the right into the left after overtaking I would not normally signal. That is until my new car has lane keep assist! So if I don't signal it fights me over the line. I would rather have it enabled in case so now I signal there too.

[@birdingnorthdevon]

Good video but arm signal for left turn and slowing down was wrong tho.

[@peterjackson2561]

I thought Reg had mixed them up too. Sorry Reg but you did.

[@charlesholland-keen2222]

Having someone constantly asking why you signaled does get tedious and is distracting. As long as my signal is not misleading it does no harm but it might avert an avoidable mishap. Thanks Reg.

[@AdrianColley]

I use indicators mainly for the benefit of road users whom I haven't noticed.

[@GazzaView123]

I remember some years ago giving a workmate a lift home & on the way we picked said workmates dad up from town. Quiet section of road I indicated to turn right & after the manoeuvre was completed mates dad (who was a retired Lancs police traffic chief inspector) mentioned about not needing to indicate if no other road user would be inconvenienced by my lack of signal.

[@deanhyatt2721]

Thanks for the video, am currently participating in an advanced driving course, personally I would agree that best to signal if uncertain to what traffic or pedestrian traffic may appear at short notice particular from a blind bend or corner, if a driver or pedestrian spots a car not signalling they may assume they are going straight ahead and or realise the driver neglected to signal if they decide to signal once other parties have been spotted at short notice, what else may they have neglected to account for, and create an unnecessary moment of uncertainty and hesitancy for other road users. PS why do you tend to wear a jacket when driving, makes me feel uncomfortable just looking at this, on a short journey in cold weather appreciate the benefit but on journey where you know the car will be at running temperature it would make me feel a little restrained, just an observation :) Thoroughly recommend your book "Advanced and Performance Driving"

[@johnkeepin7527]

Regarding your view on the use of indications for lane changing, and also overtaking when there are visible lane marks on the road, modern cars fitted with “lane keep assistance” require the use of them, if only to inhibit the device when an intended lane change occurs. When I bought one of these, it did change the way I use them on motorways, in such a way that they are not of real value to a third party, but just for compatibility with the system in use. I suspect that there are lots of people who do the same thing, and it may look like that they are being used rather late to be of any use - they are just doing it to keep the gadget quiet. Another relatively modern form of indication is artificial movement noise at low speed, to assist people who can’t hear the movement otherwise. Modern hybrids and EVs have to have this fitted, and should be set up to work at less than 20 km/h. They are still silent starters from rest, though, so that is a situation when there are people around that a brief use of the horn to attract their attention is wise.

[@Sukikev]

I think the use of a headlight flash to let others know you are there is as good as dead now. A headlight flash as a courtesy signal (as in ‘I am letting you go first’) is now so common that to use it for its intended purpose is risky, except for the example you gave when a vehicle is unnecessarily in an outside lane and you’d like them to move over to allow you to overtake them.

[@geraldfitzgibbon7428]

Very good Reg. That aspect.of only signal if ther some1 to benefit allways confused me.thanks for ur thought on it. They reflect my thots too.

[@kennethbanks6487]

Have you mixed up your breaking and left turn hand signsls?

[@Unfunny_Username_389]

Reg, did you mention cancelling signals manually? I didn't hear you cover this. As an observer / examiner, do you prefer to see your associates / candidates do this? And if not, why? Auto-cancels aren't infallible, for one thing (I seem to be seeing cars with indicators remaining flashing more often just lately - I wonder if some digitised systems are more prone to staying on than older, electro-mechanical indicators?). Suffice to say, that can be confusing for other road users. Secondly, even when the auto-cancellation works as it should, they can still stay on longer than required - again, a potential source of confusion for others. I hope you see this comment and respond. Thanks in advance.

[@simonc111]

Other countries use the horn much better than us, to let people know they're there. Some countries it's almost at every junction just as a notification. I think a sound of the horn when you're not sure if someone has seen you is much safer than just hoping. However it always gets interpreted as something aggressive in the UK! I'd like it to be taught more in lessons - using the horn is fine if it's used in the right way. So often it's used by someone who is angry, for whatever reason!

[@artemkatelnytskyi]

What is your preferred way to thank people behind you, for example, for letting you in? People tend to use their hazard lights, but I think it can cause confusion for traffic in adjacent lanes.

[@R04drunner1]

I have seen that used and I have done it myself but on a single flash only so as to minimise any possible confusion. I'd love to hear Reg's perspective on this!

[@artemkatelnytskyi]

@@R04drunner1 me too, Michael. Some people raise their hand up, so it can be seen through the rear window. But I can see a lot of situations, where such signal would not be seen. It is unlikely to cause aggression, but it can be seen as rude, I think.

[@R04drunner1]

@@artemkatelnytskyi I use the hand raise too, where a flash of hazards might be misinterpreted by others. But I agree it might not always be seen.

[@michaelwisbey488]

The left turn and slowing down arm signals were interchanged on this video.

[@drainbamms]

Using position and speed to communicate information to other drivers could also be categorised as signals, couldn't they?

[@richardbower8707]

Serious quedtion: when overtaking on narrower b-type roads, I like to put the indicator on to attract the attention of the car infront, (so that they avoid drifting out of their own lane). Good plan, or better to use a friendly beep?

[@R04drunner1]

I use both and/or a brief headlamp flash once in an offside position so that the driver being overtaken can see in their offside mirror that I am coming past. To expand a little: I am careful with the horn beep because some people interpret it as a sign of aggression. I only use it if I have a genuine concern that the vehicle in front is going to encroach on my overtake. That could be, for example, if the vehicle is drifting towards the centre of the road. Or, as you say; if the road is very narrow such that I need the driver to keep his/her vehicle tucked in to the left hand side. Or when passing a tractor on a country lane whose driver may not have seen me and might turn into a field gateway in front of me. I keep the horn beep brief, not a long blast, and will sometimes use a double beep, which is more likely to come across as a friendly greeting.

[@misterf2407]

Well said and although I’m not a qualified advanced driver I do think about my driving. I have often wondered why police drivers can’t be bothered to signal their intentions especially when from my point of view they should be setting a great example….. I guess it has been down to the training….. Great videos

[@markrees2874]

Hey Reg. I’m showing my age now I guess but you swapped your hand signals for turning left and slowing down over! Left is right h rotating, and slowing is right h flapping. Otherwise I accept I am not worthy of criticising you at all.

[@aztimms]

As the saying goes "a missed signal is just annoying; a signal given wrongly (by type, timing or failure to cancel) is always misleading & therefore dangerous. The point is not to signal indiscriminately by automatic muscle memory but to think on a case by case basis using empathy to decide upon the value (ie. would another road user - including pedestrians genuinely benefit or appreciate it) & weather it would materially enhance your own self protection & safety (this can only ever be your own personal judgement). The information phase runs right through the system so change of circumstance such as a new "player" entering the arena as it were, can lead to a reappraisal of a decision not to signal. A car which comes into view already exhibiting a indicator signal always brings out the question "Are they signalling intentionally or have they just left it on by mistake from their last turn?"; a signal which operates afterwards speaks for itself. Granted you may already be signalling for one behind, therefore the confusion cannot be forestalled, but it would be unfortunate to create confusion unnecessarily. I well remember a respondent to an Ashley Neal video stating "I just always signal so I don't have to think about it" and that just sums up the (by definition) thoughtless approach of many non advanced drivers'. At one time an unnecessary signal introduced a risk factor due to the use (compulsory on L tests & police/IAM courses up to mid 1960's) of arm signals; the benefit of telling thin air & the sparrows in that bush (just how do you judge the timing of such a signal to best effect) you were turning was more than outweighed by the potential risk only having one hand remaining on the wheel for no good real world reason beyond pleasing an L-test examiners desire to check one could consistently give clear technically correct signals while steering one handed, whether in busy central London or the quiet Outer Hebrides. I grant that with indicators you can't "waste" a signal in any way that could be a problem (although flash cycling a filament or LED light source will wear it faster than the same time period of continuous light) but if you feel it wouldn't be worth going to the trouble of opening a window and putting your arm out because its a little bit cold and snowy - it probably isn't worth a "trafficator" signal either? As for late signals these are as bad as no signal I agree, but there comes a point, say three seconds before turn in where if someone then comes into view any existing signal or omited signal becomes irrelavent as there would be insufficient time remaining for any meaningful recognisance or action.

[@peterthompson9854]

Blimey Reg, you’ve got your hand signals wrong.

[@DaleBotterill]

Agreed. I though the seagull on his way home from the chippy was telling me he was slowing down (presumably overstuffed with chips and seeking out my freshly-washed car where he could make himself comfortable)

[@tc5290]

Either Ireland is different or you mixed up hand signals for slowing and left turn. Spring is up and down (think of rising and lowering speed) and left turn is, with right hand it off the window, turning hand in anti-clockwise direction. Might be country specific issue

[@R04drunner1]

It's the same in the UK, I think Reg just transposed them. It's not as if many people use hand signals nowadays.

[@tc5290]

@@R04drunner1 depends whether you changed your broken lights regularly haha

[@R04drunner1]

@@tc5290 LOL yes I too have driven in Ireland. ;-)

[@theonlynafester]

These days, that's "Mirror, Signal, Position, Speed, Look, Manoeuvre" - which can be a bit much as an acronym, tbh

[@R04drunner1]

I was taught MSM (Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre) but I have never heard of that other one. It sounds a bit like a mangled version of the Roadcraft IPSGA - INFORMATION (take, use, give) POSITION SPEED GEAR ACCELERATION

[@theonlynafester]

@@R04drunner1 I have been taught mirror signal manoeuvre before (been a learner a while haha), yeah this mspslm seems new

[@mammadtori3964]

F1rst