This is an interesting subject. The form has 3 elements connected with signalling. Give signal NECCESSARY, CORRECTLY, TIMED
NECCESSARY - This is most commonly marked when a candidate does not give a signal when it would have helped someone. For example when exiting a roundabout and vehicles are waiting to emerge from the road you are leaving on. Before changing lanes when other vehicles would benefit from a signal. When turning left or right and vehicles are waiting to leave that road. It is absolutely not NECCESSARY to signal when nobody would benefit from it, however with limited vision around the truck most trainers will teach to signal anyway.
CORRECTLY - Of the 3 this causes most problems. Leaving a signal on after it has served its purpose can be fatal. For example you exit a roundabout with a left signal but don’t cancel it afterwards. The first few seconds is not worthy of recording. Then longer than that moves to a driving fault. Now imagine the left signal is still on as you approach a road on the left with cars trying to pull out. Reasonably they might expect you to turn left so they respond to signals by other road users but you’re not turning left. You forgot to cancel the signal after the roundabout. What do you expect the examiner to mark as a near miss happens?
TIMED - Too late too early with the signal. You intend to take the 2nd road on the left/right but put a signal on before the 1st road. A car pulls out expecting you to turn. You intend to turn right at a roundabout, 3rd exit, but put the left signal on before you even pass the 2nd exit.
This is a large complex subject. If you’ve got a test coming up learn about Signals. Once you understand if to signal and when to signal and why to signal you’ve mastered a key subject.
One question I’ve always had is, say your at a set of traffic lights in a filter lane for say turning right with its own set of traffic lights from the main of traffic would you still signal right?
If this makes sense, personally I do if for no other reason then inform others around I do plan to make this turn, not plan to carry straight on.
It wouldn’t make any difference whether you signalled or not. It would come under NECCESSARY but this only tends to be marked when you should signal but don’t. Not when you don’t need to but do.
Another similar example would be signalling left in a lane marked and dedicated for left only. It makes no difference.
LGVTrainer:
It wouldn’t make any difference whether you signalled or not. It would come under NECCESSARY but this only tends to be marked when you should signal but don’t. Not when you don’t need to but do.
Another similar example would be signalling left in a lane marked and dedicated for left only. It makes no difference.
Thank you, it was something which came up when I was doing my Cat. D test a couple of years ago, after the examiner asked why I was signalling at those kind of traffic lights.
My philosophy on signalling has always been to do so regardless of what or who is around me. If no-one is there to see it then there’s no harm done.
This way it becomes instinctive, and there’s one less thing to have to think about. Why wonder if it is necessary or not, why not just do it anyway? You won’t be faulted if the signal is correct and timely, but ultimately not necessary because there was no-one to see it. And as has been said above, why not just reinforce the obvious by signalling in a left filter lane that you are indeed planning to turn left? It takes any doubt out of the situation and is therefore safer.
ORC:
My philosophy on signalling has always been to do so regardless of what or who is around me. If no-one is there to see it then there’s no harm done.
This way it becomes instinctive, and there’s one less thing to have to think about. Why wonder if it is necessary or not, why not just do it anyway? You won’t be faulted if the signal is correct and timely, but ultimately not necessary because there was no-one to see it. And as has been said above, why not just reinforce the obvious by signalling in a left filter lane that you are indeed planning to turn left? It takes any doubt out of the situation and is therefore safer.
Same this is my philosophy always signal, as long as it does not cause confusion to people no harm.
Also thank you to LGVTrainer for these post, gives a good understanding of how the examiner is marking you
The BIG one comes next JUNCTIONS - OBSERVATION The main number 1 reason people fail. I have recently given a 60 minute talk on this subject so I need to condense it on here
When considering whether to signal or not a lot of drivers only signal for other vehicles. A pedestrian is also classed as a road user and if it may they may be affected by your action then the driver should signal.
Another point on whether it is necessary and being in a dedicated lane for say a left turn only; is your vehicle, by its sheer size, covering the only lane marking? A signal would be courteous and may aid another road user, not everyone you’ll meet on the test will be a local.
Hussar you obviously know and understand. Signals is a big area. I talk to examiners on a daily basis and no point on the DL25 is black or white. Each level of fault has a range. It’s not this but imagine the difference between Not worthy of recording and Driving fault is 0-10. Not worth is 0-9 and 10 moves the fault up. It can be difficult to assess exactly where the fault lies in the range but examiners have to make a call for every action a candidate makes.
A candidate on a typical test makes an action or decision approx every 5 seconds. The examiner has to use each rule and tool of assessment that often.
This information is high level and I’m looking forward to the next subject as above.
Your putting a very difficult to understand subject over in clear concise terms John and I hope people/candidates are finding it useful.
If I can add something to each topic that’ll enlarge then I will. A monkey could be trained to mark the black and white faults, examiners earn their pittance on the grey areas.
