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Comment on An unwritten 'country code' is putting Rob's life at risk on the road, and all he's doing is turning right

TimePencil@infosec.exchange ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

@Joshi
(In case it isn't obvious, the following applies to Australia, where we drive on the left.)

I've done hundreds of thousands of clicks on country roads, and the right-turn signal has NEVER meant that it is 'safe to pass'. Never.

Most indicator stalks allow drivers to apply pressure and thus activate a turn signal's bulb, without "locking on" the relay.

This allows drivers to manually produce two or three pairs of LEFT flashes of the LEFT indicator. Like, L-L (1 sec pause) L-L (1 sec pause) L-L.

That has always been understood that the driver in front is saying, to the following driver, "I know you're there. I'm not turning off, but if you want to pass, it's clear ahead, and I'll be looking out for you."

The right-turn signal has ALWAYS ONLY meant, "Danger. Do NOT overtake me."

More than a few times, I've been in trucks with several tonnes of explosives and an impatient passenger coach, or cara-bloody-van, starts showing too much of their grill in the right hand mirror.

Giving them the L-L pattern has let them know it is clear to pass, but the right-turn signal coming on has ALWAYS meant, "Nup. No way. Don't be a bloody fool. Cool ya jets."

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Joshi@aussie.zone ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I have also driven extensively through mainly country WA and elsewhere and briefly worked as a truck driver in the NT, in my experience there is no consistency in understanding of these signals, as pointed out by the article, and I’m sceptical that it is consistently applied by truckies. Even if it were applied consistently it would still be dangerous.

As a car driver I have on at least 2 occasions had a truckie indicate it is safe for me to overtake in a situation that would have caused an accident. The only time it is safe to overtake is when you as the driver can be satisfied it is safe to do so. Relying on potentially ambiguous signals that are not universally understood is a literal accident waiting to happen.

You make a good point that for the truckies safety there is a need to indicate that it is unsafe but if people are misunderstanding this then I don’t know what the solution is.

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Zagorath@aussie.zone ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I have done only one drive (or two…there and back) on roads that both had truckies and were single lane. Brissy to St George. West of Dalby I saw truckies indicating right to communicate that it’s safe to pass constantly. I had heard about it before and explained it to my co-driver because he was unfamiliar, but this was the first time I experienced it. And my experience was very strongly that yes, it is indeed a real thing.

I have never heard about the left blinker being used in the same way as you describe.

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- TimePencil@infosec.exchange ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  @Zagorath
  Generally, truckies just talk to each other on UHF40 (or 29) to arrange safe overtaking.
  But a turn signal has always been a warning signal. It points to where one should never be.
  It's not uncommon, though, for a truck that has *already* executed an overtaking manoeuvre to 'thank' the vehicle now behind them with an R-L-R-L combo of single flashes, *after* they're back on the correct side of the road.
  Some truckies add a 'flourish' of one or two 'hazard light' flashes to the end of the sequence.
  But, in all my years on the roads, I've only heard of recently deceased idiots who've tried overtaking a truck that has had its right-hand indicator on.
  Things may have changed in the last decade, but FIIK why!
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  - dgriffith@aussie.zone ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    I’ve seen plenty of trucks do the single right hand indicator blink, usually b-doubles and larger.
    
    I interpret that as a few things:
    
    Old mate has noticed me behind them and has judged the road ahead to be suitably clear, so I can nose out and have a look and go for it if I think it’s ok, and
    
    That they in turn have a good bit of road ahead of them so they can attempt to nudge all the trailers to the left for me as I come past.
    
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- Sternhammer@aussie.zone ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  I was driving from Brisbane → Tasmania last week and a helpful Truckee definitely used the right indicator to tell me it was safe to pass. Thanks, mate!
  
  Of course you treat it as a suggestion, nose out and judge for yourself before trying to overtake.
  
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themeatbridge@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
If you cannot see around the vehicle in front of you to know if it’s safe to pass, it isn’t safe to pass.

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