It seems that drivers in Switzerland do not know where the indicators are in their cars, why and when to use them.
For their information indicators are to be used:
BEFORE turning into a road,
BEFORE pulling over to park
BEFORE entering and roundabout (traffic circle) if not going directly across BEFORE overtaking a vehicle or changing lane on a dual carriageway or motorway
This is a simple request.
When you are driving please use your indicators as other drivers are not mind readers.
Please pass this simple request on to you colleagues, friends and family members who drive.
Must say, as a Swiss/Brit that the rule about not indicating at round-abouts is daft! I always indicate out of courtesy, and I think it makes great sense- but NOT required by law.
I can see it from both points of view but, as there are two lanes (usually) heading into a roundabout, indicating on approach is a good way of showing the vehicle behind which lane you are about to move into.
I must admit, I do it the British way when I'm approaching a really big roundabout for that very reason.
Makes sense to indicate to show my intention. If I am taking the first exit, I'll indicate right, and if I am taking the second, will indicate left then right - as in the UK. That way any traffic coming in direction of first exit from other side know they don't have to wait for me. No need to get cross, dear Much simpler and clearer.
If you're entering the roundabout and plan to take the second exit (i.e. the 9 o'clock position, it makes sense to indicate left so that the driver waiting at the 12 o'clock point to enter knows that s/he should wait till you've gone past.
I know this isn't the law or even the courtesy in Switzerland but it makes obvious sense. Anyone who drives in this country must surely have experienced near collisions by trying to guess where the driver on the roundabout is planning to exit. If drivers just made their intentions clear as they entered the roundabout it would be safer for everyone, including pedestrians and other drivers on the roundabout.
The problem with indicating left is most traffic doesnt even know if you are continuing around and enters regardless. As for indicating to enter a roundabout the entrance on most is straight ahead so how do you indicate that except to not indicate which is the most obvious and then simply indicate to exit.
The most important thing is to not hit anything beyond that the indicators are options on the car to make it look nicer.
You obviously dont drive in the areas I do I indicate left most of the time and it makes not one speck of difference cars enter regardless if they have half a chance and even if they dont! Seems to me the left indicator is ignored in the areas I drive
Good point probably why no one sees it, not that it worries me just something I notice. Overall the driving here seems better then in england where everyone is more worried about looking out for whether the other driver is indicating rather then bothering to actually be alert to the driving conditions and driving accordingly
We all know it isn't the law or the convention or even the courtesy here, hence this conversation.
When I said: "If you indicate left then traffic knows you are continuing around", that obviously refers to some mythical point in the future when drivers here would be required to drive like that and indicate what direction they are aiming at.
I can't see it ever happening though because of the denial that exists about the need for other road users and pedestrians to understand what a driver on a roundabout is planning to do.