View Full Version : Cars & Transport Why do Canarians use the left indicator when they are slowing down?
essexeddie
05-12-2013, 22:52
Never noticed it before but I keep seeing motorists putting their L/H indicator on when they drive up to an obstruction on the road, when I would have thought the hazard lights should be used. Whats all that about?
First time I saw it I thought they were turning left and went to under take them on the inside, but stopped just in time. Daft or what????
TOPGUN77
05-12-2013, 23:17
I haver never known the Spanish to use there indicators at all.
karinagal
05-12-2013, 23:27
I've also seen them do this to let pedestrians know that they are stopping to let them cross the road..
its a strange Canarian custom that most motorists take up ..especially those that dont know what they are doing.. dont worry about it ..just like everthing else about how they drive here ..."When in Rome ! "... Indicators.. that funny orange coloured light ... dunno ..
Canarians use Indicators the same way the British would use their Hazard warning lights, letting the car behind know you are stopping either to let someone across a Zebra crossing, or because traffic is at a standstill ahead due to some unexpected obstruction. Locals only seem to use their Hazard lights when they "illegally" park. As the previous poster said - "When in Rome"......, but don't expect the locals to indicate on Roundabouts or when exiting a main road onto a side road. :wink:
Terrynsue
06-12-2013, 13:09
We understood it was because the sun is so bright here, the inicator warns the vehicle behind that it is stopplng.:tiphat:
essexeddie
06-12-2013, 18:38
We understood it was because the sun is so bright here, the inicator warns the vehicle behind that it is stopplng.:tiphat:
Thought that's what stop lights were for?
slodgedad
07-12-2013, 00:23
Never failed to amaze me why people assume driving rules are the same everywhere.
Learn the local laws and don't assume that what you have been taught in the UK is the 'right' way.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A ROUNDABOUT.
It is a circular road which has the same rules as any other. You join on the right and the inside lane is for overtaking slower moving or stopped traffic in the outside lane.
Doesn't make sense to Brit drivers but absolute sense to the rest of the world. (Especially Americans as shown by the Simpsons).
I have had the roundabout discussion with a Guardia friend of mine and he just laughed and said it couldn't work.
At least they did change the 'circular road' ruie a few years ago before which traffic entering had right of way. When it was realized that circular car parks were being created they decided to make pretty tailbacks instead.
Andy0210
07-12-2013, 02:03
Indicate left when slowing down, every time you are slowing down, in traffic on the motorway. on a normal road, in traffic even on a normal road, remember when in Spain do as Spain does and you will be fine! :)
essexeddie
07-12-2013, 12:09
Silly me, there's me thinking that an indicator was put on a car to let other drivers know where you was going.:spin:
primrose
07-12-2013, 12:23
Silly me, there's me thinking that an indicator was put on a car to let other drivers know where you was going.:spin:
Or what your doing and in Tenerife putting your left hand indicator on indicates to other drivers you are slowing down or stopping,that's what they do in Tenerife it's not rocket science it's what they do here.
canarybird
07-12-2013, 15:15
Yes and it's warning the driver behind you not to try and overtake when he sees you going slowly, because you're doing it for a reason, such as a pedestrian crossing or a traffic hazard ahead that the driver behind you might not see.
essexeddie
07-12-2013, 21:19
Or what your doing and in Tenerife putting your left hand indicator on indicates to other drivers you are slowing down or stopping,that's what they do in Tenerife it's not rocket science it's what they do here.
That's why we have stop lights, that's not rocket science either or is that too obvious ?
primrose
07-12-2013, 21:39
That's why we have stop lights, that's not rocket science either or is that too obvious ?
If you don't want to use your indicator don't do it,but it's what they do in Tenerife,I find it quite helpful when stood at a crossing and the driver uses his left indicator to let you know he his stopping after all the stop lights are at the back of the car, useless to somebody looking at the front of the car.
essexeddie
07-12-2013, 21:55
If you don't want to use your indicator don't do it,but it's what they do in Tenerife,I find it quite helpful when stood at a crossing and the driver uses his left indicator to let you know he his stopping after all the stop lights are at the back of the car, useless to somebody looking at the front of the car.
No I wont get into that habit, I'll let people know in front by flashing my headlights, unless that means some thing else?
No wonder the accident rate is bad here.
.
delderek
07-12-2013, 22:09
No I wont get into that habit, I'll let people know in front by flashing my headlights, unless that means some thing else?
No wonder the accident rate is bad here.
.
Thats another one that is a bit tricky. It actually means a warning. But it is wrongly accepted to mean I give way to you.
I like the left indicator thing saves time taking one hand off the wheel to press hazard lights switch.
I'll let people know in front by flashing my headlights, unless that means some thing else?
In mainland Spain it means - 'get out of my way (I'm taking priority over you and I'm coming through') !
Cause Canarians want to save on the other bulb............innit
ffs
Newforest
08-12-2013, 10:11
Just remember not to cultivate this habit when back in the UK!
No I wont get into that habit, I'll let people know in front by flashing my headlights, unless that means some thing else?.
In most of Europe, flshing headlights means "Get out of the way", or "What the ---- are you doing, ----???". First time I drove in UK, back in the 80's, I wondered what i was doing wrong when people were flashing their headlights at me all the time. You Brits have what foreigners consider strange habits too...
Regarding Roundabouts, the common EU rule nowadays, is that it's considered a "Circular road". Just accept it, the rules are supposed to be the same in all Europe. Not that all drive as if it is - in many countries people grew up doing it the same way you do in UK. But the rule is there since some 10-15 years back. At least it's better than "give way to the ones entering the roundabout" as Spain used to have, a long time ago.
Regarding the left indicator when slowing down, I've actually found that quite useful. Usually, the Hazard warning lights are quite difficult to reach quickly. They use them too, especially slow moving traffic in the right lane on the motorway. But when there is a sudden slow down in the left lane, the left indicator in addition to the break lights is an indication that it's really a significant slowdown - not just that someone breaks a little, which happens all the time. When they get to it, many put on the Hazard warning lights, but the left indicator is quicker.
Also, as mentioned, when letting pedestrians over. If you flash your light at them, they probably will NOT cross - they will think you are in a hurry, perhaps some kind of emergency - since that indication is mainly used in UK, not the rest of Europe.
Thats another one that is a bit tricky. It actually means a warning. But it is wrongly accepted to mean I give way to you.
I agree flashing lights is a warning so you can slow down for a hazard around the next corner.
I always use the left indicator for signalling I am going to slow down or stop and I wouldnt risk a pedestrian crossing round here unless the car had the LH indicator on it would be suicidal.
Others not to forget, hazard lights are for double parking and the horn is for acknowledging friends either driving towards you or walking down the street.
Sorry no idea what the R/H indicator is for!
sunseeker
08-12-2013, 16:42
I agree flashing lights is a warning so you can slow down for a hazard around the next corner.
I always use the left indicator for signalling I am going to slow down or stop and I wouldnt risk a pedestrian crossing round here unless the car had the LH indicator on it would be suicidal.
Others not to forget, hazard lights are for double parking and the horn is for acknowledging friends either driving towards you or walking down the street.
Sorry no idea what the R/H indicator is for!
Left indicator is also to tell people you need to stop in the middle of the street to talk to ur mate
From a Pedestrian's point of view the Left Light means I'm giving way
for You to cross. it's really good most of the Time.
I also seem to remember the same practice on the Peninsula...
Why do Brits always want Other Nations to go by Our Rules...?
slodgedad
08-12-2013, 21:37
From a Pedestrian's point of view the Left Light means I'm giving way
for You to cross. it's really good most of the Time.
I also seem to remember the same practice on the Peninsula...
Why do Brits always want Other Nations to go by Our Rules...?
Well said that man.....:tiphat:
Left indicator is also to tell people you need to stop in the middle of the street to talk to ur mate
Ha Ha i,ve seen that so many times it creases me ... will have to get some mates i can talk with ..the same ..nice one sunseeker ..
essexeddie
09-12-2013, 18:38
Just remember not to cultivate this habit when back in the UK!
Correct!! Good bit of advice and one of the best ideas of this thread.
If you don't understand the rules in Spain & the Canaries - then heaven help you if you ever go to Malta and drive a car there.
"Officially" Malta drives on the left hand side of the road (as in the U.K.), but in reality they drive on either side depending on where the "shade" is .
On a bright hot sunny day if the right hand side of the road is shaded they drive on the right and only swap back to the left hand side when they meet a car coming in the opposite direction. It does make for some "fun" motoring, where, by the way most of the cars are very old British models such as Triumph Heralds, Vauxhall Victors, Mk1 Ford Escorts, and Mk1 Minis etc. :cheeky:
essexeddie
10-12-2013, 19:37
If you don't understand the rules in Spain & the Canaries - then heaven help you if you ever go to Malta and drive a car there.
"Officially" Malta drives on the left hand side of the road (as in the U.K.), but in reality they drive on either side depending on where the "shade" is .
On a bright hot sunny day if the right hand side of the road is shaded they drive on the right and only swap back to the left hand side when they meet a car coming in the opposite direction. It does make for some "fun" motoring, where, by the way most of the cars are very old British models such as Triumph Heralds, Vauxhall Victors, Mk1 Ford Escorts, and Mk1 Minis etc. :cheeky:
Yep been there and witnessed that myself.
Have you ever driven around London?
I drove Fire Engines around London for 29 years so I am quite aware of bad drivers
Yep been there and witnessed that myself.
Have you ever driven around London?
I drove Fire Engines around London for 29 years so I am quite aware of bad drivers
Many, many years ago I regularly drove down & around London from Up North where I lived (Central Lancashire), and most of the
people I met then were Londoners, not Eastern Europeans, Greeks, and Asians as now seems to be the case. I trained as a Computer Programmer at "Newlands House" near Tottenham Court Road, and have stayed at the "Mount Pleasant" near the big P.O. Sorting Office on a number of occasions. Didn't cost anything but petrol to drive in Central London then, but can't remember the car I was driving, could have been a Sunbeam Rapier, a Mk2 Mini-Cooper, or a Triumph Spitfire.
Visited many Countries in my lifetime, but wouldn't like to say who were the worst drivers, but remember the French always drove with their foot to the floor and didn't have many road manners. That was in the days when I drove both an Austin A40, Sunbeam Rapier, and a Ford Corsair through France on my way to the Costa Brava in Spain in the days before package holidays by air.
By the way Essexeddie - what part of Essex are you from, I have a daughter who lives in Chelmsford & regularly fly to Stanstead to visit her & her family.
essexeddie
10-12-2013, 22:07
By the sounds of your cars that you drove that was a hell of a long time ago when you drove in London Terry, you may find it a little different now.
I was bought up in Stoke Newington London but we moved to Romford for my youth but now reside in Benfleet on the Thames coast. We have a few friends in Chelmsford which is only twenty minutes away so we are often there.
We come to Tenerife for the winter, but at the moment the weather in the SE UK is better. Blue sky and 11c. But hopefully not for long.
In Tenerife they also use the left indicator to turn right! :wink2:
essexeddie
10-12-2013, 22:45
In Tenerife they also use the left indicator to turn right! :wink2:
Nooooo give over!
In Tenerife they dont use any indicator to turn right or left ..its "give me a clue time !"
slodgedad
11-12-2013, 00:41
The point that everyone seems to miss is that when 'foreigners' drive in the UK they are equally baffled, as they are as bombastic as some of the posters here.
When in Rome etc.
Over the past 40 years I have driven in most countries in Europe and find driving far easier than the UK.
Whenever I visit, as I've said many times in different threads, driving in the UK scares me to death.
Medanoman
11-12-2013, 02:47
indicators are an optional extras not always installed by owners of cars on Tenerife...The left hand indicator is a polite way of advising pedestrians that you will not mow them down and are preparing to stop to let them cross.. On a motorway it is the fastest way to indicate that something untoward has happened ahead. Perhaps due to traveling too close to the car in front, or some other reason, reaction time in Tenerife is reduced from milli to micro seconds. The indicator is thus activated first as the driver was too busy braking hard and holding on tightly to the steering wheel to reach over to the hazard light switch. Once things have calmed down the normal hazards come on.
Flashing ones headlights , at a junction say where there is a poor defuddled tourist in a rent a car who does not realize that they have right of way, is a charitable act designed to inform the foreigner of the error of their ways..It is all used to remove lane hoggers from the outside lane of the motorway who do not seem to go any faster than 90kmh...
Hand signals appearing suspiciously like some form of local insult are normally due to you leaving your headlights on and one should remember that before raising middle finger in reply. Although why anyone should worry about my cars electrical consumption is totally beyond me. Perhaps the triumph spitfire drivers of yesteryear might be able comment on that.
I recently cam accross a police control where the 2 cars in front of me were practically racing one another, after stopping those 2 the officer made shook his little light at me, and i thought that mean go ..it didn't apparently..So he snarled at me don't you know the traffic signals..I said no sorry , I was used to clear signals in England. A nice big digital signal instead of a vague torch from Leroy Merlin. He let me off , but not before i pointed out that his tail lights had blown.
http://educacionvialtorrejoncillo.blogspot.com.es/2008/07/sealels-y-rdenes-de-los-agentes-de.html
The point that everyone seems to miss is that when 'foreigners' drive in the UK they are equally baffled, as they are as bombastic as some of the posters here.
When in Rome etc.
Over the past 40 years I have driven in most countries in Europe and find driving far easier than the UK.
Whenever I visit, as I've said many times in different threads, driving in the UK scares me to death.
Must agree.... I worked as a lorry driver for some time in the UK and think it's much easier here. You try driving a 40 foot articulated lorry around any major town or city in the UK.
The left hand indicator thing can be a good one as long as people know about it, and in a place that has so many hire cars is safer than a driver searching around for hazard lights.
Best advice I was every given : Driving is not about guiding a car, anyone can do that. Driving is about reading the roads...... Give plenty of room and time to others, expect the worst, and treat every other road user as an idiot, because most of them are.....
Last 4 lines of your post sums "the other driver" up for me Honda, spot on .....:c2:
essexeddie
11-12-2013, 20:48
The point that everyone seems to miss is that when 'foreigners' drive in the UK they are equally baffled, as they are as bombastic as some of the posters here.
When in Rome etc.
Over the past 40 years I have driven in most countries in Europe and find driving far easier than the UK.
Whenever I visit, as I've said many times in different threads, driving in the UK scares me to death.
I must admit that the driving here is a piece of cake after the UK, its just the silly little things like the indicator nonsense that baffled me. Just couldn't see the need if you have hazard lights. But now I know I shall be aware.
.
Took my nephew back to England when he was 7 yrs old and driving up the motorway from the airport, he said to my mother in law, 'grandma why has that car got orange flashing lights' my mother in law explained they were indicators and what they are used for, and he replied but they don't use them in Tenerife.
essexeddie
18-06-2014, 20:05
Happened to me again today. Driver in front put his L/H indicator to slow down then turned right without indicating. What do they think stop lights are for?
Its about time they learnt to drive. Wonder who taught these people.
Malteser Monkey
19-06-2014, 10:23
Happened to me again today. Driver in front put his L/H indicator to slow down then turned right without indicating. What do they think stop lights are for?
Its about time they learnt to drive. Wonder who taught these people.
Don't think they have lessons they just get in and drive.
They just have different rules - I found it hard to stop indicating when slowing down when I came back here.
Don't forget too the rules of the roundabouts ...................there are none !:cheeky:
When out driving in Tenerife there are 2 things you must do :-
1) Treat every driver as an idiot and assume they are never going to indicate, or have left their indicators on and will
turn in the opposite direction next time.
2) Keep your fingers crossed and pray you will get from A to B safely.
Malteser Monkey
19-06-2014, 11:28
When out driving in Tenerife there are 2 things you must do :-
1) Treat every driver as an idiot and assume they are never going to indicate, or have left their indicators on and will
turn in the opposite direction next time.
2) Keep your fingers crossed and pray you will get from A to B safely.
:D:lol:
that about sums it up folks !
ameal4two
20-06-2014, 08:29
Not everyone in the world as to drive like the British ,plenty of bad drivers in the uk and there are lot of bad uk drivers over here too.you shoulder follow a hire car from airport one day
canarybird
20-06-2014, 08:38
I find the most erratic drivers here are the ones with a car hire sticker in their back window.
Angusjim
20-06-2014, 08:59
I find the most erratic drivers here are the ones with a car hire sticker in their back window.
That's them pesky holidaymakers ban em from the island would be a better place without them;):laugh:
canarybird
20-06-2014, 09:56
Oh no....I'm quite forgiving. I would also be an erratic driver if I suddenly had to drive on the other side of the road and didn't really know where I was going.
But I do keep my distance when behind them and am not surprised by sudden slowdowns or unannounced turns. :wink:
Angusjim
20-06-2014, 10:19
Oh no....I'm quite forgiving. I would also be an erratic driver if I suddenly had to drive on the other side of the road and didn't really know where I was going.
But I do keep my distance when behind them and am not surprised by sudden slowdowns or unannounced turns. :wink:
Sounds good advice for driving in Tenerife generally from what I have seen:laugh::crazy:
Ecky Thump
20-06-2014, 17:14
That's them pesky holidaymakers ban em from the island would be a better place without them;):laugh:
Only allow folk who have cousins with their own apartments to enter Tenerife and then it would eliminate all the rif-raf that stay in hotels and rental apartments!:whistle:
essexeddie
21-06-2014, 17:28
I'm used to the roundabout lark, but its the left indicator that gets me. Really cant see the point. Been driving on this Island for 28 years now but only noticed it for the last three.
mike in chayofa
21-06-2014, 18:48
..... but its the left indicator that gets me. Really cant see the point.
This only happens on single lane roads and it seems to me to be a good idea. Its a warning not to try to overtake.
On the motorway or twin lane road, they use the hazard lights
canarybird
21-06-2014, 19:13
I've never seen hazard lights used here (been driving here for over 30 years) for anything else except when a vehicle in front has become a "hazard" due to a breakdown or very heavy load that requires moving very slowly with lights blinking.
When out walking and crossing roads it's really a lifesaver to be able look at the front end of an approaching car, see it slow down and put on its left blinker, to indicate to both the pedestrian and the cars behind him that he's stopping.
Remember (some of you may) that before we had indicator lights on our cars, we used to stick our arm out of the car window in a downward position, even waving it forward and backward as a warning to indicate to those cars following that we were coming to a stop in the middle of the road and the car behind should not try to overtake. The left indicator signal replaces that arm movement.
Totally logical and not hard to understand in my view.
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