Drivers warned over dangerous habit that could cost you £2,500

DRIVERS are being warned not to forget a simple task while driving that could land you a £2,500 fine.

Using an indicator to alert other motorists to the direction you are travelling and turning is an essential part of responsible driving.

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Drivers are being warned over a dangerous habit that could cost you £2,500[/caption]

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Using an indicator to alert other motorists to the direction you’re travelling is vital[/caption]

Failing to indicate is not just dangerous – it can cost you three points on your licence and a penalty fee of £2,500.

Without proper signalling to other drivers when switching lanes or using a roundabout, drivers could be responsible for causing an accident.

Road users need to be aware of the phrase – mirror, signal, manoeuvre.

Not using indicators is classed as careless and may also be seen as driving without due care and attention.

Louis Rix, co-founder and COO of vehicle finance company CarFinance 247, said: “Indicating is a part of driving that we do without thought – but for those who fail to do so, the consequences could be fatal.

“If a pedestrian believes a road to be safe to cross, they may step out in front of a car.

“The risk involved with not indicating is a hefty fine of up to £2500 depending on the severity of the circumstance – an expensive price to pay for the sake of forgetting to indicate.

“It’s one of the first things we learn when we start to drive, and an essential habit that we should practice throughout our lifetimes.”

When should I use my indicators?

If it will make anyone – even a cyclist or pedestrian – aware of your intentions, you should use your indicators.

If there’s nobody there to see, then it’s not necessary to signal, but doing so won’t cause you to fail a driving test.

You must always use your signals when overtaking another moving vehicle, regardless of the type of road you’re travelling on.

If you’re turning left or right at a roundabout, you must signal the appropriate direction but you should not indicate if you plan to go straight.

If turning right or straight, you must apply your left turn signal just after the exit before the one you intend to take.

The rules for mini roundabouts are pretty much the same, except you don’t have to indicate to exit.

Dual carriageways and motorways both use markers that look like little slashes, leading up to an exit.

Three slashes shows that you’re 300 yards from the exit, two slashes means 200 yards and a single slash means 100 yards. If you intend to exit, you should begin indicating from the 300 yard (three slash) marker.

When pulling up, it’s necessary to indicate if it will benefit other road users.

After that, there’s no further need to indicate until the manoeuvre is complete and you’re about to pull away.

Can I be fined if my indicator bulb is out?

If you have a broken indicator light, the police may give you a “vehicle defect rectification notice”.

You’ll need to get your vehicle fixed and provide proof that it’s been fixed, for example a receipt for the work from a mechanic.

You have 14 days from the date of the notice to show the proof to the police.