How and when to use your indicators

What you need to know:

  • Don’t indicate like you are just helping other motorists know of your intention or next move, do it as a way of informing or warning them what you are going to do next.
  • Drivers of motor vehicles other than motor cycles should use hand signals only if necessary to reinforce their light signals- or if their light signals have failed.

Going by the headline, some people may wonder why we are writing such an article. However, sometimes what seems to be obvious is not. Indicators are turn signals in form of lights. They are also called hazard lights and orange in colour.

Double indicators
These are used when you encounter a problem and you have to inform other motorists that you are in danger. However, in Uganda, some motorists use double indicators during celebrations such as welcoming someone back from abroad. Others use them on wedding convoys, as a way of celebrating the wedding achievement. Ambulances sometimes use them too.
That said, there are ways Ugandans misuse indicators. When approaching a corner or when you are about to stop that is leaving the main road and there other motorists behind you, you switch on the indicator as a way of notifying them. But the problem with some Ugandan motorists is that they delay to do this and only remember to indicate when they have approached the exact spot or corner.

You can cause an accident when you do this because motorists following you may not be sure of your next move. So warning or notifying them well in time is what they expect you to do. At least indicate one or two minutes before you reach the corner or when you are going to stop by the road or when leaving a particular place and joining the main road where other motorists are.

Don’t indicate like you are just helping other motorists know of your intention or next move, do it as a way of informing or warning them what you are going to do next.
In fact the Highway Code, a road user manual for all motorists in Uganda, says “Don’t forget the sequence: Mirrors-signal-action. Whenever you drive off, change lanes, overtake, turn, slow down, or move in to the side to stop.”

Drivers of motor vehicles other than motor cycles should use hand signals only if necessary to reinforce their light signals- or if their light signals have failed. First check in the mirror for oncoming traffic, assess and decide. Give the correct signal and make the action, say turning or overtaking. Do not decide without assessing the situation first.