Do You Know About the Courtesy Indicator

The “COURTESY INDICATOR” is an informal term commonly used in to refer to the practice of using turn signals or indicators in situations where drivers are not required to do so by traffic laws, but do so as a safety measure to inform other road users of their intentions.

Specifically, it is often used by drivers in roundabouts when they are in the right-hand lane and intend to continue circulating in the roundabout, rather than exiting.

Although it is not always mandatory to signal in a roundabout (depending on local traffic regulations), some drivers to this action as a precautionary measure to prevent accidents, particularly “roundabout crashes” or front-side collisions. These accidents often occur when a vehicle in the left lane of the roundabout decides to exit while another vehicle in the right lane continues within the roundabout, leading to a crash.

By signaling, the driver in the right lane alerts other road users to their intention to stay inside the roundabout, thus avoiding confusion or dangerous situations. This helps prevent the typical “roundabout crash” where the driver in the left lane does not expect another vehicle to continue circulating. In short, the courtesy indicator enhances safety by improving communication between drivers, even if it is not a legal requirement.

Did you know it?