WA sprayer operator Rob Mitchell says a growing number of drivers are mistakenly interpreting his signal to turn right as an opportunity to pass him, with dangerous consequences.
I have also driven extensively through mainly country WA and elsewhere and briefly worked as a truck driver in the NT, in my experience there is no consistency in understanding of these signals, as pointed out by the article, and I’m sceptical that it is consistently applied by truckies. Even if it were applied consistently it would still be dangerous.
As a car driver I have on at least 2 occasions had a truckie indicate it is safe for me to overtake(indicating L) in a situation that would have caused an accident. The only time it is safe to overtake is when you as the driver can be satisfied it is safe to do so. Relying on potentially ambiguous signals that are not universally understood is a literal accident waiting to happen.
You make a good point that for the truckies safety there is a need to indicate that it is unsafe but if people are misunderstanding this then I don’t know what the solution is.
I have also driven extensively through mainly country WA and elsewhere and briefly worked as a truck driver in the NT, in my experience there is no consistency in understanding of these signals, as pointed out by the article, and I’m sceptical that it is consistently applied by truckies. Even if it were applied consistently it would still be dangerous.
As a car driver I have on at least 2 occasions had a truckie indicate it is safe for me to overtake(indicating L) in a situation that would have caused an accident. The only time it is safe to overtake is when you as the driver can be satisfied it is safe to do so. Relying on potentially ambiguous signals that are not universally understood is a literal accident waiting to happen.
You make a good point that for the truckies safety there is a need to indicate that it is unsafe but if people are misunderstanding this then I don’t know what the solution is.