So I was driving along when the car in front of me started to brake. I was a good/safe distance away, but then I realised they were actually turning.
It was wet conditions and lights were on, but the indicator was so bloody small that I couldn't believe it.
Had me thinking, what other vehicles have horrible indicator/signal designs?
I think the car in question was a Kia Stonic. (Definitely a Kia of some kind)
wasnt there some 80s or 90s volvos that had the same thing going on?
I have this car (also annoys me) and I looked into it. They are orange side markers and they’re on a lot of cars if you pay close attention but they tend to be built into the side of the headlights (e.g. BMWs) instead of as a seperate light like on the civic. Side markers aren’t mandatory on normal cars in Aus but they have to be orange if the do have it (they are in the US and that’s why some cars have it here).
The problem with the civic though is on the base model, that orange side marker is used as the side indicators. On the other models, there is a LED on the mirror instead. I think that’s the reason why everyone hates it.
Came to say just this ! Every time this car come next to me, I think they are trying to change lane, then realise its this stupid car !
Came to this thread for this.
How is it legal? Why are they there?
Logged into just to reply. Those new Civic orange lights are a bloody distraction. Unbelievable how they approved that rubbish.
I agree - sometimes I'm next to these cars and have mini-panics they are indicating and going to change lanes into me.
Agree. Jeep Wranglers have them too. Has scared the crap out of me a few times when I'm driving alongside them, especially if I'm on my motorcycle.
I freak out nearly every time. Driving home at night in a black hatch, often worry about having people blind merge into me. I start driving up past a Civic then as I clear the front arch of the car, BAM, the orange light is there. I nearly slam on the brakes more often than I'd like to admit because of that very STUPID design.
Hate the Kia's which have the indicators in the lower bumper. Tesla Model 3 rear indicator is a bit small and inconspicuous too.
Agreed!
Unfortunately I drive one of these. I remember coming across other cars of the same model and being surprised they weren't up where the brake/reversing lights are.
The idiots on motorcycles that think that combining their brake light with indicators is “cool”. No, it just makes it look like your brake light is flashing orange and red and it’s illegal.
The previous generation Porsche Macan had factory rear indicators that did the same thing. The orange strip would replace the red tail light so it would blink orange-red-orange-red.
This GIF shows what I'm talking about but they didn't have the tail lights on. But where the orange indicators are flashing is where the red tail lights would be lit up:
https://www.macanforum.com/attachments/20200210_141204_1-gif…
Tail lights:
https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/moscow-russia-april-back-vie…
Actually, there are bike models that came like this from factory.
Mine is one of them.
Also, less chance of one breaking off for whatever reason.
There is a minimum distance requirement between indicators on motorcycles as outlined in the ADR.
I know some Harley bikes have a combination indicator/brake light setup, but that minimum distance is still there between the lights. What I was referring to was the idiots that remove the indicator stalks completely and replace the smaller, central tail light with one of these There is no way that this is ADR compliant and most RWC testers would and should defect it.
Your bike must have a wide arse on it or the whole tail light assembly and indicators are a whole unit and separated by the minimum distance required by ADR. (I know Honda Goldwings had huge tail light setups.)
Ah gotcha.
That makes sense.
And yeah I wasn't sure if you meant that type of replacement. It did cross my mind.
Jeep Renegade… Saw them once, absolutely horrendous. Looks wouldn't be a deal breaker in most cases for me, but this certainly is one of those cases where I'd look at other models.
https://www.automobilesreview.com/gallery/2015-mopar-jeep-re…
this certainly is one of those cases where I'd look at other models.
This certainly is one of those cases where I'd look at other models brands. FTFY
I mean, the X is just asking you to reject it…
Car (or driver) is dead. Eyes are crossed.
The rear lights of that Jeep is hideous. Stuck behind one in traffic at night one time and it was very difficult to tel when it was braking cos the rear lights were so bloody bright!
Fronts; Nissan, hard to see being wedged in the corner of < & > shaped running lights
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=1dTEAr…
.
Jeeez, yeah that was another model that has thrown me off on the road!
Yeah that's ridiculous.
There should be a standard that blinkers are the outermost lamps on all clusters, also so they can be seen from the front/rear and sides. Almost removes the need for the side repeaters.
There is an EU regulation that dictates if running lights are in close proximity of the indicators, the running lights must dim or switch off on the side the indicator is active.
On my Lexus when the indicator is on, the DRL is switched off. Look like the car is winking at you ;)
I found the Golf Mk5 is annoying to see because the brake lights surround the tiny indicator light.
When they apply the brakes it washes out the indicator.
That's the problem!! Exactly as you described it with the car that was in front of me. The brakes washed out the tiny square indicator. 🤦♂️
Single biggest problem is eggshell indicators- in the sun they reflect the sunlight, and there is no contrast for the bulb flash to be apparent whenever the sun is hitting them.
They should have been banned the moment someone came up with them- bu in bigger markets they weren't because most of the time it rains in Europe, Russia and much of North America. The rest of the time it's cloudy so less opportunity for sun to cause intense glare. The middle East and Asia doesn't seem to say much on vehicle regs.
Second biggest problem is mirror/silver headlight housings with incorporated indicators, starting with the Mk4 Golf. When coming from head-on the headlight makes the indicator beside it invisible by comparison. Bad enough with halogen lights, worse when old or dirty, or both (ie. 'glarey'). Terrible with Xenon or LED, not to mention some idiots' upgraded LED halogen lamps.
The owners of the Australian Design Rules should be kicked hard up the arse every time someone has a 'didn't see the indicator' related crash, especially head-ons and fatals.
Especially as they are continuing the rot by enabling manufacturers to fit high-intensity LEDs that don't properly dip/screen the output- this is the next one as they temporarily blind people all the time on curved roads at night, roundabouts, junctions, et al. No Xenon/LED should ever have been allowed without a suspension angle sensor that dynamically adjusts the baffles, at the very, very least.
Some people have really dim trailer light, both for brake & turning light.
I almost hit one a few weeks ago because it does not have a license plate light, painted in dark color and have dim brake/turning light.
Kia Sportage, they are right down low, only a few inches above the exhausts!
Kia are really gunning for someone to hit them up the ass.
I hate the Kia design - why they didn't include the Indicator with the brake light assembly I don' t know.
KIA. The ones down in the rear bumper.
I would indicate using hand signals
I can understand the right arm going out but what do you do for turning left?
From memory it is arm bent at elbow with forearm pointing up for left signal, arm bent at elbow with forearm down for braking and arm horizontal/straight for turning right.
I could be completely wrong though since it’s been a long time since I got my truck licence and I’ve never once needed to use them and I’m pretty sure nearly no one would know what they meant anyway.
😂😂 Well if I see someone doing that down around Melbourne, I will be sure to wave hello to you!
From memory it is arm bent at elbow with forearm pointing up for left signal
Incorrect. This is the "I'm stopping" signal. (Aus Road Rule 55)
There is no "Left turn hand signal" in the road rules. (But there is for right turns)
arm bent at elbow with forearm down
This means "I'm just making it look like I'm hanging my arm out the window so I can flick my ciggie butt on the ground." arm signal.
@pegaxs: Well I did say I might be remembering wrong, so I guess I was right…
I’m 90% sure there was an arm down signal relating to vehicles, but I don’t remember if it was associated with army cadets, cfa, private security or maybe my time with Parks Victoria.
The default is to yell out the direction you are intending. Whether you have your windows down, is optional.
Kia Sportage by far. Too low on the bumper and looks stupid. I think we have a winner..
Yep - came here to say the same thing…. the worst design ever.
Annoyingly low - even being directly behind it you can miss it as your line of sight is higher up where the stop/tail lights are.
Forget about seeing it if you are a car behind.
New Tesla has a 1cm thin line. Joke.
Any dual cab ute. They don't have indicators at all.
They do. You just can't see them because of the $25k builders trailer they are towing
I use a left turn handsignal several times a week. My mother lives on the LHS of a major road (in direction I approach from) just over the crest of a hill with a major road intersection one house down on LHS.
When people behind see the left turn indicator they assume I am going to turn into side street and they don't slow down sufficiently. You can either drive very slowly, which doesn't work because then they are even closer when you turn, or you can try and grab their attention with a hand signal.
There are frequent rear end collisions at the intersection. She has lived there for 50 years and I haven't been rear ended so my technique seems to work.
Now all I've got to do is convince her care visitors not to turn right out of her driveway or back out onto the street.
When her 1 lane in each direction street was the major north south coastal hwy before they built the bypass it was even more exciting. There was a continual stream of traffic in both directions.
The fun part was when semitrailers couldn't make it up the hill. They would try and back down which was interesting. It was even better when they jack knifed and dumped their loads - timber, sand and milk cartons are 3 I remember - over the road completely blocking it.
We used to turn right and drive up the verge one house to the minor road to get out. However, one day I got a caution from a policeman. He said I understand why you do it but don't do it again.
Even though her street is much quieter these days, we always drive down her verge to the next house's driveway to get that little bit more sight distance.
Hate the cars with only one reverse white light!
my vw polo used to have this, for some reason the side is a rear fog light. silly Europeans.
the stupid jeep where the light is enveloped by other lights
and the civic with the always on indicator on the side
every headcheck i think they are about to turn into me
1) There's Kia models with extremely low turn signals, I dont want to play find Wally when im driving but yes Kia designer you have achieved your goal you have catched my attention.
2) Turn signals that only start blinking when the car is turning. These cars are the most annoying!
2) is that just people being crappy with indicating, or is that an actual car feature?
People
It's an old and unpopular car, but for me it's the upper models of the Mitsubishi 380. The indicator is a tiny thin slither on the side. Very weird design, and difficult to see.
But the worst indicators I have ever seen were in the USA. Many cars there don't have any indicators at all. Instead they have weakly flashing brake lights. Weird.
sliver
I came to say the same thing. I had a 380 GT and while the brake lights were fine, the indicators were terrible to see. The weird thing is that the base models had a more conventional design and were perfectly reasonable to see.
Yep my first thought was that indeed - the GT model had woeful indicators.
Relax guys…its just an indicator….plenty of other worthy things to hate
like people who drive at night with no lights on
Then you try and warn them and they are oblivious to the world about not knowing their lights are off.
Pajero Sport !
Is that the one with the "im crying" rear lights?
Kia's have horrible lights.
Nissan SUV front indicators. They have a tiny indicator right next to the headlights which you can barely see when coming head on.
This
Just realised it was already posted on the previous page
So why do we make such a big deal about Roadworthy certificates on cars, but cars are allowed to enter our country with hazard indicators?
Roadworthy certificates are not a big deal here at all. There is no structural check and no emissions check - any old heap of crap can pass as long as the brakes and lights are working
Roadworthy is a joke. You can drive a clapped out heap on the road for years, even passing on to family without getting it safety checked, but once you come to sell it, that's the only time a roadworthy is needed and at which point, the safety is so paramount that the roadworthy only last a month…. Once sold it could be years before its ever checked again.
this applies in VIC
but i think in NSW there is a yearly RWC check?
Checked over on first rego in WA and that's it. You never need to do one again, including transfer.
Some commercial vehicles are the exception.
Yellow cars.
I looked at a Yellow Mini for a second and couldn't tell if it was indicating as the sun was shining onto the front of the car.
Any car that has the indicator buried in the Bumper and no indicator in the side mirror casing.
Kias and previous Mazda 3's from memory.
Another thing I don’t like is those cars that have those lights before the main headlights (good god I’m going senile and can’t remember their name) that go off when the indicator is activated.
Daytime running lamps. Yeah, it looks stupid but it's so that you can see the indicator which is normal in the same housing.
Thats it lol. My brain went blank and cbf googling.
Yeah i know why it happens and agree it is on the smaller scale of annoying/distracting.
anything that has fancy animation without standard flashing lights.
technology connections made a vid about some us vehicle about this topic. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O1lZ9n2bxWA
At least our rear indicator/brake lamp setup is much better than the US.
I often can't see the front indicators of the Nissan Xtrail.
Many cars seem to have poorly designed front indicators these days that are too white, too small or too close to a very bright LED type headlamp.
can i add with all the hate on ADR rules,
anything with the reverse light (Singular, not plural) down the bottom, almost near the number plates.
perfectly ample space around the rear of the car, but they've decided to put the reverse light somewhere down under knee height
meh all …. a vw semaphore can literally poke an eye!
This post made me realise the idea of hating certain indicator designs never even crossed my mind, I feel blessed whenever they are put in proper use.
A lot of newer cars have indicators that aren't easy to spot or just not in the place you would normally look because of attempts at different designs. Definitely something I've noticed is more of an issue in recent years.
The Audis or whatever they are that have a line for their indicators that starts small and grows to the left or right.
You can at least see these animated indicators but they look wanky.
EDIT: Also indicators that are too close to really beight headlights so they blend in.
I hate the bloody Hondas that have their indicators always on! When I take a glance around and see their indicator lights on I have to do a double take.
Used to have a Ford Focus where the front indicators were on the inside edges of the headlights. So basically, you couldn't see the front indicators until you were nearly front on with the car. I got used to people pulling out in front of me when turning right at roundabouts, simply because they couldn't really see my indicator until after I started the right turn. Couldn't really blame them most of the time.
On my golf - only has 1 reverse light. I searched for the other thinking it was a blown bulb, but nope. 1 offset reverse light.
the other side is the rear fog light
Slightly off topic, but what is up with those Hondas Civics that have what looks like an orange indicator on the side as an always on running light like at this link https://www.caradvice.com.au/784886/2020-honda-civic-hatch-unveiled-in-the-us/!? Numerous times I've driven up alongside one of these cars and thought they are trying to change lanes into me! Very dangerous!
Cars with tinted covers over the rear indicators and the break lights are the worst as its borderline impossible to see them during the day
I don't get why people spend money on it, when it puts other people's lives at risk,
And the new Mazdas that have LED headlights which aren't focused properly from the Factory and end up blinding everyone while driving
Those Hondas with the permanent lit range side markers, I'm not sure how they are legal?
stupid civics.
Any car channeling KITT is a total wank in my books.
4wd's with rear bars that put tiny indicators are crap. My friend has one :(
Most Utes and d!¢khead ute drivers don't make it any better
Mini coopers (new BMW ones), the split union jack so when the left indicator is flashing (if they use it given they're halfway to being BMW drivers) it almost looks like an arrow pointing to the right.
Those Audi sequential indicator lights. Annoying AF!
They looked cool for about 3 seconds, now they just look tacky.
I think I said that about 4 comments up. But yes, I agree.
the cars that use their brake lights as indicators and have no, or not functional white/yellow indicator lights.
TESLA
I can’t remember which model (they look quite similar except for the SUV model X). The brake lights are small and the indicators are bloody tiny. It’s actually dangerous, why does the law allow that design.
Fully agree!