Had an interesting situation in town the other day, towing the van in the central lane of a 3 lane road, I needed to move over to the right hand lane to be at the lights and make a right hand turn.
I had my right hand indicator on for quite some time, and when I thought there was enough room, began to slowly move over. Something took my attention away, and then I heard a horn blaring, looking, I had a car now in a very small space where my vehicle was moving over to.
That car was well behind when I began to make themaneuver. We have found that the indicator lights, are very directional and now wonder if the indicator lights can actuarly be seen by motorists in the lanes each side of the van.
Am now considering putting extra indicators along each side of the van. Has anyone else had this situation.
rockylizard said
09:36 AM Sep 6, 2017
Gday...
I am sure many of us have had the exact same situation Ian.
Adding 'repeater' lights along the van for indicators could be a good resolution.
However, if you sit down at a roadhouse over a good steak and veg and have a chat any number of truckies you will find they too have the same situation occur to them innumerable times ... and they have indicators flashing down the side of their rigs.
Some people are born inconsiderate, some are born arrogant, some are born with a superiority complex and some are just plain stupid.
That clown was either not concentrating/inconsiderate/arrogant or jest plain stupid.
There are no 'repeater' indicators down the side of my van and, despite the infrequent occasions that I have encountered the same clown (perhaps his brother ) I wouldn't bother going to the trouble and/or expense of fitting 'repeater' indicators.
Cheers - John
iana said
09:43 AM Sep 6, 2017
Must admit I was pretty shaken up, and yes the traffic flow was that which was reasonably heavy and not inclined to give way, however I am wondering if the Jayco indicator lights can be seen by vehicles unless they are directly behind. Are other van built with extra indicator lights standard?
-- Edited by iana on Wednesday 6th of September 2017 09:43:28 AM
Dougwe said
09:51 AM Sep 6, 2017
I think they have a sister too Ian and Rocky. She was in Gin Gin QLD while I was there. Not to me but another van. All good though in the end.
My indicators on the teepee are big plus the clearview mirrors have indicators as well and can be seen for the rear and sides. We can only be as safe as the other driver lets us.
keep Safe on the roads and out there.
rockylizard said
09:52 AM Sep 6, 2017
Gday...
This is rear of my van ... I am sure this is not very different to other vans ... although I have always liked the biggish style of the rear lights.
Cheers - John
Dougwe said
11:43 AM Sep 6, 2017
Hey Rocky, mate, not sure if you have seen it but some mongrel has done some Graffiti on the back of ya den. White paint between the sets of lights. Hard to see on a whit van though I spose.
Eaglemax said
01:14 PM Sep 6, 2017
I think for sure their is a case for indicators on the side of vans. Coming from a law enforcement background I'm wondering about the legalities.
Clearance lights are red facing the rear, yellow facing the front...why havent we had side indicators also in those clusters? Is it illegal for some reason not known to us?
I think the relevant area is Australian Design Rule 6/00 direction indicators. Topics like height, intensity of light etc are covered. The area of "supplementary indicator lights" I've found elusive.
Commonsense is not involved in law. We cant simply add lights without considering the legal implications so I'm just suggesting getting clarification of your intention to install extra indicators.
TheHeaths said
01:23 PM Sep 6, 2017
I suspect Ian the problem was more the other drivers wish not to get caught behind a "bloody caravan", rather than not seeing you indicate, or havindg a restricted view of the indicator.
Too many times, people will "fill the gap" even if they have seen indicators, purely for selfish reasons.
Yes, repeater indicators may help, but even then there will be those who for reasons known only to themselves must simply be in front.
I wouldn't stress or worry about it.
macka17 said
03:00 PM Sep 6, 2017
Earlier Roadstars had them. Standard.
It's easy enuff to change out the one each side halfway along. for a red\yellow (pointing back).
then run a separate wire from a splice in loom under van.
Or even run a ring loom for Indicators round the van.
With several each side rivetted to sides,
Below? existing ones.
Treecrest14 said
04:19 PM Sep 6, 2017
It is quite legal to have side indicator lights - but close to the rear of the van. If you can't get to the wires inside the wall, you could easily run a wire from the indicator light across the edge beading and to the extra side indicator light!
iana said
05:57 PM Sep 6, 2017
Yeah I had a look at some reg's. Looks like its all legal as Treecrest says, wiring the lights will be no problem. I hooked up the van and put myself in a driver situation in the inner or outer lane, and as I suspected, near impossible to see the indicators.
So new Jayco owners beware.
Aus-Kiwi said
06:18 PM Sep 6, 2017
Seems the bigger you are and the smaller that are ! The dumber they drive !! Yet Jelly fish have survived for millions of years with no brain !!
herks said
06:54 PM Sep 6, 2017
Haven't gone a put LED globs in your lights have you. Incandescent globes give light out all round and therefore picked up by all the lenses of the lens cover so allowing the light to be seen from the wider angles.
However with LED globes, the light source is very directional and will only be seen from straight on.
I changed mine across and was getting tooted all the time until I realized what the problem was. Went back to incandescent and no more horn blowing.
Now have replaced all lights with complete LED lamps and now even brighter.
Just a thought!!!
Ta
John
iana said
07:32 PM Sep 6, 2017
Sorry, didn't realize that I hadn't mentioned all the lights are LED.
migra said
07:38 PM Sep 6, 2017
The first thing I would do is attach the "give way to turning vehicles" sign, if you had contact with that vehicle you could be in the wrong, if you have the sign attached the onus is back onto to the other driver.
Aus-Kiwi said
12:02 AM Sep 7, 2017
Front and rear dash camera . https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/192270860533
blaze said
07:12 AM Sep 7, 2017
I would have thought the vehicle indicator would be seen by anyone level with the back of the van that couldn't see the van indicator
cheers
blaze
Footprints said
12:54 PM Sep 7, 2017
My Seabreeze van has indicator repeater lights along sides of van as standard. I assumed all modern Vans were the same, obviously not. They make life a whole lot easier. Very happy with my Seabreeze which incidentally is for sale due to changed circumstances. Cheers.
Waytra said
08:07 AM Sep 8, 2017
I like the idea of side repeaters. We already have 2 x "DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE" signs on the back of the van, but it doesn't seem to deter idiots.
iana said
09:13 AM Sep 8, 2017
The point I was making Waytra, is that the vehicles in the lane that you are moving into, may not because the lights are LED, see them and know you are moving over. The lesson I learn't in this situation was I have to be like a Chamaeleon, one eye on the road in front, and the other looking in the rear mirror, and don't get distracted.
Now is changing lanes classed as turning, I thought those signs applied to going around corners, but also they are applied to the rear of the vehicle, so again the drivers in each side lane cannot see it.
Wizardofoz said
09:14 AM Sep 8, 2017
The ignorant and arrogant factor overrides the decision of putting on repeater lights imho. I have given up being considerate in overtaking lanes, I used to stay left until the last 100 to 200 metres to allow as many vehicles as possible to pass, after twice being nearly run off into a signpost & fence by the b#stards wanting to get past at all costs and not allowing me to cross, I now put the indicators on at the 500 metre mark and will only allow those vehicles alongside or right on my hammer to pass before I Move across...b#gger em, I say!
iana said
09:17 AM Sep 8, 2017
As I understand the rule, "when changing lanes, indicated well before the move, and only change lanes when it is safe to do so", in other words if something happens, you are at fault.
Wizardofoz said
03:51 PM Sep 8, 2017
Not sure, but there may well be a difference between changing lanes and merging lanes?
Warren-Pat_01 said
10:23 PM Sep 9, 2017
Wizard,
I had a large truck sitting on my tail in northern Victoria a few years ago - he was much higher & so close that he couldn't see my (large Jayco) indicators & I put them on well before I was going to make my turn. All I got was a foul vocabulary over the CB.
We can only do our bit - those who choose not to see, ignore only make it difficult for all travellers!
And yet I heard recently that a lot of caravan lights are too high - somewhat higher than the "legal 600mm or so"!!
Warren
iana said
11:26 PM Sep 9, 2017
Changing lanes and merging as I understand it, merging is where you are traveling along a two lane road, the dashed markings between them stop, and it becomes one wide lane narrowing down to a single lane, the vehicle in front has right of way. Changing lanes is changing lanes, you have to cross over the dashed lane marking.
So if you are coming up to where two lanes merge, i.e. the middle dashed line ends, but you change lanes back a bit and have to cross over the dashed lines, then that is changing lanes, the person in the lane that you are going into has right of way, however if you wait it out, continueing until the middle dashed line ends, then that is merging, and the vehicle in front has right of way, regardless of which lane they leave.
Phillipn said
04:37 PM Sep 10, 2017
Dougwe wrote:
Hey Rocky, mate, not sure if you have seen it but some mongrel has done some Graffiti on the back of ya den. White paint between the sets of lights. Hard to see on a whit van though I spose.
The white paint between the lights. Looks like Rocky has blanked out the number plate prior to attaching the photo to the comment.
Warren-Pat_01 said
11:18 PM Nov 1, 2018
iana wrote:
Had an interesting situation in town the other day, towing the van in the central lane of a 3 lane road, I needed to move over to the right hand lane to be at the lights and make a right hand turn.
I had my right hand indicator on for quite some time, and when I thought there was enough room, began to slowly move over. Something took my attention away, and then I heard a horn blaring, looking, I had a car now in a very small space where my vehicle was moving over to.
That car was well behind when I began to make themaneuver. We have found that the indicator lights, are very directional and now wonder if the indicator lights can actuarly be seen by motorists in the lanes each side of the van.
Am now considering putting extra indicators along each side of the van. Has anyone else had this situation.
Hello Everyone,
I have done a search on the location of indicator lights & found Iana's query on the location of van lights.
However, am I the only person who has experienced several close shaves especially on round-a-bouts on bright shiny days? My Patrol has the front indicator lamps on the outer extremities of the car but a lot of new cars (especially European cars) don't seem to have the same rules. Often the indicator is placed (as a last minute thought?) between the inside of the headlight & the grill & due to this location, it is generally quite small. And they are VERY HARD TO SEE!
I thought every car that is sold for Australia should be compliant to the ADRs. Have the rules been watered down to suite the powerful European manufacturers?
Rocky Lizard, you seem to know a lot about rules & regulations - do you have any comments? Or do I voice my distain to the Automobile Associations?
Ron-D said
08:12 AM Nov 2, 2018
Wizardofoz wrote:
The ignorant and arrogant factor overrides the decision of putting on repeater lights imho. I have given up being considerate in overtaking lanes, I used to stay left until the last 100 to 200 metres to allow as many vehicles as possible to pass, after twice being nearly run off into a signpost & fence by the b#stards wanting to get past at all costs and not allowing me to cross, I now put the indicators on at the 500 metre mark and will only allow those vehicles alongside or right on my hammer to pass before I Move across...b#gger em, I say!
Most semis have them these days and I consider them to be a great safety feature.
Unfortunately most van manufacturers build only to the legal requirement to keep costs down.
If I ordered another van and they offered side indicators as an option, I would take that option.
fwdoz said
07:30 PM Nov 2, 2018
Blind Freddie should be able to see them. I travelled back from Merimbula to Melbourne with a 2008 Jayco & every driver saw my indicators, even in multiple lane areas.
Guess this guy was too busy bopping to his doof doof music & buffing his gold chains to notice
Had an interesting situation in town the other day, towing the van in the central lane of a 3 lane road, I needed to move over to the right hand lane to be at the lights and make a right hand turn.
I had my right hand indicator on for quite some time, and when I thought there was enough room, began to slowly move over. Something took my attention away, and then I heard a horn blaring, looking, I had a car now in a very small space where my vehicle was moving over to.
That car was well behind when I began to make the maneuver. We have found that the indicator lights, are very directional and now wonder if the indicator lights can actuarly be seen by motorists in the lanes each side of the van.
Am now considering putting extra indicators along each side of the van. Has anyone else had this situation.
Gday...
I am sure many of us have had the exact same situation Ian.
Adding 'repeater' lights along the van for indicators could be a good resolution.
However, if you sit down at a roadhouse over a good steak and veg and have a chat any number of truckies you will find they too have the same situation occur to them innumerable times ... and they have indicators flashing down the side of their rigs.
Some people are born inconsiderate, some are born arrogant, some are born with a superiority complex and some are just plain stupid.
That clown was either not concentrating/inconsiderate/arrogant or jest plain stupid.
There are no 'repeater' indicators down the side of my van and, despite the infrequent occasions that I have encountered the same clown (perhaps his brother
) I wouldn't bother going to the trouble and/or expense of fitting 'repeater' indicators.
Cheers - John
Must admit I was pretty shaken up, and yes the traffic flow was that which was reasonably heavy and not inclined to give way, however I am wondering if the Jayco indicator lights can be seen by vehicles unless they are directly behind.
Are other van built with extra indicator lights standard?
-- Edited by iana on Wednesday 6th of September 2017 09:43:28 AM
My indicators on the teepee are big plus the clearview mirrors have indicators as well and can be seen for the rear and sides. We can only be as safe as the other driver lets us.
keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Gday...
This is rear of my van ... I am sure this is not very different to other vans ... although I have always liked the biggish style of the rear lights.
Cheers - John
Too many times, people will "fill the gap" even if they have seen indicators, purely for selfish reasons.
Yes, repeater indicators may help, but even then there will be those who for reasons known only to themselves must simply be in front.
I wouldn't stress or worry about it.
It's easy enuff to change out the one each side halfway along. for a red\yellow (pointing back).
then run a separate wire from a splice in loom under van.
Or even run a ring loom for Indicators round the van.
With several each side rivetted to sides,
Below? existing ones.
So new Jayco owners beware.
Haven't gone a put LED globs in your lights have you. Incandescent globes give light out all round and therefore picked up by all the lenses of the lens cover so allowing the light to be seen from the wider angles.
However with LED globes, the light source is very directional and will only be seen from straight on.
I changed mine across and was getting tooted all the time until I realized what the problem was. Went back to incandescent and no more horn blowing.
Now have replaced all lights with complete LED lamps and now even brighter.
Just a thought!!!
Ta
John
The first thing I would do is attach the "give way to turning vehicles" sign, if you had contact with that vehicle you could be in the wrong, if you have the sign attached the onus is back onto to the other driver.
cheers
blaze
My Seabreeze van has indicator repeater lights along sides of van as standard. I assumed all modern Vans were the same, obviously not. They make life a whole lot easier. Very happy with my Seabreeze which incidentally is for sale due to changed circumstances. Cheers.
Now is changing lanes classed as turning, I thought those signs applied to going around corners, but also they are applied to the rear of the vehicle, so again the drivers in each side lane cannot see it.
The ignorant and arrogant factor overrides the decision of putting on repeater lights imho. I have given up being considerate in overtaking lanes, I used to stay left until the last 100 to 200 metres to allow as many vehicles as possible to pass, after twice being nearly run off into a signpost & fence by the b#stards wanting to get past at all costs and not allowing me to cross, I now put the indicators on at the 500 metre mark and will only allow those vehicles alongside or right on my hammer to pass before I Move across...b#gger em, I say!
Not sure, but there may well be a difference between changing lanes and merging lanes?
I had a large truck sitting on my tail in northern Victoria a few years ago - he was much higher & so close that he couldn't see my (large Jayco) indicators & I put them on well before I was going to make my turn. All I got was a foul vocabulary over the CB.
We can only do our bit - those who choose not to see, ignore only make it difficult for all travellers!
And yet I heard recently that a lot of caravan lights are too high - somewhat higher than the "legal 600mm or so"!!
Warren
So if you are coming up to where two lanes merge, i.e. the middle dashed line ends, but you change lanes back a bit and have to cross over the dashed lines, then that is changing lanes, the person in the lane that you are going into has right of way, however if you wait it out, continueing until the middle dashed line ends, then that is merging, and the vehicle in front has right of way, regardless of which lane they leave.
The white paint between the lights. Looks like Rocky has blanked out the number plate prior to attaching the photo to the comment.
Hello Everyone,
I have done a search on the location of indicator lights & found Iana's query on the location of van lights.
However, am I the only person who has experienced several close shaves especially on round-a-bouts on bright shiny days? My Patrol has the front indicator lamps on the outer extremities of the car but a lot of new cars (especially European cars) don't seem to have the same rules. Often the indicator is placed (as a last minute thought?) between the inside of the headlight & the grill & due to this location, it is generally quite small. And they are VERY HARD TO SEE!
I thought every car that is sold for Australia should be compliant to the ADRs. Have the rules been watered down to suite the powerful European manufacturers?
Rocky Lizard, you seem to know a lot about rules & regulations - do you have any comments? Or do I voice my distain to the Automobile Associations?
Yep get in early ...
Apparently not a regulation for vans < 3.5 T
Most semis have them these days and I consider them to be a great safety feature.
Unfortunately most van manufacturers build only to the legal requirement to keep costs down.
If I ordered another van and they offered side indicators as an option, I would take that option.
Blind Freddie should be able to see them. I travelled back from Merimbula to Melbourne with a 2008 Jayco & every driver saw my indicators, even in multiple lane areas.
Guess this guy was too busy bopping to his doof doof music & buffing his gold chains to notice