An indicator of our time

An indicator of our time

Mysterious disappearance of indicators

In the vast and sometimes mystifying world of driving, there exists a peculiar phenomenon that has baffled me for years: the mysterious disappearance of indicators. Yes, those little flashing lights that are supposed to signal our intentions to turn left or right seem to have become an endangered species on the roads.

A lot of us will have read about the seriousness of the loss of the bee population throughout the world and in Spain and the efforts to repopulate these arthropods. Perhaps we are also aware of the drop in House and Eurasian Sparrow numbers as well as the threat of global warming.

Not to belittle these far more important concerns but has anyone noticed the downturn in the number of times a car indicator is used?

A indicator of our time

Indicator use increasing isolated to ITV centres

Picture this: you’re cruising down the motorway, minding your own business, when suddenly a car in front of you makes a sudden, unexpected manoeuvre. No signal, no warning—just a sudden veer into your lane, leaving you scrambling for the brakes and muttering expletives under your breath. Sound familiar? Of course, it does! It’s a scene straight out of every driver’s routine trips out with their vehicles.

Now some people are still able to locate the indicator stick amongst the knobs and buttons for cruise control and changing tracks on their latest Spotify playlist but they do seem to be a vanishing group. Their number is slipping down the barometer of life and appears to be heading towards the red list.

Think about it: How many times do you see someone use their indicators properly? If you do catch a glimpse of that elusive blinking light, chances are it’s been left on after a visit to the ITV centre, serving as a constant reminder of our collective failure to communicate effectively on the road.

Perhaps I am being too hard on these motorists? After all, navigating the complexities of modern driving can be a daunting task. Between dodging electric scooters, and mopeds passing each side of you as you look to pull out into traffic, avoiding people double parked when there is a parking space just 20m down the road, and trying to decipher the cryptic language of roundabouts, remembering to use your indicators might just be one step too far for some.

Reward the use of an inidcator with a smile

An indicator of our time

As we wrap up our journey through the perplexing world of disappearing indicators, one thing becomes abundantly clear: we’re witnessing a decline in blinker etiquette that rivals the plight of endangered species. While conservation efforts rightly focus on fauna and climate change, perhaps it’s time we extend our sympathy to the humble turn signal.

So, the next time you find yourself behind the wheel, remember the plight of the indicator—lost in the wilderness of modern driving. And if you do happen to spot one in the wild, blinking merrily away, give it a little smile of appreciation. After all, in this jungle of traffic, every blink counts.

Driving is Sharing

The DGT have launched a new road traffic campaign. It is called “Driving is sharing”.

Driving isn’t a solo act, folks! Many think they’re the lone rangers of the road, cruising through life with their steering skills as their shield against all perils. But let’s face it: road safety is a team sport!

That’s the gist behind the new awareness campaign that hit the airwaves recently, courtesy of the Traffic Department. With the catchy slogan “Over 40 million daily trips, yet some still think they’re driving solo,” they’re serving up a dose of reality. Through everyday scenarios, they’re showing drivers as both the problem and the solution.

In a friendly jab, they’re remixing Celine Dion’s classic “All By Myself” to showcase various drivers belting out tunes behind the wheel, thinking they own the road. But cue the reality check: the traffic jungle ain’t no solo gig, folks! Watch as their driving dreams collide with other cars, pedestrians, scooter riders, and whatnot.

The campaign, hitting screens and airwaves until April 12th, features TV spots ranging from 45 to 20 seconds, set to invade televisions, cinemas, and social media feeds. They’ve cooked up radio jingles, outdoor billboards, and print ads, along with bite-sized social media content, to drive the message home. So buckle up, amigos, and remember, it’s a highway, not your personal driveway!

Additionally, they’ve whipped up a webpage where users can play around with the campaign’s central concept, “you’re not alone,” through a video featuring a dual perspective. On one hand, you’ll experience the subjective view of the driver, complete with the campaign’s music. On the flip side, by hitting pause on the music, you’ll get a glimpse of the journey from the perspective of the other players: pedestrians, other cars, scooter riders, you name it. It’s like seeing the road through two sets of eyes, offering a quirky twist on the driving experience. So hop online and take a spin—it’s a wild ride!