ATA sounds alarm on misuse of indicators as overtaking signa

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) is urging motorists not to rely on a truck’s flashing right indicator as a signal that it’s safe to overtake – and asking truck drivers to stop using their indicator lights like this, because of the potential for confusion.

ATA Chair Mark Parry has spoken about the dangers in a series of radio interviews this week.

“There have been incidents where motorists have assumed that a blinking right hand turn signal on a truck meant that it was safe to overtake, only to find that the truck driver was pulling out to go around an obstacle or was about to turn,” Parry said.

“In addition to being dangerously ambiguous, using your turn lights to show that it’s safe to overtake is illegal.

“Under the road rules, you should only use your direction indicators when you’re required or as part of the vehicle’s hazard warning lights,” he said.

Parry added that motorists should only overtake trucks if they had a clear view of any approaching traffic and could see it was safe.