Trouble seeing car indicators

Totally agree with the OP's comments - some manufacturers seem to delight in making the indicators obscure, in the belief that they only need to be seen from ahead and slightly to the left, and can be almost anywhere on the car.

As for the rear ones - they aren't so hot either, those hgh-up and at an angle are particularly bad in sunlight (e.g. Ford Focus)

Oh for the days when there was a big orange lamp on each corner, so you knew what bit to look at!

Yep, agree. Inboard indicators are not doing anyone any favours, especially during daylight hours with 'always on' lights drowning them out.

Yes. Generally those designed with indicators close to, or in the middle of, a cluster with brake lights. The red appears brighter and it's very hard to see the indicator.

I think manufacturers are aware of the issue because I've seen newer cars (Volvo particularly) which switch off the eyeball-searing white led DRLs when the indicators are used.

Since DRLs were mandated they've become a design feature, enabled in part by innovation in LED lighting. I recall a lot of resistance from both designers and drivers when DRLs started appearing - people getting fed up with being flashed by other drivers for having their lights on etc. Now they're an important part of the "face" of the car which has an influence on how a prospective owner percieves your vehicle.

Undoubtedly the case that designers have historically done all they can do to avoid having a bit of orange glass on the front of their cars - hence the period where they went with clear lenses and orange-coated incandescent bulbs. Same goes for the side indicators which ended up being moved to the wing mirrors.

I agree though - there's a category of cars which have really poor indicator visibility. I had considered whether it was due to viewing angle (a cyclist eye-level being higher than that of a car driver) but I've certainly had similar issues seeing indicators whilst driving.

I noticed this more a few years ago, there were some Mercedes models that were particularly bad  and had them in the same big round cluster as the headlights so they just didn't stand out at all.

IMO newer cars are a bit better designed in this regard. I was behind an Audi this morning with LED indictaors that are sort of 'dynamic' and lit up in sequence in the direction of turn - I though they were pretty good. 

As above though the design of indictors is a much smaller problem than the ability or willingness of drivers to use them, even though they literally have to only lift a finger to do it.

As the saying goes, 'If you ever feel depressed about your job just remember that out there whose job is to fit indicators to BMWs'

Indicators are useful but observing road position and the way a vehicle is moving should be more of a clue to intent.

Whatever happens in front of you shouldn't be coming as a surprise.

Totally agree with you: form over function, I think. The car manufacturers design something that looks excitingly cool and modern, and forget that the lights in particular are supposed to be serving a purpose. My favourites are the ones where the indicator bulb is actually in the middle of the other lights.

This is assuming the driver actually uses them.