Arm signals

[TonyEnjoyD]

Went on a cycle instructor training course a couple of weekends ago and discovered that the slowing-down signal (which I always used to use, right arm slowly flapping up and down) is no longer correct. You should just signal left, perhaps pointing towards the pavement, apparently.

Had a good chuckle to myself at that - I remember it myself but drivers would just think I was trying to take off

 

[BentMikey]

[quote name='swee'pea99']How lame was that signal, eh?[/quote]

I'm not sure that's incorrect, just that very few people know what it means. Because of this I use a hand up in a Mr. Plod stop when stopping for red lights or pedestrian crossings.

 

[maxcherry]

These are some i use

 

[janm399]

I do the usual turn signals pretty much all the time. When I approach a pinch point, I put my right hand down, palm towards the cars behind me and then point at the pinch point. So far, all drivers got the message and didn't try to squeeze past. I make the point of giving thumbs up after I've cleared the pinch point and obviously moving from primary to secondary. In most cases, the cars that follow me perform textbook overtakes.

 

[PBancroft]

I always signal, except for slowing down (because I frankly don't think that most motorists would know what it means - and I'm usually going slow anyway because I'm that much of a pleb).

I will signal when I'm slowing down if I am directly in front of a car for some reason - doesn't happen very often. Last time was when I took the lane to prevent a dangerous overtake, and there was a queue ahead, so I warned the driver approaching from behind to slow.

He did, too.

 

[Willow]

Mostly big and clear signals though to some extent that's because often I am cycling with children and or around their or my school and feel I should set the right example. Also when commuting there are stretches of road where because of traffic I ride down right hand side of lane past cars if I am turning right and I like drivers to know why I'm doing it.

 

[hackbike 6]

Went on a cycle instructor training course a couple of weekends ago and discovered that the slowing-down signal (which I always used to use, right arm slowly flapping up and down) is no longer correct. You should just signal left, perhaps pointing towards the pavement, apparently.

Wow,been doing that for years for pulling in although without the pointing.Did actually know slow down,learnt it in 1977 on the cycling proficiency course.

 

[J4CKO]

Left Right and you are an enthusiastic Onanist are my favourites.

 

[dondare]

I've been using the slowing down signal, though I doubt if one motorist in a hundred will recognise it.

 

[the reluctant cyclist]

I always use the left and right arm signals. I also tend to quite vigorously point the way I am going to.

If I am just going to have to pull out around a parked car etc I tend to signal right, not as vigorously and without the point!

I also use the palm extended behind me to attempt to stop people doing really stupid overtakes and I too have found this works.

Apart from the obvious one finger salute the only other one I do is sometimes I signal to a car coming out of a side road with my palm to say "wait" and I have found that that always works too.

I find it useful to indicate again with my arm if I am going right and I have been waiting in a queue for a while too - sometimes the cars behind you didn't see you approach that junction and it is nice to let them know that you are in the middle of the road for a reason (you know, other than just to get on their nerves!!).

 

[Moose]

Went on a cycle instructor training course a couple of weekends ago and discovered that the slowing-down signal (which I always used to use, right arm slowly flapping up and down) is no longer correct. You should just signal left, perhaps pointing towards the pavement, apparently.

Hmm - that contradicts what the highway code says doesn't it

 

[wafflycat]

Went on a cycle instructor training course a couple of weekends ago and discovered that the slowing-down signal (which I always used to use, right arm slowly flapping up and down) is no longer correct. You should just signal left, perhaps pointing towards the pavement, apparently.

Where did the instructor get that one from? Not having a dig in any way, I'm just curious. If you go to the HC, rule 67, under that is a link to 'Signals to other road users' On that the arm signal for slowing down is still right arm moving up and down and it says in bold letters it's for pedal cyclists. And it's also this signal used in Cyclecraft, which forms the basis of the Bikeability cycle training (national standards).

 

[CopperBrompton]

Went on a cycle instructor training course a couple of weekends ago and discovered that the slowing-down signal (which I always used to use, right arm slowly flapping up and down) is no longer correct. You should just signal left, perhaps pointing towards the pavement, apparently.

I'll continue to use the up/down right-arm signal as it alerts drivers that something is happening but doesn't encourage them to overtake.

Ben