Giving drivers the all clear

[Deleted member 1258]

If the driver is just sitting behind me, or I've been using primary and have made people wait I will wave the driver(s) through, if I think its safe to overtake, once I've waved them through the rest is up to them, most people will respond and overtake straight away. I would rather have them past me and gone than have them sitting behind me, and possibly getting impatient.

 

[Matthew_T]

Just in case it goes wrong, 'oh, cyclist waved me through .......'.

To tell people not to overtake. I always point at them and say "Wait" sternly. They do, and then I normally give them a dodgy look as they pass, to tell them that I wasnt very happy with their attempted manouvre.

 

[Tyke]

If I can see a driver is obviously following me to give me room I will wave them through when I can see it is safe for both of us, it is then up to the driver what they do and when they decide to overtake I like to also give them a big thumbs up to show I appreciate them waiting for me, especially on a big winding hill.

 

[coffeejo]

If they've been considerate whilst behind me, then I will wave them past when it's safe. If they're sitting on my arse, then tough. Only good karma has its rewards.

 

[BentMikey]

To tell people not to overtake. I always point at them and say "Wait" sternly. They do, and then I normally give them a dodgy look as they pass, to tell them that I wasnt very happy with their attempted manouvre.

I wonder if it's not better to praise and thank them for listening to our instruction and waiting behind, however grudgingly they do that and however stupid their initial bad judgement in trying to pass?

 

[Bobtoo]

I'll tell other road users what not to do, but what they do do is their decision alone. Generally I'll do it by positioning, I'll hold the lane if I don't want them to overtake and I'll move over when I think it's safe for them to try. As a driver I won't go blind into a situation on the strength of another road user's suggestion.

 

[funnymummy]

I ride in Primary, if I know the road ahead isn't claer, I have a better view than the driver and can hear oncoming traffic from round bends, over hills etc. Then i'll move out maybe an extra inch, hold my right arm out with the palm facing them, to warn them to stay back.
If a car has been 'caught' behind me, once I can see the road ahead is clear & safe, then i'll move in slightly - I'll never wave them past though - That has to be their decsission, I think by moving back in, they would realise they can go & use their own discretion - I will give them a thumbs up or a little wave (depending on speed/road surface) as the do pass me though.

Last week driving to pick up my youngest 2 from school, my eldest who is 18 was with me.
I had 2 riders in front of me. The road isn't wide enough for me to safely overtake without crossing the centre lines on this stretch & there was oncoming traffic, so I held back. About 1/4 mile up the road there is a bridge that goes over the railway lines, both riders huffed n puffed up it, I slowed right down & held back about 5 feet behind the 2nd rider, the lead rider was about 3 feet from the top - But obviouksy had a view of the other side, he began to wave me past. I didn't go.. Why would I? I was a good 10 feet from the crest & had no idea of what was approaching. He waved again, I still ignored him.. The car behind beeped, a glance in my mirror showed me a very angry face - I ignored him too!
By now the 2nd cyclist was near the top, he bagen to wave me too, I'm still not overtaking FFS!
The 2 riders dispapeared over the brow - on reaching the top myslef I saw another cyclist coming up the other side & a LandRover (farmers green type one) flying up the hill overtaking it..It drivers side wheels over the centre line...I didn't have time to recat or pull in a few inches and he clipped my wing mirror.. Yep, kinda glad I didn't pass when the riders waved me on or the angry driver behind was beeping & gesticulating!

My eldest actualy covered his eyes, as the LR came at us... He was still speechless when we arrived at school...and this from a lad who throws himself out of planes for fun!!

 

[Matthew_T]

I ride in Primary, if I know the road ahead isn't claer, I have a better view than the driver and can hear oncoming traffic from round bends, over hills etc. Then i'll move out maybe an extra inch, hold my right arm out with the palm facing them, to warn them to stay back.

The problem with holding out your palm is that some people might think you are wanting to turn. They might not have picked up on the fact that your palm is showing, not the top of your hand.

 

[funnymummy]

The problem with holding out your palm is that some people might think you are wanting to turn. They might not have picked up on the fact that your palm is showing, not the top of your hand.

Possibly, but if I were turning right my arm would straight out from shoulder level, the palm would be facing forward & i'd be pointing right with my index finger.
The signal I mentioned in my post would be more of, arm out at about 45*, palm facing backwards & i'd push my arm slighlty bcakwrads while doing so. These were the signals I was taught 30 odd years ago & i've alawys used them.
Of course if I the driver behind was to think I was siganaling to turn right...then technical they should hold back & not even attempt to overtake me...?

 

[albion]

'Red rag to a bull' comes to mind with the palm signal.

 

[Matthew_T]

'Red rag to a bull' comes to mind with the palm signal.

 

[Thomk]

I can't think of an example where it would be correct to wave a driver on. It unfortunately has the side effect of causing some drivers brains to shut down and stop thinking for themselves. I also can't think of an instance where I have taken notice of another road user waving me on/past without first checking the road carefully for myself. I can bring to mind a couple of instances though where a road user has waved me on only for me to discover on checking that the road ahead was not safe. A related example is when a passanger in your car tells you it's clear on their side and you can go. I always ignore that as well.

Edit - I just remembered that I did recently give a following motorist a wave of the hand and a thumbs up just before reaching a passing point on a single track road which I moved into to let them pass. The idea was to warn them that I considered our relationship nearly at an end rather than a firm indication for them to pass.

 

[gbb]

The only time i'll normally indicate for them to pass is when there's somewhere safe to pull in...and stop if neccessary.
Quiet singletrack roads, IMO there's no point in having a car behind me for a mile, pull into a passing point or entrance to a field at the first opportunity, indicating them past. If the drivers switched on, he'll pass without me needing to stop, if they're slow to react, i'll stop. It's no biggie really. Everyone's happy.

 

[growingvegetables]

If they've been considerate whilst behind me, then I will wave them past when it's safe. If they're sitting on my arse, then tough. Only good karma has its rewards.

+ 1

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

It's very rare that I tell someone not to do (what I consider to be ) a dangerous overtake, in nearly every case simply taking primary acts as a brake. However, despite the potential for misunderstandings, I will wave drivers on, and move closer to the verge or even into a passing place, when it's safe to do so. In the end, the overtake is down to the driver's judgement, so waving someone on really only signals that I'm cooperating and not competing with them for the road, and that I'm prepared to slow or even stop if necessary. It keeps road use social (and in my view, it's social before it turns into disputes about liability) and it often gets an appreciative signal of acknowledgement.