Waving cars past

[mr_cellophane]

I am sure there isn't a recognised HC signal, but if you are on a clear narrow country road, how do you let cars behind you know that you have acknowledged them and that it is safe for them to overtake you.

 

[Jaded]

A sweeping movement of straight arm, from back to front, not more than 45 degrees from vertical.

That's what I do anyway!

Or, if there are passing places, I point to the one I am going into, and 'indicate' towards it.

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Sweeping arm should do it – or a thumbs up. Give the driver an obvious look around/shoulder check and then beckon them on – I’d also wave thanks to them as they pass for waiting as well!


In similar situations, when I’m driving a car with motorbikes behind I usually just give a thumbs up out of the window to let them know that I’ve seen them. I usually get a hand or foot out in recognition as they pass.

Its all about letting other road users knowing that you have seen them and are aware that they are going to overtake.

 

[srw]

Tuck into the side of the road, slow down, look round and let them make the decision about whether it's safe to overtake. It's not your responsibility to make a driver's mind up.

 

[Perry]

Could be dodgy ground

If you wave him/her on you are saying it's safe to do so, if anything were to go wrong you may have some explaining to do.

It's the same if you were driving and had stopped then waved to a pedestrian to cross, if they get hit you are responsible.

It's a nice gesture to wave on a driver as it keeps things sweet between us and them.

 

[John Ponting]

Always been a contentious area. There are only 3 Arm Signals in Highway Code marked as for use by cyclists - left, right, slow down.

The signal that Jaded uses was a regular on the roads and I still use it. It means only that I am happy to be overtaken at that point. It does not imply anything else. It is still the duty of the overtaker to ensure that it is safe to do so. I also give a thumbs up if they pass me nicely.

All helps to make using the roads a bit more friendly.

 

[piedwagtail91]

Tuck into the side of the road, slow down, look round and let them make the decision about whether it's safe to overtake. It's not your responsibility to make a driver's mind up.

i'd second that, you don't know the drivers capabilities or driving style, if anything goes wrong after you've waved them through you could be stuffed either legally or physically if they pull in on you..
i usually just look over my shoulder so that they know i'm aware of them, the rest is up to them

 

[wafflycat]

Yup. On the narrow lanes round my neck of the woods, courtesy between road users is essential - and for the most part, that's what goes on. If I'm cycling on a narrow bit and I'm being slow, I'll happily pull into a safe place to stop to allow the larger vehicle past me. Usually this is met with a thank you wave, or 'thumbs up'

I've also had drivers pull over to give me priority and yes, when I'm on the bike (but it's more frequent when I'm on the 'bent). And I will always give a verbal 'thank you' or signal a 'thank you' whenever I can.

Yes, there are idiots on the roads, but they are far outweighed by courtesy.

 

[Bollo]

Tuck into the side of the road, slow down, look round and let them make the decision about whether it's safe to overtake. It's not your responsibility to make a driver's mind up.

+3.14159

A good good chunk of my cycling is done on single lane country roads and this is the tactic that works best for me BUT only when I deem it safe FOR ME. Otherwise I'll sit in primary to make a clear statement that I don't want to be passed. I try to be considerate but not deferential. I think the hand signals just confuse drivers and the body (bike?) language seems to work better.

I also thought that the wave past had been tested in the courts, where someone had waved a driver on who then hit oncoming traffic. I think it was decided that it was still the driver's fault as the overtaker is always responsible for the safety of the manoeuvre, despite indications from other road-users. But I can't find any links and I'm busy, so this could just be thought cheese.

 

[Tynan]

when I did my driving lessons I was taught that you wee always responsible, other road users flashing light etc etc for you to do anything was no mitigation whatsoever if you cocked up

 

[Twiggy]

I stop peddling, and move in to the side, or if it's safe to do so, off the roadway.

There are roadworks going on on one of my routes, and while cars can pass in the lane, bigger things usually can't do so safely.

If they hang back I'll usually wait till there's a gap in traffic as long as they are, then slide into the side. For which I normally get a friendly wave and smile.

You don't really need to make any signals other than that.

 

[need2]

I try to stay as close to the verge but making sure I am not in danger of going over any ruts on the side of road & that there is nothing sticking out of the hegde 2 cause me any injury .when I think its safe I look back at the driver and let them know I know their there and let them make the decision to pass or not.
As posted earlier if you wave them passed and something happens you have a truck load of explaining to do

 

[bonj2]

no, don't EVER do it.
It's THEIR responsibility to decide when to overtake, IF to overtake. It's not your responsibility to BE overtaken.
You don't know how much room they need.
That's the moral position. Legally, though, HOWEVER, if you did do it and an accident happened, I personally still think you'd have a good chance of it still being their fault because it is still their responsibility to make sure it's safe and not to rely on your hand gesture, besides, your hand gesture could easily have been meant to mean something else etc, time difference between hand gesture and manoevre, etc.

 

[Jaded]

no, don't EVER do it.
It's THEIR responsibility to decide when to overtake, IF to overtake. It's not your responsibility to BE overtaken.
You don't know how much room they need.

I'm a driver too. I take the decision to wave someone through based on what I can see, the speed I'm travelling at, the nature of the vehicle behind me. etc.

I'd rather wave someone through at an opportunity than have them follow me for a lot longer than necessary. That'll be when they try to squeeze past having got fed up with the ignorant prat ahead who has no idea of what is going on around him...

 

[02GF74]

when I did my driving lessons I was taught that you were always responsible, other road users flashing light etc etc for you to do anything was no mitigation whatsoever if you cocked up

how long ago did you take driving lessons?

Years ago that mya have been the case but there have been many cases where common sense no longer prevails.

When I was in Brazil I pointed out a missing man hole cover to one of the locals and told him in UK you could get compensation if you had an accident with that - he just laughed and said you should look where you were going.