The lost art of hand signals

Remember when turn signals were not an option? You had to stick your arm out the window to let people know that you were getting ready to turn. When I was in drivers ed they still taught hand signals.
Now I have a vehicle that did not come with signals...and I intend to keep it that way! Now here is where a question of use comes in, going to drive in traffic a lot? night driving? live in a town full of morons? Maybe you better add turn signals...Now for me, It will be a weekend cruiser and almost zero night driving. so I will be using hand signals, below is a refresher for the people who knew about it and a bit of knowledge for the youngsters
Stop signal

Right turn signal

Left turn signal

Or when all else fails get yourself an Orangutan...

 

Update your insurance and go for it!

 

No tail lights or no brake lights is just asking for it.

 

I agree on a lost art, hardly ever see hand signals anymore. I've seen guys on motorcycles point down toward the ground with the arm on the side they're going to, such as changing lanes. I wonder where they learned that from?

As to you using hand signals all the time, make sure your brake lights are working and bright! Most folks nowadays don't see any farther ahead than the tail lights on the car ahead of them.....

 

You have seen this thread haven't you?

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=679524&highlight=bump

 

Saw an elderly gentleman in an old VW using hand signals the other day...sad to say I may have been the only guy that knew it...

 

Ya, you better like doing body work,and waiting for wreckers, cause no one under the age of 40 is going to know what the hell you're doing, even IF they see you.

 

I use hand signals when riding my Royal Enfield. No blinkers on it. I use the laymans signal ,point right, point left. Hopefully they understand what i'm doing after a lot of head checks. I don't think most people understand the real hand signals.

 

I use hand signals on my moped but that thing is for a different forum....

 

Some people still use them today





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I gave up hand signals when some cellphone yakking latte drinkin' SUV drivin' moron overtook on the wrong (left) side of the road in a no passing zone when I was in the left turn lane with my left arm extended ready to turn. Fucker nearly took my left arm off. That was it - no more hand signals for me except the last one I gave him....

 

I still use them from time to time when I drive with the windows down. I think that I am one of the few people in Seattle using turn signals!

 

might want to ask the fuzzy guy in the pickup to give ya a nice face palm instead of the finger.. seriously do you have lots of money to replace your ride?
I ridden motorcycles for years.. loud.. shiney..bright motorcycles.. I was always one of those loud pipes save lifes, and loud colors help just as much, catch your ear and catch your eye. I had a 1968 xlch harley sportster, with a magneto and no battery, no turnsignals.Had head light and taillight only..just like from factory.. I used the hand signals everytime on that bike.. and the one thing I can honestly tell you.. people do not look at what your doing..they notice lights because they come on and catch thier attention. Example: I was riding down a highway that had two lanes both ways. I was in the left lane and some kid was up my ass in his car so I put my hand up to signal Im going to get in the right lane. I go to the right just as he floors it and tries to pass me on the right. Needless to say he nearly took me out and I was pissed. When I caught up to him at the next light I asked him wtf you doing..didnt you see me signal.. he said no ,I saw you wave but that was it..its not my fault you didnt put your blinker on! Thats just one example. Ive had close calls hundreds of times and each time Ive used hand signals, I was lucky.. I know others who werent.Ive been in cars that only had brake lights ..and even though it was clear and sunny.. people still run you off the road.. I agree, hand signals are pretty much forgetten unless your brushing up on a test, but your not teaching and showing kids a thing or two. As much as I hate to say it, no one thinks about it,no one pays attention to it,and most of todays driver will say.."hmm I wonder who that guy was waving at" right before they take out your quarter panel. 20 or 30 years ago it was different on the road, now people are on the phone,texting, talking,playing with the radio or ipods and going 80 mph. Do you really want to trust those people with something you have so much time and money in, to let it process in thier already distracted heads what your doing with your hand in the air? Im not trying to be a dick here, but you can be the greatest driver and hand signaler in the world, doesnt mean anything if the guy or girl right behind you is texting thier buddy while only keeping one eye on the road if at all..

 

X2, and the lights need to be where the "normal" people are looking for lights. If you put front or rear signals in an unusual place, they WON'T see them in daylight. I drove a car as a daily for 4 years with those flip-up semaphore signals and nobody looks at your upper B pillar for lights!

I had so many close calls when stopped, and got so many honking horns and middle fingers, that I plastered both ends with lights. You can say "F'em" instead, but it gets old....or gets stressful after a while.

 

Still use hand signals on both my chops, niether have signals. I try and make eye contact with other drivers if possible. A lot of my buddies with newer bikes use both hand and light signals to make sure others see the bike.

 

I have to write my az drivers license every 5 years and they still have the hand signals on the test...usually when someone is using hand signals they are having electrical issues..

 

I use hand signals for oncoming traffic since I have only rear indicators, I have had people actually wave at me thinking I am waving at them!

 

....only hand signal you need to know is done with the middle finger..."NO" misunderstanding of what it means when given also

 

That's appropriate, too bad tat more of those morons don't read the HAMB.

The Missouri Driver's Manual doesn't even list hand signals any more.

When I was still traveling aroubnd on my bike the lady of one of my friends made me a little elastic thingy with sone little reflectors on it to put on my hand. Only problem was that I seldom remembered to put it on.

 

When i took my drivers test in SC, 1958, you were required to drive a full size, straight drive car and use hand signals for the test. Even tho by this time most cars had turn signals. Have a 54 Ford Courier, it came with no turn signals, and no heater/defrost. The vent is a fresh air pipe from the front to the driver compartment with a cable operated valve. My how times and drivers have changed.

 

I have had people actually wave at me thinking I am waving at them![/QUOTE]

Happens all the time !

 

Hand signals are OK if you live in a small town where the driver behind you has known you all of your life and knows where you are going to turn anyway.

 

I believe he said he didn't have turn signal, not brake or tail lights.

 

Good old Clyde!

The motorcycle thing BamaMav mentioned is more of a greeting than anything.

 

I've been trying to find one of these old turn signal arms for my old 41 Chevy truck. This is the remnants of what I found. Seems all these old trucks were converted to electric light turn signals as a safety feature after WWll.

 

Just yesterday I saw someone use hand signals to indicate a lane change in heavy traffic. My first thought was wow, when was the last time I saw anyone use hand signals? My second thought was I was probably the only one that knew what the guy was doing.

 

The most important class I ever took in high school was Drivers Ed...

 

I'll use hand signals in my OT car on the way to the parts store when the bulbs burn out, but seeing as it's an 01, people just think I'm nuts.

 

Most driver's didn't no squat about hand signals 50 years ago........Just less cars driving more slowly.

 

I used hand signals before converting it over to a devoted drag car. I had no problems because it was loud as hell and not to many hot T coupes on the road so I already had their attention.