Riding a bicycle in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, or anywhere else in the United States can be a thrilling combination of great exercise and an effective way to circumvent traffic. Even so, riding a bicycle is not always safe. Unlike a car or truck, bicyclists are not protected by a steel frame, airbags, seat belts, or other standard safety technologies. This makes riding responsibly more critical than ever. We will explore the steps to protect yourself in this comprehensive guide to bicycle hand signals. While the chance of you getting into a bicycle accident is often out of your control, hand signals can mitigate your risk. Unlike motor vehicles, most bicycles do not have tail lights or blinkers signifying your intentions. Moreover, most bicyclists can turn on a dime, making anticipating your next move challenging for a driver.
Our goal with hand signals is to remove other drivers’ guesswork. If they do not wonder what you are doing, they can better anticipate when you suddenly slow down or make a turn. While this does not eliminate the threat of being rear-ended, it improves your odds of getting home safely. Our goal is to arm you with methods of enhancing your safety because we know how devastating the consequences of a bicycle accident can be. This comprehensive guide to bicycle hand signals will teach you all you need to know to protect yourself and arm your loved ones with vital safety mechanisms.
While there are times when there is nothing you can do to protect yourself against a negligent driver, you are willing to do whatever it takes to protect yourself, as we are willing to help you get the compensation you deserve should you ever be in an accident.
The Most Common Bicycle Hand Signals
While there are more hand signals beyond just the three we outline here, these are three essential signals you must know to mitigate your risk while riding a bike. This part of our comprehensive guide to bicycle hand signals will show you how to properly signal that you are turning left, right, or stopping.
Left Turn Signal
The left turn signal indicates to other drivers on the road that you are turning left. You do this by extending your left arm straight out and to the side. It is perhaps the most intuitive hand signal we will cover in this comprehensive guide to bicycle hand signals. Contrast this with the right turn signal, which can be shown by still using the left arm, which may confuse some drivers who do not fully understand bicycle hand signals. Meanwhile, the left turn signal for a bicyclist utilizes the corresponding arm and essentially points to where you are ultimately heading. This is as clear and predictive as a hand signal can be and can indicate your intentions to drivers even if they do not understand hand signals.
So, how do you correctly signal your intentions to other drivers? This hand signal is useful if you are turning left or making a lane change to your left. Always be sure to use this hand signal at least three seconds before you plan to turn left. If you are at a red light, you do not have to keep your hand up the entire time you sit at the light. Rather, you should signal as the light turns green and through your turn. This way, especially if you are in a lane that goes straight and left, drivers will understand your intentions.
Right Turn Signal
There are two ways to effectuate a right turn signal as a bicyclist. While the image above displays a bicyclist correctly displaying a right turn signal, a right turn signal can also be communicated by placing your left arm up and bending it at a 90-degree angle. While either suffices, we believe the method displayed above is better because it is more intuitive. Intuition is vital in bicycle hand signals because not all drivers will understand what you are signaling otherwise. Thus, if you extend your arm out and to the right, drivers should know that you are turning right. However, the alternative described above is also acceptable for signaling to drivers that you are turning right. Like the left turn, you should signal the movement at least three seconds before you make the turn.
Stop Signal
To signal to drivers that you are slowing down or stopping, you should extend your left arm and bend it at the elbow, hand pointing downward. Unfortunately, this is less emphatic than brake lights on a car or truck. However, it is fairly easy to understand. Moreover, if you make a stop sign with your hand pointing your arm down, drivers are more likely to understand that you are stopping. At the least, your arm movement will catch their eye, though still not as effectively as a bright red brake light. Thus, we recommend purchasing a brake light and attaching it to your bicycle for optimal safety.
Additional Hand Signals for Bicyclists
Many drivers understand the hand signals we discussed above. If they do not, hopefully, they will discover this comprehensive guide to bicycle hand signals, as doing so will lead to more protection for bicyclists. The additional hand signals we cover in this section are more intuitive. Accordingly, drivers do not need to learn these signals to understand what they mean. Therefore, they are arguably more useful in protecting yourself as a biker.
Slowing Down Signal
The slowing down signal is an additional gesture, often indicated by extending the left arm out and moving it up and down. This also relies more on intuition. Oftentimes, the average driver will not understand all hand gestures beyond the three core signals we outlined above. However, moving your arm up and down can catch the driver’s attention. This is akin to how new brake lights flash twice before switching to a static bright red brake light. Anything that grabs the attention of a distracted driver and makes them aware of your presence should ultimately mitigate any risk of harm a biker faces on the road.
Hazard Alert Signal
Cyclists can use their hands to point toward hazards like potholes, gravel, or other obstacles in the road. This also relies on intuition. If a bicyclist points to a hazard that a trucker with high clearance cannot see, it can protect the trucker from running something over that can pop a tire.
Waving to Signal Others
Waving can be an informal signal to allow another cyclist or car to pass.
Tips for Making Bicycle Hand Signals Clear and Visible
- Use reflective or bright clothing. This makes everything you do clearer for drivers.
- Signal early and clearly. We recommend at least three seconds before you perform a turn. Other experts suggest at least 100 feet before a turn.
- Hold your signal long enough. If you want to appear smooth and only briefly hold up your signal, drivers may have insufficient time to see and understand it. Thus, we recommend holding your signal for at least a few seconds.
- Use both visual and auditory cues. It does not hurt to yell “stopping” or “turning.” While the driver behind you or ahead of you may not hear you, there is a chance that they or someone else, like a pedestrian, will steer clear. If you do this, be sure to sound confident.
- Stay aware of surrounding traffic. Before signaling, check your surroundings to ensure no obstacles or nearby vehicles could trip you while signaling.
Speak to an Attorney
Our bicycle accident lawyers have practiced personal injury law for over 70 years. Call our office today for a free consultation and case evaluation at (202) 331-7227.
