HAND SIGNALS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Whether riding alone or when riding in a group, it is often times necessary to be able to communicate with other riders as to road conditions ahead, rider needs, your intentions, and the intentions of other riders ahead. Hand signals make this communication possible. Here are just some of the more common hand signals which you may see when riding. It is important that you know and remember what these hand signals mean.

 STOPPING

To indicate that you are going to stop you should extend your left are out and down from your body with the palm of your hand facing backwards.

SLOWING DOWN

To motion to others that you and they need to slow down, hold you left arm straight out from you with the palm facing down and raise and lower your arm several times in a fanning motion.

SPEEDING UP

To motion for those behind you to increase their speed, you should extend your arm straight out from your side with the palm facing upward and move your arm from a back to forward motion.

TAKE THE LEAD or PASS

To have riders behind you take the lead position or move in front of you, hold your arm at about a 45 degree angle down from your side with the palm of your hand facing forward and your index finger pointing up. Swing your arm in a back to forward motion.

HEADING OUT or FOLLOW

To signal others to gather behind and be prepared to follow you, hold your arm up with the palm facing forward.

PULLING OFF

If it becomes necessary for you to pull out of the group or to indicate to others that you are pulling over for some reason, position your left arm straight out to your side with your index pointing out and swing your arm from a left to right direction, as if pointing toward the direction you are taking.

ROAD HAZARDS

Use these signals to indicate to others that there is some type of road hazard, such as a pothole, dead animal, oily or sandy spot, or other problem road condition. With your left arm and index finger, point towards the area in the lane where the object or problem is if it is on your left side. If the object is on the right side of your lane, use your right leg and foot to point towards the object. Keep up your speed by not pointing with your right hand as this causes you to have to release the throttle and thus causes you to slow down.

SINGLE FILE RIDE

It may become necessary to have to move into a single file riding position to avoid road hazards such as very narrow bridges or road construction. To alert others to this, hold your left arm up above your head with your index finger pointing upward.

DOUBLE UP RIDING

To return to the usual staggered two-by-two riding formation following a single file ride motion, hold your left arm above your head but with your index and middle fingers pointing upward.

NEED TO STOP FOR GAS or FOOD

Because of the similarity of these hand signals we shall combine them. To motion for the need to fuel up, extend your left arm out to the side and point with your index finger at your gas tank. For a food break, move your closed fist with your thumb pointing outward to your mouth.

Cottage Grove, Oregon STAR Chapter 339 is sponsored by Cottage Grove Yamaha

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