Puzzle Description:

Signaling a right turn to the driver behind you, if turn signals are not working, or while riding a bike.

#1: Bill Eisenmann (Bullet) on May 19, 2023

I wonder how many of the new generation of drivers / riders even know this ...

Not many people use their working turn signals, let alone this.

Works on bicycle, too... Rather, to Bill's point, doesn't work, since few drivers actually know what you're doing, waving at them all funny-like.
Gotta stick to General Aviation rules nowadays -- "see and be seen" / "see and avoid".

For biking, it's acceptable to do either this motion or pointing to the right with you right hand. The latter works because the right hand can be seen while biking, as opposed to someone in a car--you can't see their right hand.

Also, like Yonah said, drivers nowadays don't recognize the upraised left arm as a signal to turn right, so you might as well just point with the right arm while on a bike.

What a chore that was. In colder weather you would furiously hand crank the window down, stick your arm out the window to make the desired signal, then furiously hand crank the window back up again.

Nice puzzle.

Thanks for your comments. I agree Jota, it would be nice if people used any signaling at all. I also learned that the stop signal was similar (forearm at right angle to the upper arm), but pointing down. Pointing with the right arm makes sense on a bike. I would love to commute by bike, but I'm too afraid of people texting while driving.

I once saw an old man who signaled to turn right by sticking his hand out the window, made a fist and used his thumb to point over the car roof. I thought that was brilliant. So much better than using the whole hand that looks like you are waving.

Goto next topic

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