Hand signals?

[henryk]

I got bored sitting at home. So I went out for a ride. The ride was only about 80 miles, some very nice open roads. On the way back, the sun was starting to go down. I see this guy with his two kids crossing the road on their bicycles. They stop on the left shoulder and the guy seems to be waving me down and pointing to the road ahead of me. I didn’t know what to make of it. But it did make me slowdown in time to see some deer that just crossed the road in front of me.
As I continued my ride silently thanking the guy for the heads up, I see a couple riders going in the opposite direction I was going, and I was thinking how can I warn them of the deer that I just past. Is there a hand signal for this situation? If there is I am unaware of it. I checked online and could not find anything.
Does anyone know of a hand signal that would warn oncoming riders to deer or any animal near the road?

Henry

[jestephens]

I would probably flash my lights/ high-beam a few times to get their attention, then move my left hand in a motion like slapping the table with an open palm. ???

[coacha]

I would do the same...flash my high beams and give them the slow down sign.

[Top Cat]

Same here, flash the lights and give the slow down signal.

[cactusjack]

I'd turn on my cruise control and hold my hands up behind my head, and use my fingers to simulate antlers.



Seriously, flash your lights and/or make the slow down sign with your left hand.

[MarkG]

Instead of the normal wave it was suggested in one article that patting the helmet on top as a heads up attention getter.

[dkdixie]

Instead of the normal wave it was suggested in one article that patting the helmet on top as a heads up attention getter.

I use to do the "patting the helmet," but it seems a lot of riders do not know this signal.
Now just do the palm down others have mentioned.

[billmac]

I think I would frantically switch my high beam lights to warn others.

Dad gum deer. One time, I was in my pickup driving 10mph in a State Park. A deer ran 100 yards to crash into my passenger door. He buried his face into the door glass while his legs tried to climb up the door. There was no logical explanation why the deer did not go in front or behind my vehicle.

I used to think of deer as Bambi, now I say shoot all of them. Those deer are too dumb and a hazard to the safety of the motoring public. In rural Texas, especially the hill country, I try to get my motorcycle off the road when the sun goes down.

[cactusjack]

Instead of the normal wave it was suggested in one article that patting the helmet on top as a heads up attention getter.

That's the signal to warn of the presence of law enforcement.

[blowndodge]

yep!

The dear warning is giving the person the finger while shaking your head from side to side.

This translation means, "No F*cking Way!!". Slow down.... http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[Cajunrider]

I have nearly 16,000 miles on my '07 that I purchased new in April of last year. Out of the 16,000, I'd bet there isn't 100 miles of that ridden at night. Deer, alligators, diving owls, etc are all hazards here.

[cactusjack]

I have nearly 16,000 miles on my '07 that I purchased new in April of last year. Out of the 16,000, I'd bet there isn't 100 miles of that ridden at night. Deer, alligators, diving owls, etc are all hazards here.

I avoid riding at night unless I'm in the city. Then I just have to watch out for the occasional drunken driver, lowriders, or the massive Ford F250 Compensators with the 10" lift and 8 shocks for each wheel.

[macmac]

I do what Cj said, and for a deer I pkace my hands on my helmet after flashing the lights.. For moose I put both hand way up over my head with my fingers spread wide.

If I get caught off guard I use my left hand to make spring like motions.

Last if there is any time I hold my hand low pointing at the ground, making a Object in the road sign and waving for SLOW DOWN.

Seems to work.

[Yellow Jacket]

Check out this link. It's the Motorcycle Safety Foundations tips on group riding. Page two shows the common hand signals.

http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/Group_Ride.pdf

[glwilson]

I would probably flash my lights/ high-beam a few times to get their attention, then move my left hand in a motion like slapping the table with an open palm. ???

Exactly that.

Open handed (palm down) up and down motion out to the left side with a straight arm. Do not go any higher with your arm than shoulder level -- much the same as a left-hand turn hand signal -- and make the motion rather animated as if you are trying to push something downward.

That should get anyone's attention to at least look. For those that know hand signals... they'll understand what you are trying to do.

PS: good info Bob.

[Todd]

I'd turn on my cruise control and hold my hands up behind my head, and use my fingers to simulate antlers.



Seriously, flash your lights and/or make the slow down sign with your left hand.

Don't be silly, that's the water buffalo secret greeting ........

[tazfl]

I'd turn on my cruise control and hold my hands up behind my head, and use my fingers to simulate antlers.



Seriously, flash your lights and/or make the slow down sign with your left hand.

LMAO...good one. I agree with using the "slow down" signal and like others have said the patting the helmet is to warn that the police are ahead. However, I guess it doesn't matter if there isn't any cops or not, the point is to get them to slow down so if it woprks the mission is accomplished.

[duneseven]

Here is a funny story about hand signals My buddy and I rode across the north cascade hiway this weekend, it's a great ride. We approached a rider and my buddy passed him before i made an attempt to pass the rider sped up to our pace so I backed of and followed. My Friend rounded a corner and saw a deer in the ditch ready to cross so he did his best to warn the rider following . The dear was on his right so my friend tried to point across his helmet to wards the ditch to warn the following rider. The deer stayed in the ditch as we all passed. We continued up the Mont. and pulled of for a break and the rider who was between us pulled in also and my buddy asked him if he saw the deer. The fellow replied no ,what deer, my Friend says the one I pointed at. The other rider replies oh I thought you were flipping me off. so watch your signals.

[duneseven]

sorry please replace dear with deer. it was not a wife or girlfreind in the ditch but a wily critter

[Yellow Jacket]

sorry please replace dear with deer. it was not a wife or girlfreind in the ditch but a willy critter

LOL, we've all done it. However, it's easy to fix. When you notice something like this just click on the "modify" button at the top right hand side of your post. That will reopen your original post and let you make corrections.

[duneseven]

thanks bob

[skeeter]

[quote author=cactusjack board=general thread=12052 post=195038 time=1246853320]I'd turn on my cruise control and hold my hands up behind my head, and use my fingers to simulate antlers.[quote]

That's what I do but, I don't have cruise control and they think I'm just another drunk.