High Country Harley-Davidson® H.O.G. Chapter #422 - Using Hand Signals
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In motorcycling, hand signals are extremely important, not only when riding in groups of motorcycles, but also when riding in traffic with cars. It is always a good idea to give the automobile driver a little more visibility about your intensions. When riding in a group, the person behind you likely does not know what's going on ahead of you. The courteous rider will relay signals back through the pack. |
| START ENGINES | ![]() |
With your right or left arm extended, move your index finger in a circular motion. |
| LEFT TURN | ![]() |
Raise your left arm horizontal with your elbow fully extended. |
| RIGHT TURN | ![]() |
Raise your left arm horizontal with your elbow bent 90 degrees vertically. |
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HAZARD LEFT. |
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Extend your left arm at |
| HAZARD RIGHT A | ![]() |
Extend your right arm at a 45 degree angle and point towards the hazard. |
| HAZARD RIGHT B | ![]() |
Extend your left arm upward at a 45 degree angle with your elbow bent to 90 degrees and point towards the hazard over your helmet. |
| SPEED UP | ![]() |
Raise your left arm up and down with your index finger extended upward. This indicates the leader wants to speed up. |
| SLOW DOWN | ![]() |
Extend your left arm at a 45 degree angle and move your hand up and down. |
| STOP | ![]() |
Extend your left arm at a 45 degree angle with the palm of your hand facing rearward. |
| SINGLE FILE | ![]() |
Position your left hand over |
| STAGGERED or SIDE-BY-SIDE FORMATION - |
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Extend your left arm upward at a 45 degree angle with your index and pinkie finger extended. This indicate that it is safe to return to staggered formation. |
| TIGHTEN UP | ![]() |
Raise your left arm and repeatedly move up and down in a pulling motion. This indicates the leader wants the group to close ranks. |
| PISSED OFF | ![]() |
Extend your left arm straight out with your elbow bent 90 degrees. Carefully extend your middle finger to clearly demonstrate your dissatisfaction with the other guy. NOTE: It is not recommended you do this when you are alone. |
Special thanks to graphics from: http://www.a3hog.com/
Ann Arbor Hog Chapter, HOG Chapter 2171, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Whether
riding in a group or riding alone, hand signals are critically
important to your overall safety. Motorcycle safety using hand
signaling lets the other people (mostly cars) around you know
what you are doing. Turn and brake lights are small, and often
not familiar to automobile drivers. Hand signals greatly increase
your visibility and over safety. Hand signals are really important
when riding in groups, because of the limited visibility of the
riders behind you, but equally important when sharing the highways
with cell-phone talking, or equally distracted drivers that likely
don't even know that you are on the same road with them.













