Most of the signs below have been taken from "Motorcycle Sign Language" by Blane Kemp, University Editions, Inc., 59 Oak Lane, Spring Valley, Huntington, West Virginia 25704. The following signs are used with our chapter when group riding:
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.
HAZARD LEFT
Extend your left
arm at
a 45 degree angle and
point towards the
hazard.
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
your
helmet with your fingers
extended upward. This
indicates
the leader wants the group in a
single file
formation. Usually this
is done for safety
reasons.
STAGGERED FORMATION
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.
- U-TURN, TURN AROUND
- Trace a U in the air with the hand in a pointing position aiming up. At the end of the U rescind the pointer. The thumb then comes out aiming behind you.
- YES, OK, IN AGREEMENT
- The thumb is up with the arm extended toward the subject or up and down nodding of the head.
- DON'T KNOW
- The hand is in a fist out to the side with the palm up. It moves about six (6) inches and opens up as moving up. (may hunch shoulders)
- Point to your forehead.
Point to waist
TURN OFF YOUR SIGNALS
Open and close your thumb and fingers as in a claw fashion
stop at the next station
Point to tank
REFRESHMENT STOP
fingers closed, thumb to mouth