HAND SIGNALS BY CYCLISTS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22194, 10 September 1937, Page 19

HAND SIGNALS BY CYCLISTS

MOTORISTS MAKE APPEAL INDIVIDUAL SAFETY INVOLVED "It is noticeable that there is a growing recognition by cyclists of the fact that the giving of hand signals of intended change of direction is a courteous and safe action, but many thousands of cyclists do not realise this duty," says the latest safety message of the Automobile Association (CanI ter bury). "It is not fully realised by cyclisto that thought reading has no place at all in traffic safely. In other words, the exigencies of modern traffic demand the complete elimination ol guesswork as between one vehicle user and another. If, well before a cyclist changes his course of progress, he gives clear and unmistakeable hand signals of his intention he will be showing that he is alert, that he values his safety, and that he wishes to be helpful to following traffic. Even if there is no following traffic nearby, the small effort of giving a hand signal should not be overlooked. It is a safety precaution worth diligent practice because of the speed of the modern motor-car, A cyclist should not take risks In changing direction because he imagines that the overtaking car is too far away to require a hand signal. "Hand signals should not be given hastily or perfunctorily by cyclists, and when a signal has been given the cyclist should not dawdle, hesitate, or otherwise act indecisively. Ho should give the signal and make the change of direction as smartly as possible. “It seems that many cyclists never give any other hand signal, but that indicating a right-hand turn. Certain Intersections, where there are several converging roads, demand a left-hand signal, or a straight-ahead signal. Where the cyclist determines that hir progress may cause confusion or guesswork to traffic from any direction, he should give the hand-signal indication of intention.

"The hand signals should be given by one cyclist to another as well as for the benefit of motorists, as modern traffic conditions and control will not admit of any dodging, or finesse where cyclists are concerned. "There is definitely no room in our thoroughfares for the exercise of guesswork by any unit of traffic. A plain simple, easily-applied code of hand signals has been devised for the safety of cyclists as well as of motorists, and any neglect to use those signals reveals carelessness and a disregard of a cardinal safety precaution.”