How to signal to bikers?
Discussion
Hello Bikers 
I am just after what the general consensus is among those of you on two wheels about the best way a car driver can signal that they have seen you, eg. if you are waiting to overtake on a dual carriageway or motorway? I did search for similar topic but found nothing, but another thread got me thinking.
I am solely a car driver, but have friends who are bikers and have always tried to be as conscientious as possible in observing what bikes around me are doing. All of my two wheeled friends have been involved in crashes caused by poor observation/judgement from car drivers. I would like to avoid ever being responsible for such an accident ("Think Bike" etc!).
As an example, the other day I was driving home on a dual carriageway. I was in the outside lane overtaking a stream of cars. I saw a bike in my rear view mirror, also in the outside lane. I wanted to pull in and let him past, appreciably he wanted to overtake me, but there were too many cars in the inside lane, and if I had pulled in I would have got stuck and struggled to pull back out, as there were a load of cars behind the bike as well. What I did was manoeuvre as far right as was safe, and also kept an eye on the inside lane so I left the bike a gap from the cars that could have blocked him if he had nipped inside me. I tried to catch his eye in my mirrors to show I had seen him and was letting him undertake, but he didn't spot me and didn't do so. OK, maybe he made his own judgement about the safety of the situation, but he did appear to want to go past but hadn't clocked I knew he was there and wasn't about to ram into him.
On another thread someone said they gave a flash of right indicator to show a biker they were doing what I had described above. So I wondered if this (or some other signal) was a recognised way of letting a biker know you have seen them? I always try not to hold up people who evidently want to go faster than me, but it is not always possible to just pull in and let a bike past. Obviously, most bikers won't attempt to go past if they don't feel the car has seen them, so am hoping there is an easy way I can show someone I know they're there and I'm not about to make a statistic of them!
One other quick question - is there a legal backfire of doing this? Ie. I indicate to show biker I have seen him, he undertakes but crashes and then blames me for signalling him to go when it wasn't safe? I know "techincally" you are not supposed to flash headlights for the same reason, or wave people past etc, and it doesn't stop me as it's about considerate road use and keeping traffic flowing, but just out of sheer curiosity if anyone knows the answer to this.
Thanks in advance (will check thread tomorrow as off out in a mo and reply then.)
I am just after what the general consensus is among those of you on two wheels about the best way a car driver can signal that they have seen you, eg. if you are waiting to overtake on a dual carriageway or motorway? I did search for similar topic but found nothing, but another thread got me thinking.
I am solely a car driver, but have friends who are bikers and have always tried to be as conscientious as possible in observing what bikes around me are doing. All of my two wheeled friends have been involved in crashes caused by poor observation/judgement from car drivers. I would like to avoid ever being responsible for such an accident ("Think Bike" etc!).
As an example, the other day I was driving home on a dual carriageway. I was in the outside lane overtaking a stream of cars. I saw a bike in my rear view mirror, also in the outside lane. I wanted to pull in and let him past, appreciably he wanted to overtake me, but there were too many cars in the inside lane, and if I had pulled in I would have got stuck and struggled to pull back out, as there were a load of cars behind the bike as well. What I did was manoeuvre as far right as was safe, and also kept an eye on the inside lane so I left the bike a gap from the cars that could have blocked him if he had nipped inside me. I tried to catch his eye in my mirrors to show I had seen him and was letting him undertake, but he didn't spot me and didn't do so. OK, maybe he made his own judgement about the safety of the situation, but he did appear to want to go past but hadn't clocked I knew he was there and wasn't about to ram into him.
On another thread someone said they gave a flash of right indicator to show a biker they were doing what I had described above. So I wondered if this (or some other signal) was a recognised way of letting a biker know you have seen them? I always try not to hold up people who evidently want to go faster than me, but it is not always possible to just pull in and let a bike past. Obviously, most bikers won't attempt to go past if they don't feel the car has seen them, so am hoping there is an easy way I can show someone I know they're there and I'm not about to make a statistic of them!
One other quick question - is there a legal backfire of doing this? Ie. I indicate to show biker I have seen him, he undertakes but crashes and then blames me for signalling him to go when it wasn't safe? I know "techincally" you are not supposed to flash headlights for the same reason, or wave people past etc, and it doesn't stop me as it's about considerate road use and keeping traffic flowing, but just out of sheer curiosity if anyone knows the answer to this.
Thanks in advance (will check thread tomorrow as off out in a mo and reply then.)
How considerate of you to post this question
Daily commuter biker myself and come across this situation daily, i prefer the flash of the right indicator and the car to pull to the right slightly. Confirms that you have seen the biker and do not wish to hinder there progress.
Bikers always acknowlege this good behavior with a nod or flick of the right boot
Thankyou
Daily commuter biker myself and come across this situation daily, i prefer the flash of the right indicator and the car to pull to the right slightly. Confirms that you have seen the biker and do not wish to hinder there progress.
Bikers always acknowlege this good behavior with a nod or flick of the right boot
Thankyou
We could do with a few more considerate drivers like you - like around 20 million or so! I always appreciate, and acknowledge when drivers make a clear effort to make extra space for me.
I'd say please continue, but also don't make it your concern whether what you've done is safe for the biker or not. It's up to every rider to make their own judgement and I'd guess most, like me, were taught to ride for themselves.
I always appreciate, and acknowledge when drivers make a clear effort to make extra space for me.I'd say please continue, but also don't make it your concern whether what you've done is safe for the biker or not. It's up to every rider to make their own judgement and I'd guess most, like me, were taught to ride for themselves.
As a driver/biker I like an affirmative signal, like the indicator flicked on if you're in lane 2 or 3 and not changing lane and also agree it's always up to the rider to make a safe manoevre to pass. A slight change in road position also helps, but not off into the crap at the side of the road. Top banana for asking too 
Thanks for the replies guys (I assume you are all male!).
Seems general consensus would be a quick flash of the relevant indicator, then up to the bike if it chooses to go past
It never fails to amaze me how many people block bikes, especially in traffic jams and the like. Yes, I am insanely jealous of them nipping through traffic, but I love bikes and it's my choice to be stuck in a car, why hold someone up and potentially cause an accident?!
I have seen some nutters pulling dangerous moves on bikes, but no more or less than I see tw*ts in cars! I just feel as long as I do my bit to be considerate and safe, if a biker (or driver for that matter) wishes to try and kill themselves that's their call In general though, I have always found bikers to be very good on the roads, as the very nature of their transport requires much greater levels of observation and roadcraft. I have a particular fondness for bikers because I used to ride horses, so know how it feels to be a vulnerable road user who everyone seems to hate. Who would always slow right down and show extreme courtesy, even turning off engines and pulling over if they saw fit? Always the bikes 
Seems general consensus would be a quick flash of the relevant indicator, then up to the bike if it chooses to go past
It never fails to amaze me how many people block bikes, especially in traffic jams and the like. Yes, I am insanely jealous of them nipping through traffic, but I love bikes and it's my choice to be stuck in a car, why hold someone up and potentially cause an accident?!
I have seen some nutters pulling dangerous moves on bikes, but no more or less than I see tw*ts in cars! I just feel as long as I do my bit to be considerate and safe, if a biker (or driver for that matter) wishes to try and kill themselves that's their call
In general though, I have always found bikers to be very good on the roads, as the very nature of their transport requires much greater levels of observation and roadcraft. I have a particular fondness for bikers because I used to ride horses, so know how it feels to be a vulnerable road user who everyone seems to hate. Who would always slow right down and show extreme courtesy, even turning off engines and pulling over if they saw fit? Always the bikes 
king great stand-up wheelie!! Do nothing. You are in a perfectly legitimate position.
If the biker has a brain, he/she would see that your nearside is blocked & hang back, unless there was sufficient room for a manoeuvre or until your nearside was free. Sadly this is not always the case.
I am wary when drivers change their course/behaviour inviting me to carry out a manoeuvre. I will make an overtake when I consider it safe to do so, not because someone else thinks I should.
That said, there are many occasions when risk is minimal & I always give a wave or nod when drivers do move over - mainly as an appreciation that they have actually seen me.
If the biker has a brain, he/she would see that your nearside is blocked & hang back, unless there was sufficient room for a manoeuvre or until your nearside was free. Sadly this is not always the case.
I am wary when drivers change their course/behaviour inviting me to carry out a manoeuvre. I will make an overtake when I consider it safe to do so, not because someone else thinks I should.
That said, there are many occasions when risk is minimal & I always give a wave or nod when drivers do move over - mainly as an appreciation that they have actually seen me.
FastLaneGirl said:
I am just after what the general consensus is among those of you on two wheels about the best way a car driver can signal that they have seen you, eg. if you are waiting to overtake on a dual carriageway or motorway?
FLG, as both a sports car driver and a re-born biker, I've always done the following when in the car (usual standard from polite car drivers in Germany).When in the outside lane I'm usually shifting in the car and it's unusual to have a bike come anywhere near overtaking me BUT when slower and one does appear in my mirror I lift a hand to say "seen you" and position my car according to traffic conditions i.e. when there no safe chance of him overtaking pull towards the centre barrier, if OK then pull half a lane away right and wave him through. Usually then acknowledged by a wave or the german "drop a foot off the peg and waggle it, thanks"....
Reason for pulling towards the barrier is that I can probably see better and thus inform the rider; and I had an french idiotbiker try and squeeze through a very small gap (1m wide between the outside white line and the edge of the tarmac) at speeds in excess of 200kph, and had to do a very hard lock-up due to him almost losing control when another car cut in front during his manoeuvre.
Reason for only half-lane pull over is that most autobahns are 2-laners and if I'm shifting I need to make it clear I'm going back to the left!
What do other bikers think about that way of assisting the overtake?
Wow if only all drivers were as considerate as the OP! Sometimes I find the best thing is just to get on with driving and the biker will get through when they have the chance to. However sometimes it is possible to create more room for the bike, if I'm driving I usually flash an indicator to signal which way I intend pulling over to.
When I'm on my bike, I often find that car drivers try and help by moving over, but they do it when it's not safe or appropriate to do so (doubles whites etc). Usually I can make my way through weather car drivers help or not.
To summarise, I would suggest a flash of the indicator, but most importantly make sure it is safe to do so. I've seen car drivers swerving all over the place to leave a gap for me when I'm not even close to them!
Once again, thanks for your consideration!
When I'm on my bike, I often find that car drivers try and help by moving over, but they do it when it's not safe or appropriate to do so (doubles whites etc). Usually I can make my way through weather car drivers help or not.
To summarise, I would suggest a flash of the indicator, but most importantly make sure it is safe to do so. I've seen car drivers swerving all over the place to leave a gap for me when I'm not even close to them!
Once again, thanks for your consideration!
Smiler. said:
Do nothing. You are in a perfectly legitimate position.
If the biker has a brain, he/she would see that your nearside is blocked & hang back, unless there was sufficient room for a manoeuvre or until your nearside was free. Sadly this is not always the case.
I am wary when drivers change their course/behaviour inviting me to carry out a manoeuvre. I will make an overtake when I consider it safe to do so, not because someone else thinks I should.
That said, there are many occasions when risk is minimal & I always give a wave or nod when drivers do move over - mainly as an appreciation that they have actually seen me.
Thanks Smiler. I appreciate your point and see what you're saying, but I figured there may be some fairly 'universal' signal that lets a biker know I have seen him/her. I don't really want to invite them to do a manouever, that's their judgement, but a lot of time bikers don't pass me when it seems OK to do so and it does appear this is because they think I haven't seen them. Being a female driver they probably think I will pull some random swerve at an innopportune moment! (Which is a reasonable assumption judging by most of the women drivers I see!). If the biker has a brain, he/she would see that your nearside is blocked & hang back, unless there was sufficient room for a manoeuvre or until your nearside was free. Sadly this is not always the case.
I am wary when drivers change their course/behaviour inviting me to carry out a manoeuvre. I will make an overtake when I consider it safe to do so, not because someone else thinks I should.
That said, there are many occasions when risk is minimal & I always give a wave or nod when drivers do move over - mainly as an appreciation that they have actually seen me.
I do just drive as normal, but would like to let bikers know they have been spotted. Once they know I've acknowledged them, up to them what next steps they take
Appreciate all the input and nice comments on this thread
I find a good 30% of drivers will move over slightly when they see me filtering - I don't think I've ever had somebody deliberately block my path?
I've had many drivers that could have moved over a bit to let me through though - but I put that down to their arrogance and standing their ground, rather than a malicious attempt to stop me getting passed.
A good set of HID headlights are a must I find - you can see me coming a mile off!!
I've had many drivers that could have moved over a bit to let me through though - but I put that down to their arrogance and standing their ground, rather than a malicious attempt to stop me getting passed.
A good set of HID headlights are a must I find - you can see me coming a mile off!!
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