Why do 5 out of 6 car driver's ignore cyclist's hand signal?

Roman H

I cannot believe the attitude of some of the answers from the bigoted motorists that have replied.I know from thousands of miles of cycling ( I used to do 14,000 a year) about the attitude of a lot ( Not all ) of motorists. The cyclist is considered an inconvenience and if they can be passed quickly no matter what danger the cyclist is put in , then they will. that's why motorists drive right behind your back wheel, squeeze through when there is not really room, or overtake when you signal right.
To justify this kind of bad driving they look for excuses such as 'well they go through red lights don't they( mainly kids)'or 'they should ride on the pavement'.
Coming on to turning right.It is just like driving.You will be safer if you are more assertive.Remember mirror, signal, manoeuvre, same applies to cycling.Look behind you first.Make sure you eyeball the motorist behind, that gets their attention, then firmly signal right and swiftly manoeuvre to the centre of the road.Get out of the saddle if you need to do this more positively.The motorist now has room to pass you on the inside and no cause for aggravation.Your signal should definitely say 'I intend to turn right!'Unfortunately this will require some practise.The number of cyclists who do not look behind amazes me.lots of cyclists say when they look behind they start to wobble about.Well they should practise first.The secret is to keep pedalling.
As for road tax.I have already paid three times on my car truck and motorbike so they can get stuffed.I just wish that they would drive better and stop having so many accidents, then my insurance premiums would be less.
Today I was cut up by some bint in a mini cooper who had completely underestimated my speed, then I passed a school where cars were delivering their mamby pamby kids and were parked in the cycle lane and on the double yellow lines.As for cycle lanes.It is not compulsory to use them and most are not fit for purpose.The amount of potholes, dangerous ill conceived junctions, broken glass and thorns leading to punctures amazes me.
Motorists should get their own house in order before they complain.If a motorist respects me as another road user then I shall respect them otherwise I will sue the A*** off them.

The Devil Incarnate

You're about the only cyclist I've ever heard of that bothers to let others know where they're going. Good for you! :)

Jim K

Because 5 out of 6 cyclists ignore red lights, stop signs and general rules of the road.

thequiteone2006

you should see the hand signals i give to cyclists

driver_man37

the reason that 5 out of 6 drivers ignore the arm signals of cyclists is because 9 out of 10 cyclists dont use arm signals sounds like you are the exception and what about lights at night how many cyclists use those have they become a fossilised fashion accessory of the past on bicycles these days please just dont point the finger at car drivers yes there are some bad ones on the road we know that but there are just as many guilty cyclists out there too

Bandit600

They don't want to get caught behind a slow moving cyclist. Basic human nature.

slipstream

Probably because your is the first signal they have ever seen without a raised finger from a cyclist. Unfair I know but 99% of cyclist's make the rest look bad

Derek O

Because most drivers have no idea what the hand signals are.. Just like they have no idea what a stop sign or red light is in america because they do not follow them. Or know what a speed limit is, Or they have no idea turn signals are standard on all american vehicles , NOT AN OPTION. Over here if you do not hit most drivers in the head with a traffic sign they will not read it unless it says "FREE" or "SALE" on it.

Twisted_Ace

Cyclists use hands signal? Where? When?/

5 out of 6 cyclists on average, will ride how and where they like, with a total disregard for their own safety and the safety of others...

Porterhouse

WOW!!!!
With the exception of a few well thought and eloquent answers.... no wonder the rest of the world thinks we're a bunch of Pikies. Running over bikers when you can't even spell BICYCLE??? Nice work dum-dum.

Truthfully, most American motorists have a hard enough time using a directional signal, let alone figuring out a standardized hand signal from a biker. People who choose to cycle seriously have EVERY bit of right to share the road and do so safely... there are a few instances when cyclists might do well to choose another route, but that's not the question. The simple answer is that they are not paying attention.

telboy everton forever

could it be that you are the only person riding a bike that actually uses signals have you seen then going through red traffic lights its about time cyclists had to take a test and get insurance

Pinkflower

dont know why i always tell the cyclist out as i would rather they were not near me as i get really nervous about them.
I have pasted a website that i thought might be of interest to you.

Blue

Ridiculous question, and I doubt the accuracy of your statistic.

But yes we've all seen car drivers ignore cyclists and we've all seen car drivers almost if not knock cyclists off their bikes.

Yet at the same time we've all seen cyclists Ignore giveway lines, red lights, zebra crossings, and swerve out into the road with no warnings like they think the rules of the road dont apply to them.

Yes there are terrible car drivers, yes there are terrible bike riders.
Thats just how it is.

bob_is_your_uncle2

It's cos 5 out of 6 cyclists ride on the pavement when traffic light are red and most of all they ain't got the right gear on, helmet, night lights etc

Over and Over

I do not know the arm signals, and im sure there are other people that do not know them either. so if the person in the car does not know what you are doing with your arm, they may just think you are waving them to go on.

frank S

Because cyclists shouldn't be on the road unless they are on cycle tracks. Where there is no track then they ought to be pushing their cycle along the footpath until they reach the facility provided for them.

If cyclists were to contribute for the use of the roadway by paying road tax then I am sure the motorist would give them due deference.

smcgilli

If you're turning right, you're not turning in front of anyone. Why should anyone need to slow down?

david z

5 out of 6? where did that number come from? your ***? by cyclist do you mean biker or bicicle rider? if you mean bicicle, get the hell off my road before i run you down! if you mean you ride a big bike with loud pipes then you need to make them move... a hammer works pretty well.

one time i was sitting at a red light on a 55mph road, and a bicicle was sitting infront of me with a few cars between us... the light turned green, he started pedaling... slowly... sloooooowwlly... then my light turns red before 2 more cars even go... he was lucky i didn't have my plow on.

SheSoFly

Because yall need to get your asses out of the street and ride on the damn sidewalk where bicycles should be!

Simim

@frank S: Last time I checked, if you pay taxes at all, you're contributing to road tax. This excludes tollways of course, but not every motorist uses tollways on a constant basis either. @SheSoFly: In the US at least, it's illegal in many states to bicycle on the sidewalk. Maybe you need to practice defensive driving and quit trying to hurry about everywhere. To everyone else who talks badly of cyclists: I can only wish upon you that one day you'll find yourself without a car and without a ride to the places you need to be. You'll become sympathetic with cyclists really, really fast.

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