Proper hand signals if your taillights stop working – know the laws
BROKEN taillights can pose a serious danger to you and other drivers – but these hand signals can help save the day.
You can use gestures to communicate to other road users what you are about to do, thereby reducing the risk of an accident.
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Unpredictable behavior is one of the most common causes of accidents on the road.
When your turn signals and brake lights fail, it is much more difficult for other drivers to see when you are about to turn, slow down, or even stop.
Fortunately, this uncertainty can be eliminated through a thorough knowledge of the traffic regulations.
The driving laws clearly provide for three hand signals that you can use to alert your passengers to an impending change in your driving behavior.
Because British vehicles have the steering wheel on the right side, they all rely on using the right arm to signal through the driver’s side window.
When you extend your arm straight without moving it, you first signal to the people behind you that you are about to turn right.
Of course, to signal a left turn, it would be impractical and even dangerous to extend an arm out the passenger window.
Instead, you make the same gesture as when making a right turn, but then slowly rotate your arm forward in a circular motion.
Finally, you can extend your arm in the same way, palm down, and then slowly but clearly move it up and down.
This indicates that you are slowing down or stopping.
Normally, road regulations require you to keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times. However, in this case there is an exception.
Just be sure to make your signal clear and allow enough time for others to see it before putting your hand back on the wheel to maintain full control of the vehicle.
For motorcyclists, the signals are the same, except for a left turn. In this case, you can simply extend your left arm in a mirror image of the right indicator.
However, there are no signs that you are about to turn back. So be extremely careful if you are forced to do this and try to make others aware of your intention as much as possible.
This comes after an engine expert discovered five signs that your windshield wipers need to be replaced or face a £2,500 fine.
In the meantime, we gave readers a look inside the world’s smallest caravan, which features a bed, a kettle and even a bar.
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