15 Motorcycle Hand Signals Every Rider Must Know

Key takeaways: 

• Using universal hand signals facilitates clear communication between riders
• When riding in groups, take the time to ensure all riders understand the signals that will be used
• To be effective, a hand signal must be clear, confident and timely

Between the roaring engines, rushing wind, and the need to keep a safe distance from one another, speaking just isn’t practical when you’re out on a ride. Instead, there’s a silent language of universal hand signals you should know, that help riders communicate effectively if you’re riding in a group, there’s an emergency unfolding, or the electronics fail.

Essential Motorcycle Hand Signals Explained

There is a list of basic biker hand signals you should know, which act as a near universal highway code for clear communication between riders. As you review them, keep in mind that most hand signals are made with the left arm, so that the right hand can stay in control of the throttle.

Greeting

Starting with greetings, there are two main gestures used for this. You can raise your left arm with the palm open, or use your left index finger and middle finger to make a “V” shape, like the ‘peace’ sign, and point it at a 45 degree angle to the ground.

Left turn

To signal your intention to make a left turn, extend your left arm straight out from your body, parallel to the ground, with your palm facing down. You want to start gesturing at least 30 meters from the corner, and stop as you start making the turn.

Right turn

There are two main ways to signal a right turn. The standard method is to bend your left arm upward at a 90 degree angle with your palm facing forward. This is because of the need to keep the right hand on the throttle. Alternatively, some riders may extend their right arm directly out to the side.

Slow Down / Stop

When slowing down or coming to a gradual stop, extend your left arm out with your palm facing down and move it up and down gently. This gesture gives the rider behind you a heads-up in case they want to pass or slow down too, and is important for collision avoidance.

Hazard on the road

If you spot something ahead that could be a danger to the people behind you, such as loose gravel, a pothole, debris, or road kill, you can point directly at the hazard with your left foot or hand. This alerts other riders to the danger so they can take precautions, enhancing safety.

Speed up

When speeding up, extend your left arm and motion your hand upward, as if you’re pulling away. This tells the riders behind you that it’s time to pick up the pace, which can be useful in group riding scenarios.

Follow me

To indicate that others should follow you, raise your left arm straight up in the air with your palm facing forward. This is particularly handy when you’re the leader in a group ride, or are signaling that you’re taking over as leader.

Single File / Double File

On narrow roads or in tight traffic, you can signal riders behind you to get into a single-file line by extending your arm upward and holding up one finger. When it’s safe to do so, raise your left arm and hold up two fingers, to let everyone know it’s okay to spread out again.

Fuel stop

When the tank’s running low, point to your fuel tank with your left index finger with an over-exaggerated gesture. This lets the rest of the group riding members know you need to refuel soon.

Comfort Stop

To signal the need for a break, tap your chest or the side of your helmet with a flat hand. Others in the group ride can then expect you’ll pull off for a rest or some food soon.

Thank You

If another road user has been courteous or helpful, you can thank them by extending your left arm down with an open palm, and give a little wave or nod.

Turn Signal on Reminder

If someone forgot their turn signal is on, you can tell them by extending your left arm out straight and opening and closing your fingers quickly like a blinking light. A forgotten turn signal can confuse or mislead other road users, leading to unsafe situations.

Pull Over / Emergency Stop

For an imminent stop, extend your left arm out and wave it down to the ground with the palm facing down. The wave should be controlled but reflect some urgency. Alternatively, extend your arm out and down at a 90 degree angle, with your palm facing behind.

Police Ahead

To warn riders of the presence of police ahead, you can tap the top of your helmet with your fingers spread out wide. The group can then slow down, and be wary of the potential for an accident, hazard or pulled over vehicle ahead.

Rider Needs Assistance

If you need help, you can tell your fellow riders by tapping your helmet, pointing to yourself, then making a circular motion in the air.

Group Riding Etiquette with Hand Signals

If you’re new to group riding, it’s best to get familiar with the signals used by that group beforehand. This ensures consistency, so people can communicate effectively.

During the ride, passively watch for them. Usually, the lead rider will make a hand signal and each rider in the group repeats it for the benefit of those behind.

Common Mistakes Riders Make with Hand Signals

There are some common mistakes to avoid when using motorcycle hand signals.

• For a signal to be effective it must be timely, so don’t wait until it’s too late
• Inconsistent gestures are ineffective, so make sure the whole riding group is on the same page
• Most drivers are not motorcyclist, so you can’t assume they will understand what you’re trying to communicate with a hand gesture

Remember, for a gesture to be useful, it must be clear, timely, universally understood by the riding group, and done safely.

FAQ

Are motorcycle hand signals legal?

There are no legal issues with using hand signals, in fact, there are some situations where you may be legally required to use them. For example, the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, signed by most European countries, does include recognized gestures for indicating turns and stops. That means if your indicators fail, you’re legally expected to use hand signals as a fallback.

Can you use hand signals instead of blinkers on a motorcycle?

Most countries require you to use your blinkers on the road, however you could use hand signals if the blinkers have failed, to supplement the blinkers, or if you’re somewhere you’re not required to have or use blinkers.

Do motorcycle passengers use hand signals too?

Motorcycle passengers generally only use hand signals to communicate with their rider, rather than the group at large. That said, there’s no reason they can’t use them, provided it’s done safely and consistently.

What does it mean when a motorcyclist taps his helmet with his hand?

It depends on how and where the motorcyclist taps the helmet. For example, tapping the side with a flat hand indicates a rest break, while tapping the top with spread fingers indicates police ahead.