How Drivers Communicate With 
Each Other:
Signs and Signals

Instructions For This Report	Making Room in One's Lane
Changing Lanes	Overtaking
Merging	Summary
Making Turns	Recommendations
Yielding the Way	Epilogue

    I noticed a lot of communication going on when it came to changing lanes.  The most commonly method used was the good old blinker or turn signal.  It seemed to me that the majority of drivers did use their blinkers but many times it was put on as the car was already making it's move.

    Another method I noticed was the turning of one's head to look in the next lane and the constant checking of one's rear view mirrors.  This was usually done in combination with the blinker.  You can tell a person wants to change lanes when they are constantly looking at the other lane to make sure that it is clear for them to do so.  This was very common among women.

    A third method I observed was used a lot during times of heavy or stop and go traffic.  This was the extending of one's arm out the window to let others know they were changing lanes.  It was only done when moving to the lane on the left.  (There is a sign where you use your left arm in a bent position to signal you are moving right but I did not observe this during my driving sessions.)  This method seemed to work really well in traffic.  The arm would be straight out the window and the hand would either be pointing to the ground or open palmed as to tell the other person to wait or slow down.  This was mostly done by men. (and smokers probably because they are more likely to have their windows down)
 
 

    There was not much communication between drivers in this situation.  The most commonly observed method was that of blinker use.  But I would guesstimate that only about 65% of people merging actually used their blinkers.  I think it had to do with how many people were on the road and a what time of day it was.

    During the day with little or no traffic on the road is when most of the drivers neglected to use their turn signals.  In other words if the merging lane was clear they would merge without signaling at all.  It seemed that more people used there blinkers at night and during traffic.
 
 

    Turning was another situation where there was not much communication going on.  The two most common methods were the use of blinkers and the pressing of the brake.  I was surprised to see that so many people did not take the time to use their blinkers when making a turn.  The pressing of the brakes was the only signal given to others that the driver might want to turn, but is definitely slowing down.  This signal only works for the person behind the driver not for the oncoming traffic.

    One thing I noticed is that the blinker would only come on when the car making the turn had to come to complete stop.  Even then the person would only signal after the car has stopped.  This led to communication from the car directly behind the one turning.  On every instance I observed the latter car staring at the driver making the turn as the car turned or as the car passed.  Other signs of protest included honking , shaking of heads, and yelling.

    Blinkers were made for the primary purpose of signaling a turn, that is why they are called turn signals.  From what I noticed the use of blinkers was very effective in letting others know your intentions.  It gives other drivers a warning to slow down.  But there are a lot of drivers who do not take the time to use them when making turns.  I saw men and women doing this, both young and old.
 
 

    Hand signals were the most commonly used method of communication in this situation.  Drivers would wave their hands as if to say "go ahead" when they wanted the car to go in front of them.  Then in most cases the driver being let in would give the other driver a wave or a shaka sign to say "thank you".  The waving of one's hand was very effective in this situation.

    Another method used is the raising of both hands to let the other driver know to hurry up and come if you are coming.  The few times I saw this is was being done by a male.  It was usually done after the original wave signal was not seen or ignored.  In this case also the car being let in would give a "thank you" wave.

    There was a third method of communication I noticed in this situation.  This was the speeding up of a car to let the other car know that they don't want to let him in.  This was not very effective.  A couple of times the car that had to yield would pull in anyway causing the first car to brake quickly.  If the yielding car did yield that driver would usually give the speeding car a stare as they drove by.  I noticed more women than men did not want to yield to other cars.
 
 

    The methods of communication in this situation were similar to those of the previous situation.  The easiest way for drivers to let other's know it is okay for them to change lanes seemed to be simply slowing down to allow the car enough room to change lanes.  This worked very well.  The other car would often give a wave of "thanks" or a shaka sign.

    Hand gestures and waves of "go ahead" were also used and again were very effective.  This type of hand motion was most often used during times of heavy traffic.  Again a thank you was almost always given in response to being let in.

    There were also those in this situation who tried to communicate that they did not want another car cutting in front of them.  This was done by tailgating the car in front of them or speeding up to close the gap when they see another driver's blinker go on.  I noticed a lot of women doing this also.  It too was very effective.  The other car definitely knew that they were not going to be allowed in although they were not always happy.
 
 

    I did not see many instances of this situation but I did see a few.  In my case it was cars that were driving slow in the left lane and a car wanted to pass them.  The most common method of communicating that a car wants to pass is to tailgate that car.  It was not that effective.  The car would not speed up and it would not move over to allow the faster car to pass.

    On one occasion the car being tailgated tried to communicate to the other driver that he did not appreciate being followed so closely.  He did this by pressing on his brakes repeatedly.  It worked because the other car backed off and eventually changed lanes to overtake the slow car.  But this driver also communicated his protest to having had to change lanes to pass.  He did this by not going completely in to the next lane before he passed and then cutting in very close to the other car.  He also stared at the other driver when passing him.  Both drivers were male.
 
 

    There is so much communication between drivers on the road that it is impossible to see everything while you are driving.  Some use signals to complain or to show protest for another driver's move but the majority of non-verbal communication is done as a courtesy to others on the road.

 From my observations the best way of letting others on the road know what you intend to do is by using your blinkers and by using hand motions.  These seem like very basic things and we probably do them all the time without even thinking about it.  But one would be surprised how many drivers neglect to communicate their intentions to others on the road.  This may be a reason why there are so many fender benders.

    One report from G8 that I liked was Irene Barrineau's.  She had one section where she mentioned how the same signal can mean different things to different people.  She talked about how some hand gestures may be seen wrong or taken the wrong way.  I also liked the two reports on road rage that she mentions.  The examples are very graphic and she relates them well to how road rage can be seen as the result of miscommunication or the lack of communication that occurs between drivers.

    Another report I enjoyed reading was that of Kristin Evert.  She did her observations on a specific road at specific times.  I though her prediction of the type of car causing the type of driver was interesting.  She thought that road rage and how to deal with it should be taught in drivers education classes would help people be more courteous on the road.  This would of course make people signal more often and not communicate negative signs when upset.

    Kristin Subia's report on drivers communication was another that I looked at.  Hers was very simple and easy to read.  She went through the different situations and method in a format similar to the one I used.  I liked her recommendation to use cellular phones as a way to communicate with the cars around you.
 
 

    I think one method of official interaction and communication that would work between drivers is the simple use of hand signals.  Someone could come up with a few simple signals which could be used all over.  There already is a understood signal for both right and left turns but it is possible to add a few more such as stop, go ahead, I need to pass, I have an emergency, etc.

    These hand signals would be taught in drivers education classes and parents could teach their kids when they are learning to drive.  The signals could be added on to the official test required to receive a permit and would be implemented into the actual road test

    I also think that phones would be a good way to communicate.  It has to be very simple, for example only having to press one button to dial a car that is next to you.  Otherwise if the person has to dial too many numbers it can end up being a distraction to the driver and become a danger.  Maybe instead of dialing there could be such a thing as a two way CB radio implemented in cellular phone that reaches the cars in your immediate area so that you are able to let them know your intentions before you execute them.

    I don't think the flip cards would be a good idea.  It seems like to much for the driver to hold while trying to steer at the same time.  Again it could be dangerous.  The only way I se this method working is if the driver has a passenger to show the cards for him.  This may be a good idea.
 
 

    This report was one that I enjoyed doing the research.  If I could tell future generations to choose this report to do, I would.  I have seen so many things on the road throughout my life but when I actually went on the road for the purpose of watching other drivers I feel that I learned so much more.  One piece of advice is to have someone else drive so you are able to concentrate on the other drivers and not worry so much about your own vehicle.

    I was surprised to see how many people never look at the cars around them.  There are many drivers who ignore the cars around them and end up being a danger.  I used to assume that everyone who drove knew what they were doing .  That is nit the case.  It seems like some drivers don't even know where the blinker lever is in their car.  I went out once at night, once during the day (with no traffic), and once during rush hour traffic, just to see drivers under different situations.