Emergency signals on the road. Without further ado... Conditional signals of drivers on the road

Once upon a time, about thirty years ago, one of the Soviet newspapers talked about the indignation of a traffic police officer at the morals that reigned on the roads of the West. In his opinion, warning other drivers about traffic police posts or ambushes with headlight signals is the height of unscrupulousness. However, it was this article that prompted the creation of a kind of driver’s alphabet in Russia.

Today, the list of conventional signals used by drivers has expanded significantly. Drivers not only give each other advice, but also express various requests, communicate, exchange information about external problems with the car, which the driver himself cannot notice while inside it.

Mostly only truck drivers are fluent in this type. Knowledge of the main signals allows drivers to better navigate a traffic situation and promotes mutual understanding and respect between drivers.

The most common signaling tools are turn signals and headlights.

Watch a video about truck drivers' signals:

If, while standing in a traffic jam or while passing at an intersection, you briefly blink your high beams, it means that the driver has given you a signal - “Pass!” You can address a pedestrian in the same way.

When the high beams flash short and multiple times (usually 2-3 times), it is best to immediately reduce your speed, since some danger awaits you ahead. This signal can also remind you at night to switch from high beam to low beam. This information can also be conveyed by alternately switching the high and low beams.

If a car behind you signals with long flashes of its high beams, you should give way to it. With the same signal, you can tell the truck driver ahead of your car to finish the maneuver. This will help avoid a possible accident or cutting off. This safety measure is especially important at night, when rear visibility of the road is limited.

With the help of emergency alarms, car drivers transmit a wide variety of information. Everyone knows the emergency signal - gratitude for giving way. In the same way, drivers apologize for the inconvenience caused to others when performing a maneuver. Sometimes the hazard warning button is located in a very inconvenient place, which makes it difficult to press while driving. In this situation, you can reproduce the emergency signal by first turning on the left turn signal, and then the right one.

If the hazard warning light is not turned off after overtaking, it indicates that the high beam is interfering with those moving in front of you and a request to switch it to low beam.
On the highway, the left turn signal on tells drivers behind that a car that has overtaken but not returned to the lane sees a clear oncoming lane. You can safely use other cars as well.

If a bus or truck is moving on a country road with the left turn signal on, it is prohibited to overtake it. On European roads, such a signal indicates a request to give way to him. If the right turn signal works, then you can overtake.

In case of emergency braking due to any unforeseen situation, for example, road repairs, traffic jams, accidents and other circumstances not indicated by road signs, the hazard warning lights should be turned on. This will alert you to the danger of cars moving behind you.
By simultaneously blinking the high beams and turning on the right turn signal, you are asked to stop at the side of the road.
To help the driver behind you keep their distance, you can signal them with intermittent brake lights.

Along with light signals, sound signals are also used. A short beep is given as a sign of greeting or gratitude, including in response to a thank you said using an emergency signal.

The long horn is used in conjunction with the high beams and indicates an immediate stop due to danger or a problem with your vehicle. It should be remembered that the sound signal can only be given in emergency situations!

Less common are hand signals. However, the information they contain is also important.

If the hand moves in a circle and points down, then this is a message about a flat tire. Other faults that require stopping can be indicated by moving your hand towards the side of the road.

If the gesture represents a flashing light, you need to turn on the headlights.

The request to slow down is expressed by a slow movement of the palm from top to bottom.

You can express gratitude by raising your hand up.

A fig for a truck driver is not an offensive gesture. This is a message about a stone stuck between the wheels.

For a pedestrian to understand that you are letting him through, the best signal would be to move your hand in the window. A sound signal can be frightening, and a pedestrian may not be able to see his head movements due to the glare on the windshield.

The traffic police are informed of danger or an ambush by splayed fingers.

By pointing to the door, you can warn about a poorly closed door or an obstacle in the doorway, most often a seat belt. If your hand hits the air, you should close the trunk.

Today, some companies have begun to produce compact information displays to help drivers. They are fixed on the rear window so that the driver following can see a smiling emoticon or small text, for example, “Keep your distance!”

Allows you to quickly and effectively transfer information to each other, suggest, warn, direct. However, you should not overestimate the capabilities of signals and rely only on a hint from other road users.

Firstly, when there is heavy traffic, understanding who is receiving a particular signal is not an easy task. And secondly, you need to be able to independently assess the situation on the road and respond adequately to it.

Video about informal communication between drivers on the road:

High beam headlight signals

The oncoming car blinks its high beam headlights twice. This signal means that there is a mobile traffic police station on the road ahead. This signal means that the driver of oncoming traffic should slow down. State Traffic Inspectorate employees love to set up ambushes behind dangerous turns and signs that limit speed.

If, while driving, a vehicle driving behind you gives a short signal with its high beam headlights, this means that you are being asked to give way. Thus, you are warned that they are about to overtake.

In traffic jams, drivers also give each other light signals. For example, when, during difficult traffic, a driver who is on a secondary road flashes his high beam headlights, he asks you to let him pass so that he can join the flow. Of course, whether to let a car pass or not is a purely personal matter for everyone, but in the flow of traffic there will always be a person who is ready to let a car pass, especially when asked to do so.

While driving in the dark, if oncoming cars blink at you, then they let you know that you need to switch your headlights to low beam.

If a truck is ahead of you at night, then after its maneuver is completed, it is better to give a sign to the driver - wink with the headlights. With this action you will help him determine the moment of the end of the maneuver.

Hazard signals and direction indicators

If they gave way to you or let you pass, then you can thank this driver by flashing the hazard lights several times. This signal can also indicate a sign of apology for the inconvenience caused by your maneuver.

On a suburban highway, the left turn signal on a truck or bus indicates that it cannot be overtaken.

The right turn signal on a truck or bus means you can overtake.

The left turn signal turned on by a driver who has already overtaken, but has not yet returned to his lane, informs those driving behind him that the lane of oncoming traffic is free and it is possible to overtake.

A switched-on hazard warning light on a car that has suddenly braked means that there is some kind of danger ahead (road repairs, an accident, etc.).

If a car driving behind you flashes its high beams and turns on the right turn signal, then it makes it clear that you are being asked to stop at the side of the road.

Sound signals

An abrupt beep is a sign of greeting and gratitude. A long beep and blinking high beams - please stop driving immediately, because there is danger ahead or your car has broken down.

However, you should not overuse sound signals, especially when you are moving within the city. This is prohibited by traffic rules. According to the rules, sound signals can only be used to prevent an accident.

A hand with the palm facing forward means gratitude.

A gesture similar to a flashing light - turn on the headlights.

The hand describes a circle and points down - you have a flat tire.

Spread five - a meeting with traffic police officers awaits you ahead.

The hand points to the doors of your car - one of the doors is not closed.

Sometimes drivers can even communicate with each other using objects. For example, if there is a car on the side of the road and a driver with a canister in his hands is standing next to it, this means that he has run out of gas and needs help. A driver on the side of the road with a tow rope in his hands - asking for help to tow the car, a wrench - asking for help with repairs.

26.03.2018

It's no secret that on the highway all drivers periodically communicate with each other. Often, various hand gestures are used for this, light signs, sound signals, and even objects displayed on the side of the road near a parked car convey this or that information. Initially, only truckers used this method of communicating with each other. Being on the road for a long time and not being able to verbally convey information to each other about problems and dangers that had arisen, the so-called “driver’s alphabet” was invented. Gradually, these conditioned signals were intercepted by other road users. Let's figure out where, who and how is trying to talk to us and what are oncoming cars blinking about?

The most popular signs from the “driver’s alphabet” are light signals.

High beam signals:

Short, repeated blinking of the headlights is used to let a car pass, for example, in heavy traffic or at an unregulated intersection, and also to “tell” a pedestrian that you are letting him through. If a car moving in the oncoming lane flashes its high beams at you, this means that there is a traffic police post ahead, or warns of a difficult road situation that requires increased concentration (road accidents, road traffic accidents underway). In such situations, it is recommended to reduce your speed. A short signal with high beams in the dark from an oncoming car indicates that you have not turned off the high beams, and they are blinding other drivers - you need to switch to low beams. Flashing high beams in the traffic coming behind you indicates that the driver is asking you to let him pass. When overtaking your vehicle at night with a large vehicle, do not forget to flash your high beams at the driver before completing the overtaking. By doing this you will not only help him determine the moment of the end of the maneuver, but also protect yourself from a collision.

Emergency signals:

Often a short hazard warning signal means thank you. For example, if they gave way to you while overtaking, or let you pass when leaving a parking lot or when changing lanes. Also, the “emergency light” can be used to apologize if you made a minor mistake while driving - for example, you did not let someone on the road pass where this rule was required or you “cut off” another car. But there is one very important rule - if you are a novice driver or a student, and are not yet fluent in driving, then you should not be distracted by looking for emergency lights in the cabin. As a sign of gratitude and apology on the road, you can alternately turn on first the left and then the right “turn” - similar to the “hazard light” signal. When in a traffic jam, briefly pressing the emergency lights or brakes indicates that the distance has not been maintained.

In the evening, a switched-on car alarm, after overtaking your car, signals that you have high beams on, which blinds other road users - you need to switch to low beams. Also, by turning on the emergency car alarm, the driver can notify other road users about the breakdown of his vehicle, as well as about possible danger ahead. Sometimes “hazard lights” are used in cases where it is necessary to park in order to draw attention to the car and make it more visible, or when leaving a parking space. This method is especially good when reversing. You should not abuse the “emergency light” when stopping in the wrong place - since, in addition to possible problems with the police, you can hear a couple of unpleasant phrases addressed to you or lose your mirrors. An emergency car alarm does not give priority when driving, but exists to transmit this or that information to other road users.

Transmission of information by turn signals:

In addition to the usual signs - turn left or right, turned on turn signals also transmit other information. This method of transmitting information is often used by large trucks and vans. While driving along the highway, truck drivers sometimes help their vehicle to overtake - to do this, they turn on either the right turn signal, indicating that overtaking is possible, or the left turn signal, indicating that overtaking is prohibited. Naturally, you should not blindly trust such information and, when performing any action on the highway, be sure to make sure that it is safe. The turned on “left turn signal” of a vehicle moving in the far left lane informs the driver of the car ahead that he is impeding overtaking, so it is necessary to move a little to the right and give the opportunity to overtake. If the car driving behind you has the right turn signal on and periodically blinks its high beams, this means that you are being asked to stop at the side of the road.

Sound signals

As you know, a sound signal is designed to prevent an emergency situation on the road. Most often it is used to warn about the danger of pedestrians who cross the road in the wrong place and other road users. For example, if the driver of a vehicle tries to reverse onto the roadway from a parked place, but his field of vision does not allow him to see all road users. While driving by, you can briefly press the button to warn the driver that it is not safe to leave. In addition, drivers use sound signals to communicate. So, for example, a short beep can mean not only a greeting, but also a sign of gratitude or a kind of “please” if you thanked a person with an “emergency light.” But a long beep in combination with blinking high beams means that you need to stop immediately, because there is danger ahead or your car is faulty.

IMPORTANT! Try to use the horn only in emergency situations, especially in the city.

The most popular gesture is an arm extended forward with an open palm. This sign is equivalent to a car alarm and means “thank you.” A hand pressed to the chest and a slightly bowed head is a sign of apology. Drawing a circle in the air with a finger and pointing downward signals a flat tire. Pointing to the vehicle door - warns that one of the doors is not tightly closed, or something is caught in the doors, for example, an item of clothing or a seat belt. The clenching and unclenching of your fingers, reminiscent of the flickering of a light bulb, indicates that you need to turn on the headlights. An offensive gesture for a passer-by is “whoa”; for a motorist it means that a stone is stuck between the rear wheels (relevant for buses and trucks). The clapping of an open palm down in the air indicates that the hood or trunk is not tightly closed. A smooth movement of the palm from top to bottom indicates that it is necessary to reduce the speed.

A tap on the shoulder is a warning sign about a traffic police checkpoint. Fingers spread, this signal is similar to several short flashes of high beam and indicates possible danger or a traffic police post. If the hand of the driver of a vehicle overtaking you points to the side of the road, most likely your car is faulty and it is not safe to continue driving it - you need to stop and find out what the reason is. If you are allowing pedestrians to pass, instead of sounding a sound signal, it is better to wave your hand to them out the window, as a sudden sound signal may frighten them.

A driver standing on the road with an open hood and “voting” or holding a tool in his hand needs technical assistance. A cable lying in front of the trunk means the driver needs towing. If you have the opportunity, be sure to help tow the car to the nearest service station or call a tow truck; remember that no one is immune from such a nuisance. A canister displayed near a parked car indicates a problem with fuel for the driver.

Result:

ABC of a motorist- a fairly effective and publicly accessible means of transmitting this or that information without leaving the car. But don't neglect road safety just to say thank you. Follow the traffic rules, be careful and as they say: “Neither nail nor rod.”

Sign language is not only available to people with speech and hearing impairments. On the highway, motorists also often exchange a whole system of special signs that have been developed over the years, which, in the absence of voice capabilities, make it possible to convey to another road user quite comprehensive information about a particular situation, without knowing the basic provisions of which a “teapot” can easily get into trouble.

The simplest and most understandable sign accepted among drivers is to blink their headlights, thus warning that there is an accident ahead or traffic police officers are hiding.
The tradition of blinking headlights, warning of an “ambush,” appeared in Russia (or rather, in the Soviet Union) several decades ago. As the legend goes, motorists in one of the southern republics came up with this idea, and the police authorities couldn’t come up with anything better than to write about it in the all-Union newspaper. Better advertising was not required - literally a couple of days after publication, almost all drivers in the Soviet country began honking at each other with their headlights.

Since then, the “signal encyclopedia” of motorists has been replenished with a significant number of new “articles”, the meaning of which is not clear to everyone. We invite you to get acquainted with the “messages” that make life easier for the driver on the road.

One short flash of the high beams in a traffic jam - “pass”.

Several short flashes of high beam:
a) it is necessary to reduce the speed and drive more carefully, as there is danger or a traffic police ambush ahead;
b) it is necessary to turn off the high beams when driving at night.

Several long flashes of the high beams “in the back” mean a request to give way, and several flashes of the “hazard lights” aim to thank you for giving way.

The left turn signal on a bus or truck (when driving on a country road) warns that you cannot overtake.

The turned on right turn signal of a bus or truck (when driving on a country highway), on the contrary, invites you to overtake.

Sound signals

A short beep means a friendly greeting or a kind of “please” if you thanked the person with an “emergency light.”

A long horn in combination with flashing high beams is an important signal warning you to stop immediately, because there is danger ahead or your car is faulty.

Hand gestures represent one of the most essential sections of the driver’s “ABC”.

If your hand describes a circle and points down, it means one of the tires of your car is flat.

A truck driver is shown the fig when a rock gets stuck between the truck's twin wheels.

The hand points to the side of the road - know that your car is faulty and you need to stop.

The hand points to the car door - one of the doors is not tightly closed or something is stuck in the opening.

Hit the air with your palm - check the trunk, it will probably be open.

A special place in the sign system developed by motorists is occupied by signals used by car travel enthusiasts who cover routes in several cars.

Signals with headlights and turn signals

The turned on left turn signal when overtaking a car going first indicates that the car going first is overtaking a slower participant in traffic, but after getting ahead of the slow-moving vehicle, it does not change lanes to the previous lane, but continues to move in the oncoming direction with the left turn signal on. , indicating to those driving behind - the oncoming traffic is free, overtake.

The right turn signal turned on when overtaking the car driving first corresponds to the situation described above, but the car going first has the right turn signal turned on, which means it is impossible to overtake. When there is enough free space for overtaking, the leader of the column will again drive into the oncoming traffic and turn on the left turn signal.

When the car driving first turns on the left or right turn signal while driving around the city, it warns others that they need to change lanes. In this case, the car that brings up the rear of the convoy changes lanes first and slows down a little, thus creating a space in the desired lane where the rest of the convoy members wedge.

Communicate to your health - literally and figuratively, dear motorists, because it was communication that made us first people, and then drivers!