After much study, whats happening to hand signals ??????????????????

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windingtrailgal

Active member
Why is this thread still under 3 pages?? :eek:
I use hand signals...call it habit...and I appreciate them from others. I don't think anything less of those who don't use them...just information. I'm aware that just because I see a fist indicating last rider that it isn't the last snowmobiles I'm gonna see for the day. If I'm not in a position to hold up my left hand, I don't. I usually give a wave after I fist bump the last rider coming at me cuz I'm friendly like that...
My kid wears a Mohawk on his helmet. I'm gonna start carrying garden tools in a backpack because I'm sick of the job of digging out going to me because I'm the dang sweeper. My husbands sled is kinda piped up. So is the RMK we got from PR1. And I ride with my I-pod on full blast. Oh and we pass slower sleds.
(Why am I weighing in on this? Keep ur mouth shut, wtg!!!)
I think the reason this always causes such a debate is because there's no right or wrong answer. It's taught in the safety class and what they state is to do so safely. I'll add that I think it's a comfort thing as well. If ur not comfortable using hand signals, don't. But don't get aggregated with fellow sledders if they choose to use or not use. Just information that I like to give and I like to receive.
 
eagle1

eagle1

Well-known member
windingtrailgal said:
i think the reason this always causes such a debate is because there's no right or wrong answer. If ur not comfortable using hand signals, don't. But don't get aggregated with fellow sledders if they choose to use or not use. .
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amen!!!!!!
 
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Racedad223

New member
I'm 44 ride a rush with 6" risers wear a MX helmet use a mid shield (cause it's faster) and my name IS Ricky! I was leading this Sat.up on 431 out of Seney nice section of sweepers not tight just comfy caught a group that was running a good pace, I cautiously followed seemed they had decent skills so got up pretty tight. It was fun. Then we got some traffic towards us and their last guy Fisted everyday group! I was laughing. You never know what's coming behind you! You have Two grips... Use them :)
 
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polarisrider1

New member
Racedad223 said:
I'm 44 ride a rush with 6" risers wear a MX helmet use a mid shield (cause it's faster) and my name IS Ricky! I was leading this Sat.up on 431 out of Seney nice section of sweepers not tight just comfy caught a group that was running a good pace, I cautiously followed seemed they had decent skills so got up pretty tight. It was fun. Then we got some traffic towards us and their last guy Fisted everyday group! I was laughing. You never know what's coming behind you! You have Two grips... Use them :)
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Amen! (Love your riding style).
 
L

lenny

Guest
Racedad223 said:
I'm 44 ride a rush with 6" risers wear a MX helmet use a mid shield (cause it's faster) and my name IS Ricky! I was leading this Sat.up on 431 out of Seney nice section of sweepers not tight just comfy caught a group that was running a good pace, I cautiously followed seemed they had decent skills so got up pretty tight. It was fun. Then we got some traffic towards us and their last guy Fisted everyday group! I was laughing. You never know what's coming behind you! You have Two grips... Use them :)
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exactly my point, so if the fist says no more sleds do you ride less cautiously, faster? If you do not change your riding after the fist that what benefit was it in the first place. It just makes you feel better? Are you aware there is a somewhat strong percentage of error affiliated with signals and that error increases as traffic goes up?

For the most part signals are safe and back in the days when sleds were slower, traffic lighter, signals would give you a basic idea what to expect. Today is a different era. Machines are 100 mph plus, trails are smooth allowing a much higher average speed, traffic is insane on weekends. Hand signals are just not a an effective method of increasing safety any longer. It certainly is not wrong to signal and the last time I rode I did signal many times not out of respect as it has nothing to do with respect. So if I do not signal, it is a sign of disrespect? That's just pure insane to maintain that I need to signal other wise I am disrespectful, that is what this threads intent implies,,respect,,,correct?
 
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lenny

Guest
snowdance said:
I fall into the category you describe (minus headphones) and i'm 41 years old, use hand signals when appropriate. Having my snowmobile under control has a higher priority than signaling. Don't really appreciate being lumped into a category based on your short term observations.

I do think hand signals are a little overrated. Bottom line people need to be in control of their snowmobile and drive within their ability. If I relied on hand signals to keep me safe, then i'd probably be dead by now...
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the highlighted is, in my opinion, the single most significant comment I have ever read on this topic!

Thanks SNOWDANCE! I may have to borrow that line from you time to time. ;)
 
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lenny

Guest
Racedad223 said:
I'm 44 ride a rush with 6" risers wear a MX helmet use a mid shield (cause it's faster) and my name IS Ricky! I was leading this Sat.up on 431 out of Seney nice section of sweepers not tight just comfy caught a group that was running a good pace, I cautiously followed seemed they had decent skills so got up pretty tight. It was fun. Then we got some traffic towards us and their last guy Fisted everyday group! I was laughing. You never know what's coming behind you! You have Two grips... Use them :)
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another good one,, so many good ones
 
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wisyooper1

Member
shelby369 said:
Over the last 4 weeks, I have logged over a 1000 miles riding Vilas, Oneida, and Iron counties in Wisconsin........I started noticing that certain groups of riders failed to hand signal......so of course I started to pay closer attention and this is what I un-scientifically figured out........The tread of non-signaling riders were male under the age of 30..........This past Sat night I approched a group of males in there low 20's while sitting in the Tiki bar in St. germain, I asked them "whats up with your generation of rides feeling they don't have to hand signal" and to my surprise, they "this group of young men" also have noticed this trend and were complaining also to me about the safety issues created by NOT using hand signals.........so I ask you young "backpack wearing, shovel carrying, itunes connected, gopro running young guys" WHY CANT YOU HAND SIGNAL ????
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I wear old-school "choppers" for gloves....no fingers.....so hand signals from me won't help you much!!
jchr-435s-gld.jpg
 
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79_srx

New member
I wish they used hand signals when im grooming or some typ of heads up . allmost had one under the groomer last night.the first one made it by but his buddys hood was in away from the blade, dont know whos eyes got bigger his or mine
 
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choc_lab

Member
Last weekend I was riding near Pembine and I met a group of sleds and they gave the hand single for 4 sleds 3 guys went by and the four was nowhere to be seen , I then can up to a sharp curve and had a feeling that the fourth guy was still coming so I pull way to the side and even stopped ,and just then he came around the corner on my side of the trail trying to catch up to his buddies. Point is if I wasn't expecting another sled it would have been a head on collision . So hand signals do help !
 
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polarisrider1

New member
Hand signals are for posers. They just give a warm fuzzy feeling and offer more danger than not. Really think about it. start a pro/con list and then add in some real life and then you will understand why they are no longer helpfull. To much error in the signaler is a major issue.
 
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lenny

Guest
polarisrider1 said:
Hand signals are for posers. They just give a warm fuzzy feeling and offer more danger than not. Really think about it. start a pro/con list and then add in some real life and then you will understand why they are no longer helpfull. To much error in the signaler is a major issue.
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maybe so but we never discuss the principle of signaling in detail. we just say yes or no and never dig deep on the matter,,that's why it continues to come up over and over, we never get anywhere.
 
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milkmilkmilk

New member
If I'm riding cleanup I will throw out the "final fist" if it's safe to do so. If I'm in our tight twisty trails I'm not taking my hands off the bars to signal. Not because I can't control my sled but because I do not trust you* to control your own.
If I happen to be leading I will warn others in my group when an oncoming group is headed our way. Other than that I don't signal much.

I find sleds parked randomly all over the trail more annoying than someone who doesn't signal.
Earlier this year I rode with a group that would stop in the dumbest places. On the blindside of a turn, over the crest of a hill etc. and there never failed to be one or two that just stopped in the middle of the trail rather than pull off to the edge.
Just about drove me batty.
shelby369 said:
Why then doeas the Wisconsin DNR teach and make it a big part of their snowmobile safty class to hand signal fellow sledders ??? beleive it or not, they ask hand signal questions on the test and the test takers don't get to opt out of the questions because they "feel they dont have to signal"
.
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WDNR does not teach the finger count. They also have in big bold letters to only use hand signals when it is safe to remove one hand from the handlebars.
This is the sleds following signal that WDNR teaches (and you can still use it if you prefer mittens ;)).

hand-following.jpg

There are seven hand signals taught in WDNR classes. Two out those seven pertain to oncoming riders. The above and the "final fist".
The emphasis on hand signals is for other riders in your own group. So how often do you signal left/right turns, stopping, slowing down and to warn your group their is another group oncoming?
 
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OhioFisher

Member
True...

soxfan3 said:
To me it's simple. If you are under control & comfortable, go ahead & signal. If you can't control your sled, then please keep your hands on the handlebars, I'll fend for myself & assume the next guy in your group will be in the same situation.
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I agree 100%
I have seen a decline in the signaling and am disappointed. It always helped me and gave me a heads up on whats to come. Plus it is kinda a cool thing to do almost like waving to a fellow sledder IMO... lol
 
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lenny

Guest
OhioFisher said:
I agree 100%
I have seen a decline in the signaling and am disappointed. It always helped me and gave me a heads up on whats to come. Plus it is kinda a cool thing to do almost like waving to a fellow sledder IMO... lol
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similar to motorcycling?
 
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