Something to Consider

The current issue of Wisconsin Snowmobile News page 22 "RAD LIGHTS", has a story of the New Signal lights that replace our hand signals when meeting on coming traffic. Yellow means caution, green means all clear. I suppose the argument (and there always is one) is that you'll still need a free hand to toggle the light switch. Probably no different than using your high & low beams. The light is mounted on the left side of your hood, they're low profile and don't detract from the appearance. I personally haven't seen any in use but if it makes things safer, it'd be something I'd consider. Here's a link that offers more....

The last person with the green light as well as the last person hand signaling often has no clue there are sleds behind them waiting to pass, often there are mirors on these sleds that obviously no one looks at.
Never trust the all clear, always watch for people around every corner. I usually lead, I hand signal to protect my group and I check my mirrors often.

garageguy said:

The last person with the green light as well as the last person hand signaling often has no clue there are sleds behind them waiting to pass, often there are mirors on these sleds that obviously no one looks at.
Never trust the all clear, always watch for people around every corner. I usually lead, I hand signal to protect my group and I check my mirrors often.

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Exactly. Hand signals and lights are pretty pointless, you should always assume that there's a sled coming in the next turn because the group you just passed has no idea there's another group right behind them. I'm the same as you, I look at my mirrors all the time, and wish everyone did. Too many people won't put mirrors on their machines for aesthetics, but it's amazing how much information you can get from using them.

We've used them for the last 4 or 5 years, if nothing else it's kind of an attention getter.

garageguy said:

The last person with the green light as well as the last person hand signaling often has no clue there are sleds behind them waiting to pass, often there are mirors on these sleds that obviously no one looks at.
Never trust the all clear, always watch for people around every corner. I usually lead, I hand signal to protect my group and I check my mirrors often.

Click to expand...

Facts

My group has been using ride lights for 9 years, majority of riders in the Northwoods has no clue what the lights mean. We get flipped off, hand shacking as to what gives with people just darn right mad that we don't hand signal back. Over the past few years though we have been seeing more groups on board with ride lights. I just wish everyone knew what they are and what their purpose is. I find it more enjoyable to NOT hand signal and have more control of my machine especially when in a corner and the guy coming at you is out of control, in your lane and still trying to hand signal. SMH. Ride lights are very popular on the East coast. When in Maine a couple years ago it seemed like just about everyone used them.

I won’t mount ride lights on my sled too large and nasty but I would Velcro a green or amber high efficiency battery light on my ample windshield and give that a test. Sure lots of inaccuracy with operator error but I’m willing to try something cheap and easy to see if it made trails more safe. Who knows could Velcro tight to my mirrors! Who wants to take a shot at it?

I have them on both our sleds. I have the Ski Doo ones that go on the center of the handguards. I like them and I am liking keeping both hands on the bars. Gary you don't have to switch back and forth. If you are not the last guy you leave it on yellow if you are the last guy you leave it on green. Yes I know you should always assume there is a sled coming at you always and I do. I put them on to be courteous which is all it is. It isn't a law to hand signal and I still think it's crazy that every single sledder is giving a countdown to how many sleds they have in the group. I wish more rider would go to the lights or come up with a hand signal more sleds coming and then the last sledder give a signal last sled. The riders doing it at night with black gloves on crack me up every time. Yeah I can see how many fingers you are holding out in the pitch black. I am pretty sure if I see other headlights there are more sleds

Could it be that new models in future years have them as Factory Options, eventually standard? If I had them, I would definitely use them.

Good point, hermie. I was thinking of riding solo and not in a group. Everybody Yellow except the Tailgunner.

And yes, headlights at night are a much better indicator of traffic than fingers on a dark glove.

One thing we can agree on is that this is an inherently hazardous past time. If hand signals, lights or two way radios make it safer, why not!