Road Safety: The Waver By

Kat_Bath

Kat_Bath

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Just driving home from my lesson and I was amazed that a pair of riders (in hi viz-lovely to see) tried to wave me by on a right hand bend on a country lane. Using my own judgement, I waited until I could see the road was clear and then overtook, wide and slow. I think maybe they were surprised I didn't go on their signal.
Then, about a mile along the road, I came up behind two boys on bikes, they went in one behind the other and then both tried to wave me passed, on the crest of a hill. I didn't overtake because I couldn't see what might be coming up the hill and it's on a slight bend. They were getting more and more wavey when I didn't overtake and scowled at me when I did pass and gestured at me.
I just had to vent my frustration. If it were me, I'd spend less time trying to get people to pass me in a potentially dangerous situation and allow drivers to think for themselves...
Just me?
 
It is always up to the driver as to whether they pas or not

It can be useful to know that those a driver is intending to pass have seen them and are happy for the driver to do so

Those waving on are not telling the driver to pass and any driver who interperets it that way needs some serious retraining
 
Drives me crazy, and it would be your fault in an accident. When you do your road safety exam, they say not to wave people past unless you have a clear line. It happens to me all the time, and if I am feeling particuarlaly grumpy, I do say something, especially to the cyclists who are the worst.
 
I had it drummed into me when learning to drive that you should by go blind into a situation on ther command.

ROG, that's an interesting take: they've seen you and are happy for you to pass.
 
If I'm riding, & I can see the way is clear I will wave a driver on, & usually they do go past. But as a driver I always wait till I can see myself, rather than someone waving me on, so I'm not bothered if drivers ignore my waves. I wave because the majority of drivers seem to appreciate it, whether they act upon it is their decision though.
 
I never go unless I can see, a van driver got cross with me because I wouldn't cross the road when he waved me on. Well, I appreciate the gesture, but I'd rather not be flattened by the bus coming the other way!

We only wave cars on when we can see and know it's clear. Some choose to ignore us and use their own judgment, others go before we signal and some trust us not to lead them into on coming traffic.
 
As others have said, it is up to the driver to use their own judgement. They may feel that the rider, especially can see over the hedge/wall and know that the way is clear. there are 2 places in particular where we do sometimes wave drivers on, because we CAN see round the bend, where they cannot. There are also occasions where we wave drivers back if they are attempting to pass us but we can see cars coming towards us and them.
It certainly would not be a defense in an accident that the driver had been waved on, if they had driven blind onto the wrong side of the road. IMO ROG has a perfect take on the situation.
 
As a rider I was always taught never to wave vehicles on, but to look behind every so often to acknowledge that they are there and you are not ignoring them. We were told that in the event of an accident we might be held liable if we waved someone on so it should always be left up to the driver. As a carriage driver I apply the same principle, I very very rarely wave on and that is usually when I have pulled over on an obviously empty single track road and is to let the driver know I am stopped and safe for them to go past. But my backstepper (or me if I'm on the back) keeps looking back to let them know I know they are there and waiting.
 
dollyanna said:
As a rider I was always taught never to wave vehicles on, but to look behind every so often to acknowledge that they are there and you are not ignoring them. We were told that in the event of an accident we might be held liable if we waved someone on so it should always be left up to the driver. As a carriage driver I apply the same principle, I very very rarely wave on and that is usually when I have pulled over on an obviously empty single track road and is to let the driver know I am stopped and safe for them to go past. But my backstepper (or me if I'm on the back) keeps looking back to let them know I know they are there and waiting.
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The wave on by the rider can never be deemed as being in any way liable if an incident occured - the safe and legal onus is on the vehicle driver

Without the wave on how am I as a driver supposed to know if the rider or riders are ok for me to pass ? - I could take a reasonable guess but I could never be 100% certain

The TYPE of wave on is an option -
BIG outstretched arm wave on tends to say 'pass now'
low down arm next to the horse tends to mean ' ok to pass when ready'
 
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I cringe when I'm hacking with someone who tries to direct traffic.I wouldn't do it and as a motorist, don't like riders who wave me on.

Hate being put in the position of being thought rude, but I want to be able to see a clear road for myself.
 
horserider said:
I cringe when I'm hacking with someone who tries to direct traffic.I wouldn't do it and as a motorist, don't like riders who wave me on.

Hate being put in the position of being thought rude, but I want to be able to see a clear road for myself.
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As a horse rider you might know when to pass and have considered everything but as a non horse rider how am I supposed to know?
 
ROG said:
As a horse rider you might know when to pass and have considered everything but as a non horse rider how am I supposed to know?
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Exactly. As my old driving instructor said 'treat every other road user as though they were an idiot.'

In 30 years of driving, it was the best advice I ever got.
 
horserider said:
Exactly. As my old driving instructor said 'treat every other road user as though they were an idiot.'

In 30 years of driving, it was the best advice I ever got.
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Still not answered my question ..

If I approach you in my vehicle from behind when you are riding and you do not wave me through then when should I pass you - when I think so whether I am right or not ??
 
littlelegs said:
If I'm riding, & I can see the way is clear I will wave a driver on, & usually they do go past. But as a driver I always wait till I can see myself, rather than someone waving me on, so I'm not bothered if drivers ignore my waves. I wave because the majority of drivers seem to appreciate it, whether they act upon it is their decision though.
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This, always. Around here (narrow lanes) drivers get very frustrated if you don't wave them on.
 
ROG said:
Still not answered my question ..

If I approach you in my vehicle from behind when you are riding and you do not wave me through then when should I pass you - when I think so whether I am right or not ??
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When you see the road is clear ahead. Not quite sure what you mean, apart from that ?

Are you thinking that every horse rider should signal each vehicle to say its ok to drive past a horse ? Would be very annoying for the horse to have a rider continually dropping the reins every two minutes, with the exception of a spooked horse, in which case common sense from both the rider and motorist should prevail.
 
horserider said:
When you see the road is clear ahead. Not quite sure what you mean, apart from that ?

Are you thinking that every horse rider should signal each vehicle to say its ok to drive past a horse ? Would be very annoying for the horse to have a rider continually dropping the reins every two minutes, with the exception of a spooked horse, in which case common sense from both the rider and motorist should prevail.
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I know about cyclists etc and what they are capable of doing but I have no idea when I look at a horse what that will do ... but the rider does
That is why I look to the rider to inform me as a driver that it is ok to pass when I am ready
 
horserider said:
When you see the road is clear ahead. Not quite sure what you mean, apart from that ?

Are you thinking that every horse rider should signal each vehicle to say its ok to drive past a horse ? Would be very annoying for the horse to have a rider continually dropping the reins every two minutes, with the exception of a spooked horse, in which case common sense from both the rider and motorist should prevail.
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Since when do you have to drop your reins to signal someone to pass?! :eek: Even a beginner can move the reins to one hand to signal - and if they can't they shouldn't be on the road at all.

ROG, a rider at the very least should turn to acknowledge the driver is there (preferably with a smile not a scowl!) even if they can't take their hands off the reins just then and they should endeavour to move forward quickly to the next gateway/onto the verge or whatever to move out of the way especially if traffic is coming towards them too if it's not safe for the driver to pass then to wave on and to acknowledge the driver's patience when they can go safely. That's always worked for me in 50 years of riding and most of the time I always get a smile and acknowledgement back from them, not a two fingered salute either! :)

It's the ones that don't even turn their head when you go past wide and slow on the wider roads that I get mad at.
 
Maesfen said:
ROG, a rider at the very least should turn to acknowledge the driver is there (preferably with a smile not a scowl!) even if they can't take their hands off the reins just then and they should endeavour to move forward quickly to the next gateway/onto the verge or whatever to move out of the way especially if traffic is coming towards them too if it's not safe for the driver to pass then to wave on and to acknowledge the driver's patience when they can go safely. That's always worked for me in 50 years of riding and most of the time I always get a smile and acknowledgement back from them, not a two fingered salute either! :)

It's the ones that don't even turn their head when you go past wide and slow on the wider roads that I get mad at.
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A turn of the head and a nod from the rider to me as the driver would suffice
 
If all riders (like most on this site) assume that all drivers (like me) know nowt about horses then we have a starting point

A good driver coming up behind a rider needs a sign that it is ok to pass so whether that is a nod of the head or a small low down wave through should be sufficient to let the driver know its ok to do so

If the rider puts up a 'stop' with their hand then a good driver should wait until another sign is given

Once an ok is given it is then legally up to the driver as to whether they pass or not
 
ROG said:
I know about cyclists etc and what they are capable of doing but I have no idea when I look at a horse what that will do ... but the rider does
That is why I look to the rider to inform me as a driver that it is ok to pass when I am ready
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Yes, til recently I rode in areas where drivers were used to horses. Drivers were largely confident and sensible around horses and traffic passed smoothly.

Now, having moved, we ride on roads where drivers are not familiar with riders and I've noticed they are over cautious in passing. Not a bad thing at all when unsure. For these drivers, I turn and smile or wave to reassure them that passing is fine and thanks very much. Its definitely not a signal to direct them to pass us on a bend or anywhere else.
 
I'm sorry but in my experience, the sensible drivers choose when to pass you (ie when it is safe, there is room, and they can see) whether you wave them on or not. It is all the other idiots who think that a wave means "come past now" without looking for themselves, and then swear blue murder at you when there is something coming. I have seen far more problems waving people because non-horsey people think that means it is clear than I have not waving. As I said, I always acknowledge their presence, and continue to do so until they are clear past - and sometimes this means quite some time if it is not safe. But I will stick to waving people on only when they have been following some time on a single track road, and I am able to get off the road, to let them know that I am as far off the road as I can be.

If I have a problem with someone who looks like they might be about to pass and it isn't safe (from my horse or traffic POV) then I will tell them to wait. But if I take a pony on the road then I expect it to cope with traffic coming past respectfully. I have never heard of anyone wanting to be waved past every horse they meet.

ROG, if you ended up behind me, then I would keep looking at you so you knew I was aware of you, and if it became obvious that you were not sure of passing then I would probably pull over when it was safe to do so, assuming you were wary of passing too close or needed more room to pass me.
 
dollyanna said:
ROG, if you ended up behind me, then I would keep looking at you so you knew I was aware of you, and if it became obvious that you were not sure of passing then I would probably pull over when it was safe to do so, assuming you were wary of passing too close or needed more room to pass me.
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Thats what I would be looking for ^^^
 
Theres a particular bit when i hack out my friends horse which is up a hill round a slight corner with hedges at either side then a long straight so you can see if anything is coming quite clearly and i can see usually a lot before the driver (as horse is huge!) i check its clear but make it very obvious iv checked by standing up in my stirrups and looking before waving them on so they dont get impatient and start coming too close revving their engines. xD

I dont take offence if they prefer to wait, in fact those willing to wait to see for themselves are the patient type which give me room and dont try and push you uphill by their bonnet!
 
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