How different countries addressed hand signals before mechanical turn signals were invented

Turn signals are one of the first safety features in the automotive sector. In the early 20th century, some cars came with ‘trafficators’ with mechanical arms that emerged from either side of the car to indicate a turn. In 1908, Italian inventor Alfredo Barachini was granted a patent for illuminated traffic lights, and French automaker Talbot began putting modern illuminated arrows on its cars in the 1930s. However, despite having been around for over a century, there was no uniform method for implementing mechanical turn signals, and until 1953 they were not even required by law in the United States.

Because turn signals were not uniform during the first half century of the automobile, many drivers still had to learn hand signals. But it became difficult when traveling internationally, as different countries approached hand gestures differently. Although the differences between countries were not that great, there were still enough differences to cause confusion, and standards have not really improved since then. Some countries still have confusing hand gestures, some use the same gestures for completely different purposes, and some even lack basic gestures. So how did the world handle this before the blinders came off?

There are three main hand signals for American drivers, but they are a bit different than the original three before mechanical turn signals. The original hand signals were as follows: A left arm straight out the driver’s window, with the back of the hand pointing backwards, indicated a left turn. A left arm extended with the palm facing back meant the car came to a slower stop. Finally, an arm making clockwise circles (from the driver’s perspective) indicated a right turn.

The only signal left is the left turn. Signaling a right turn is now much easier to see when someone vaguely moves their arm, because it is an arm bent upward at a 90 degree angle. Stopping is even more obvious than having to notice whether someone’s palm is facing forward or backward. Instead, a stop signal is an arm bent downward at a 90-degree angle.

The need for hand signals disappeared fairly quickly in the car’s existence, especially when Buick became the first American car company to use turn signals in 1939. But if one or both of your turn signals stop working, it’s good to know how to warn other drivers of your upcoming turn. These are also the same hand signals that cyclists use; Sharing the road with cars can be dangerous for them, so it is important that motorists know their hand signals. Although cyclists can still indicate a right turn with an upwardly bent arm at 90 degrees, they can also simply extend their right arm straight out. After all, there is nothing blocking their view.

Hand signals have always varied in other countries, but information about such variations is scarce, so it is difficult to determine whether the signals used today are the originals. Since they evolved in America, it stands to reason that they have changed in other areas over the years as well. In fact, the 1931 British Highway Code sheds some light on how the country’s hand signals were first used.

Because British cars are right-hand drive, drivers extend their right hand with their palm facing forward to indicate a right turn. From there, however, things get trickier. To signal that he was slowing down, the driver held out his right arm, palm down, and waved it up and down with a limp wrist. To let the traffic behind them know that it is safe to pass, they extend their arm below the window line and move it back and forth. Interestingly, gestures for indicating a stop and turning to the left are depicted, but only while driving a horse-drawn carriage and holding a whip.

In Britain the gesture to the right is now the same. The up and down movement now indicates that the driver is about to park. At least there is now a left turn signal; to do this, they extend their right arm outstretched, but then make counterclockwise circles with it. Australia is similar, but the stop gesture is a 90 degree arm bend upwards and hand signals for the left turn still don’t seem to exist. Spanish hand gestures are similar to American ones, but slowing down uses the old British up-and-down motion. Fortunately, illuminated turn signals exist, which provide some uniformity. That doesn’t mean some automakers don’t make stupid turn signals, but at least they all work largely the same.