Why do people say left hand down instead of left? We all know which way to turn the wheel to make the car go left, and it's the same in reverse. And if I'm reversing looking over my shoulder, one hand isn't on the wheel so the phrase makes no sense!
OT: Left hand down?
Jun 12, 2021
Last reply: 5 years ago
41 Replies
Because it avoids any uncertainty between driver's left and guider's left, if they're facing different ways, or one is looking at the other in a mirror.
There are these things called mirrors that don't require you to look over your shoulder.
I take it you have never steered a boat with a tiller
Even better: the little TV camera built into the rear of some modern cars which outputs a display to the car's computer screen.
That was line in "The Navy Lark", a radio comedy programme from the 1950s.
You ranted about the same thing in 2017. Tedious.
Cindy Hamilton
Why on earth would you think it was guider's left? If you're helping someone move a car, it's obviously the car you're thinking about!
Neither of those give you a full 180 degree+ view.
Why would that matter? Unless the person operating the boat didn't know how to steer a boat, you're just telling them to move the boat left.
Which was never meant to be taken seriously!
My new car has one of those. It comes in very handy to make sure I don't run over the damn cat. For an animal supposed to be cleanly he loves to roll in the driveway dirt.
really?
Which people say "left hand down"? How is it used in practice?
I have never heard that phrase.
On Sat, 12 Jun 2021 10:37:40 -0600, rbowman posted for all of us to digest...
Whadda yu mean mirrors? Whaddar day?
On Sat, 12 Jun 2021 14:04:35 -0700 (PDT), Marilyn Manson posted for all of us to digest...
Me neither...
I never heard it either.
The only thing I can think of is from the old days. There was a time when drivers used hand signals to signal left, right, or stop with their left hands. That might still be legal but I don't remember anyone using them.
Not only are hand signals still legal, but a road test examiner may ask you to at least demonstrate one or more signal or recognize one or more signal as part of the test.
Keep in mind that drivers are required to signal their intention to turn, slow or stop. If that can't be accomplished with vehicle's equipment, then hand signals must be used. Not just legal, but the law.
Some people say that you should use hand signals in bright sunlight, bumper to bumper traffic and any other situation where your turn signals might be hard to see.
Kids should be taught to use hand signals while they are riding a bicycle as soon as they are proficient/confident enough to ride with one hand. You might be surprised to hear that the NHTSA adds a 4th hand signal for bicyclists (Alternative Right Turn) and also allows either arm to be used for slowing or stopping.
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I thought it was invented by the BBC for the Navy Lark. However it actually makes moor since on a bike or in an aircraft where you lean into a turn. Brian
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