What is the difference between left turn and left turn waiting gestures?
3 Answers
The difference between left turn and left turn waiting gestures lies in the angle size. Here are the specific details: 1. Left turn: For the left turn traffic police gesture, the right arm is extended forward at a 90-degree angle to the body with the palm facing forward. The angle between the palm and the arm should not be less than 60 degrees, with fingers closed together. The face and gaze should simultaneously turn 45 degrees to the left. The right arm is extended forward at a 90-degree angle to the body, with the palm facing forward, and the angle between the palm and the arm should not be less than 60 degrees, with fingers closed together. The face and gaze should simultaneously turn 45 degrees to the left. The left arm and palm swing straight to the right front at a 45-degree angle to the body, with the palm facing right, the middle fingertip aligned to the center seam of the shirt, and the height up to the lowest button of the shirt. The left arm returns to a position not exceeding the trouser seam, with the face and gaze maintaining a 45-degree leftward view, completing one swing. The left arm and palm swing straight to the right front at a 45-degree angle to the body, with the palm facing right, the middle fingertip aligned to the center seam of the shirt, and the height up to the lowest button of the shirt (repeating action 2). The left arm returns to a position not exceeding the trouser seam, with the face and gaze maintaining a 45-degree leftward view, completing one swing (repeating action 3, completing the second swing). The right arm is withdrawn, the face and gaze return to the front, and the standing posture is restored. 2. Left turn waiting gesture: The left arm is extended to the left at a 45-degree angle to the body, with the palm facing downward and fingers closed together. The face and gaze simultaneously turn 45 degrees to the left. The left arm and palm swing straight downward at a 15-degree angle to the body, with the face and gaze maintaining a 45-degree forward view, completing the first swing. The left arm is extended to the left at a 45-degree angle to the body, with the palm facing downward and fingers closed together. The face and gaze simultaneously turn 45 degrees to the left (repeating action 1). The left arm and palm swing straight downward at a 15-degree angle to the body, with the face and gaze maintaining a 45-degree forward view, completing the first swing (repeating action 2, completing the second swing). The left arm is withdrawn, the face and gaze return to the front, and the standing posture is restored.
I've been driving for over a decade and often encounter traffic police directing traffic. The difference between the left turn signal and the left turn waiting signal is actually quite distinct. The left turn signal means the officer is directly instructing you to turn left now - for example, when they extend their right arm forward and swing it leftward, it means proceed immediately without delay. This is used when traffic lights malfunction to directly guide your turn. The left turn waiting signal, however, means you should enter the intersection waiting area to prepare for the turn but not proceed yet. For instance, when the officer raises one hand horizontally pointing to the waiting area, it means wait there until the light turns green. This helps prevent intersection congestion and improves traffic flow. In actual driving, confusing these signals can lead to accidents. The left turn waiting signal is an effective method to prevent rear-end collisions, especially at busy urban intersections where you must observe carefully. Failing to follow these hand signal rules may result in tickets and increased risks. I recommend beginners study traffic diagrams thoroughly to familiarize themselves.
When directing traffic at intersections, the left turn gesture is used to immediately guide vehicles to turn left, commonly seen as extending the right arm horizontally with the palm facing forward while swinging the left arm. The left turn waiting gesture, on the other hand, instructs vehicles to enter the waiting zone to prepare for a turn but not execute it, similar to a downward palm motion indicating a pause and wait. It is primarily used to manage traffic flow, avoiding conflicts at intersections and enhancing order. The key difference lies in one being a real-time action command and the other a transitional instruction. The waiting zone is typically located along the extension of the main road's centerline. Executing the waiting gesture can reduce sudden braking and collisions, especially during peak traffic hours. Drivers need to pay attention to changes in the traffic officer's body language to respond promptly, and timely adjustments can improve overall road safety and efficiency.
