What is the traffic police's slow down gesture?
3 Answers
Action: Extend the right arm straight to the right front, parallel to the shoulder, with the palm facing downward and fingers closed together; simultaneously turn the face and gaze 45 degrees to the right; then move the arm up and down. Simplified memory: A single-handed command with the right hand, palm down, moving up and down indicates a slow down signal. More details are as follows: 1. If the traffic police raises the left hand and lowers the right hand: it is a stop signal; if the traffic police lowers the left hand and extends the right hand to the side while moving it downward, it indicates slowing down. If the traffic police raises one hand forward and moves the other hand below, and if the right hand is moving below, it indicates a right turn signal; if the left hand is moving below, it indicates a left turn signal. 2. If the traffic police moves the right hand left and right below while raising the left hand high: it signals the vehicle to pull over. In this case, the vehicle should not force its way forward. However, many may confuse this gesture with the right turn signal. Just check if the left hand is raised high—if it is, it means the vehicle needs to pull over. If the traffic police extends the left hand horizontally and raises the right hand, folding it toward the left hand, it indicates going straight. 3. If the traffic police lowers the right hand, slightly raises the left hand, and moves it downward: it signals the vehicle to prepare for a left turn. Similarly, if the traffic police lowers the left hand, extends the right hand forward, and moves it to the left, it indicates a lane change.
When traffic police signal to slow down, they typically use one or both hands with palms facing downward, then move their arms horizontally back and forth slowly in front of their body a few times. The motion is steady, gentle, and unhurried, as if kindly telling drivers, 'Drive slowly, pay attention to safety.' I've encountered this situation many times while driving, such as near intersections or school zones. This gesture from traffic police is quite effective, especially during rainy days with poor visibility—remembering to slow down can prevent skidding and rear-end collisions. As a seasoned long-distance driver, I feel these signals are not just regulations but more like reminders for us to maintain cautious driving and not rush to ignore potential risks. Paying more attention to road condition changes and cooperating with these gestures can save a lot of trouble. I also recommend fellow drivers to learn basic gesture knowledge.
When I first started learning to drive, I was curious about how traffic police signaled to slow down. Later, my instructor said it's quite simple: most traffic officers gently wave their palm downward, indicating it's time to brake and control speed. During my first few times on the road, I didn't understand, and once I nearly ran a red light and got fined—a big lesson learned. Now, every time I see this gesture from an officer, I immediately ease off the accelerator and drive slowly according to road conditions. The key is to stay calm and avoid impatient lane changes in traffic, which only increases accident risks. New drivers should definitely brush up on traffic hand signals through videos or apps—it genuinely boosts alertness and safeguards both your own and others' travel safety.
