What is the traffic police stop signal gesture?
2 Answers
Traffic police hand signals are one of the main test contents in the subject one exam. The stop signal gesture is when the left arm is extended straight forward and upward with the palm facing forward, indicating that vehicles ahead are not allowed to proceed. Other traffic police hand signals include the pull-over signal, right turn signal, left turn signal, left turn waiting signal, slow down signal, lane change signal, and straight signal. Below are the detailed descriptions: Pull-over signal: The left arm is extended forward and upward with the palm facing forward; the right arm is extended forward and downward with the palm facing left; the right arm swings horizontally to the left, indicating that the vehicle should pull over. Right turn signal: The left arm is extended forward with the palm facing forward; the right arm and hand swing straight to the left front with the palm facing left, indicating that vehicles on the right are permitted to turn right. Left turn signal: The right arm is extended forward with the palm facing forward; the left arm and hand swing straight to the right front with the palm facing right, indicating that vehicles are permitted to turn left and may make a U-turn if it does not interfere with the passage of released vehicles. Left turn waiting signal: The left arm is extended to the left and downward with the palm facing down; the left arm and hand swing straight downward, indicating that left-turning vehicles are allowed to enter the intersection, approach the center of the intersection along the left turn direction, and wait for the left turn signal. Slow down signal: The right arm is extended to the right front with the palm facing down; the right arm and hand swing straight downward, indicating that vehicles should slow down. Lane change signal: The right arm is extended forward with the palm facing left; the right arm swings horizontally to the left, indicating that vehicles should vacate the designated lane and slow down. Straight signal: The left arm is extended to the left with the palm facing forward; the right arm is extended to the right with the palm facing forward and swings to the left, indicating that vehicles going straight on the right are permitted to proceed.
Seeing a traffic officer making a stop gesture, as a frequent driver on the road, I always want to share some experience. The traffic officer's stop signal is essentially the officer standing upright, with one arm raised high above the head, palm open and facing forward, as if saying 'Stop!' This gesture is particularly eye-catching, especially during busy urban traffic hours, such as rush hour congestion, when traffic officers use it to bring all vehicles to a halt. Having driven for many years, I recall one time when visibility was poor due to rain, and it was only by spotting this gesture that I didn’t rush forward, avoiding a rear-end collision. Why is it designed this way? Because it’s straightforward and clear, almost universally the same worldwide, allowing drivers to recognize it from afar and reducing misunderstandings. Drivers should pay more attention to this, not just focus on their phones or radios—safety first. Regularly practicing and memorizing these gestures can help you handle unexpected road conditions and, most importantly, save lives.
