Motorcycle hand signals for group riding
The Highway Code’s arm signals, and a card maker for the signals your group agrees at the briefing. Type them in, print one for every rider.
3 signals on the card.
| No. | Signal | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Left arm straight out to the side | I intend to move in to the left or turn left |
| 2 | Right arm straight out to the side | I intend to move out to the right or turn right |
| 3 | Right arm out, moved slowly up and down | I intend to slow down or stop |
The first three lines are the arm signals from the Highway Code's signals to other road users, read on 30 October 2026. Add the ones your group agrees. Prints on A4 with a line that should measure 50 mm. Nothing you type leaves your browser, except in the link in your address bar.
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The Highway Code's arm signals
The Highway Code gives three arm signals, under "Signals to other road users". It says they are "for use when direction indicator signals are not used, or when necessary to reinforce direction indicator signals and stop lights". Its pictures show a rider doing each one.
| What the rider does | What it means, in the Highway Code's words |
|---|---|
| Left arm held straight out to the side | "I intend to move in to the left or turn left" |
| Right arm held straight out to the side | "I intend to move out to the right or turn right" |
| Right arm out, moved slowly up and down | "I intend to slow down or stop" |
The Highway Code adds: "These signals should not be used except for the purpose described." The three pictures below are AI-made, posed on the Highway Code's own, and seen from behind as the rider following you sees them.
Signals for the group
Beyond those three, there is no single set of group riding signals in the Highway Code. Groups agree their own. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation in the United States puts it this way in its group riding tips: "Hold a riders' meeting. Discuss things like the route, rest and fuel stops, and hand signals". That is what the card is for. Type each signal your group agrees, one a line, with what it means, and print enough for everyone.
How to use the card maker
Each line is the signal, a colon, then its meaning, like "Left arm straight out to the side: I intend to move in to the left or turn left". The card starts with the Highway Code's three, so you can add yours below them. Up to 20 fit on a card. Add your club's name for the heading.
Printing and sharing
Print gives a single A4 sheet with your signals in a numbered table and your club's name at the top. Before you run off twenty copies, measure the line at the foot of the first one: it is drawn 50 mm long. A wrong length means the printer shrank or stretched the page, so set it to actual size (100%) and try again. Nothing you type is stored. Want the list on someone else's screen? Copy the web address: it carries every line. Planning the route too? The ride-out route card maker prints the turns.
Written by Craig Fearn, Throttlefolio. Last updated .
Questions answered
What are the motorcycle hand signals in the Highway Code?
Three arm signals: left arm out for moving in to the left or turning left, right arm out for moving out to the right or turning right, and right arm out moved up and down for slowing down or stopping.
Are there official group riding hand signals in the UK?
The Highway Code gives only its three arm signals. Groups agree any others at the briefing, which is what the card maker is for.
Can I print the signals card?
Yes, on A4, with a 50 mm line to check the printer kept the size.
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