Learning How To Communicate Effectively

Becoming a good driver is more than braking, steering, and accelerating. It’s also about being able to communicate effectively with other road users. Allowing other road users to know your intentions can actually help you complete those intentions, and it can also help keep other road users safe. Let’s take a look at the different ways to communicate with others, when to use those methods, and what to look for to know your message was received and understood.

Let’s start off with what many people consider the main way to communicate with someone while driving, especially if it means to warn them to stop doing what they are about to do, or to get their immediate attention – the horn. Although some people may think using the horn is a negative thing to do while driving, it doesn’t have to be.

Use the Horn

To use the horn positively, it would be best to give two taps of the horn if you see someone moving toward your path when you feel they aren’t looking in your direction and their position is too close to you that it may cause a collision. For example, suppose you see a pedestrian walking toward the edge of the road very close to your position. In that case, they aren’t looking in your direction, and their movement does not appear to indicate they will be stopping before stepping onto the road. Giving two taps of the horn to get their attention is a positive use of the horn.

To know you have communicated effectively with your horn, you want two things to happen. First, you want them to look in your direction, and second, you want them to stop their motion toward the road or your path. This will show you they have understood your message. If they look at you and keep going, effective communication was not received. That, or they chose to ignore you.

Using Your Brake Lights

Other ways to communicate while driving include using your brake lights. Each time you apply your brakes, you know you’re slowing down, but have you thought about how you’re letting the driver behind you know you’re doing that? To give the driver behind a chance to slow down safely, you should brake early. This puts the brake lights on early enough to allow the driver behind a good opportunity to stop in time.

To know that they have seen your message and acknowledged it, check your mirror to see if they are slowing down. If they are not slowing down, you may want to either come off your brakes and back on again, to help get their attention. If that doesn’t work, try tapping your horn to get their attention. They may have looked away and missed seeing your brake lights.

Use of Turn Signals

One of the means of communication that many drivers fail to use these days is the use of turn signals. Learning to drive taught us that it is an essential means of communication that many people stop doing. Putting on your turn signal for a turn sends a message to those behind you that you will be slowing down. This gives them early warning so they too can respond to your potential brake lights and slow down in plenty of time.

Turn signals for lane changes can also help you create space to make the lane change. Once you realize you need to change lanes, either for a lane that is blocked up ahead or to allow you to make a turn ahead, put on your turn signal early, and keep checking your mirrors. You may have to adjust your speed, but that turn signal is letting all of the other drivers know of your intentions, and someone may just let you in by slowing down. This can be a big help, especially if you intend to take a driving test.

Reverse Lights

Now, let’s say you need to back up somewhere, such as a driveway or parking space. Signaling as you approach the space will let anyone coming from behind know of your intentions. However, once you stop in a position to back in, put the gear selector into reverse. This will automatically turn on your white reverse lights. Now you’re communicating with two means to show the driver behind your intentions. If you leave the vehicle in drive gear but with a turn signal on, the driver behind you would assume you wanted to turn right ahead, not for the space behind you.

Put on the Hazard Lights

There may be times when you need to pull over to pick someone up at the side of the road or check something inside the vehicle. This would be a good time to put on the hazard lights. They are sometimes referred to as the 4-way flashers. This communicates to everyone else that you are temporarily stopped and will not be moving anytime soon. If you have a vehicle close behind you, it would be a good idea to put the hazard lights on as you begin to slow down and start to move toward the edge of the road. This way, the driver behind won’t follow you and get stuck behind you. It gives them time to move around you.

Hand Signals

Finally, let’s discuss the hand signals that you might have learned as a cyclist before becoming a driver. If your turn signals are not functioning, to indicate a right turn, extend your arm straight out the window as if you are pointing in that direction. To signal a left turn, extend your right arm and make forward circles with it. To show that you are slowing down or preparing to stop, extend your right arm and move it up and down.

Knowing how to communicate effectively helps you and other road users travel safely. Sending a message is only half of communicating. Ensuring you get the intended response is the other half. Both are important. Now you know.