correct ground movement hand signals

[Robin Craig]

There are many very talented and experienced people on this forum, some of whom I have met and many I respect deeply (but don't tell them).

Ground guiding is about communicating, this is a practised art form based around agreed signals.

I am involved with a vehicle collection at work and in my pleasure time other vehicle groups.

The merits of the various signals can be discussed 14 ways to Sunday. My favourite set of signals is becoming what ENFORM uses out west and is detailed here:- http://www.pistonwell.com/irp/irp12_...g_vehicles.pdf

I am responsible in the workplace as a supervisor and as a team member with the hobby.

I agree with others who state that they observe the most danger when owners who operate vehicles do not follow instructions, that hits close to home for me very deeply, I have lived that dream too often.

With the Cold War Collection, that I volunteer with, we hold training weekends and part of that time includes practices on ground guiding with each other to a standard and build the trust and skills needed as part of being a group. We use wheeled and tracked armour and softskins large and small.

Knowing how vehicles handle and what they can do is part of the exercise.

Anyone seen an M113 or an FV432 do a neutral turn?

Ever seen a CVR(T) take a corner in too high a gear and go wide and understand what happened?

Discussion on safety is always good and does the hobby good.

I have as a ground guide watched several people come close to being killed on a number of occasions, it is always distressing and avoidable.

Have a safe weekend

[eddy8men]

formal hand signals are a great place to start but everyone develops their own style after a while. the most important thing is trust between the guy driving and the guy doing the guiding. i always look the driver in the eye and give him obvious firm hand movements. these occasionally turn into a vigorous up and down motion if he keeps turning after i've dropped my hand down

[kevin powles]

Originally Posted by eddy8men

formal hand signals are a great place to start but everyone develops their own style after a while. the most important thing is trust between the guy driving and the guy doing the guiding. i always look the driver in the eye and give him obvious firm hand movements. these occasionally turn into a vigorous up and down motion if he keeps turning after i've dropped my hand down

Hey Rick, I remember a few years being a back stop when your were reversing the cromwell, I thought I'd signal your signal man to stop reversing 5ft early, glad I did as by the time I signalled, he signalled and you stopped was 4ft lol. End up perfect and you avoided crushing your own truck.