What should you do? Besides squeezing the brake pedal with determination, you should alert drivers behind you that you’re slowing down and coming to a stop, so they’re prepared and can take appropriate action as well. Traffic has come to a stop suddenly in front of you, and you need to slow down right now. Say your vehicle’s turn signals have stopped working or your brake lights are out.
And no, none of them are intended to communicate to another driver that “you’re number one!” In the library of useful hand gestures, there are three you need to know to be a well-rounded driver, because you may have to use them one day behind the wheel. “I don’t know,” you might shrug while raising your palms skyward when asked a question.
“After you,” you might signal with a sweep of your hand to someone who reaches a store’s entrance just as you do.
We use hand signals in our daily lives so often, we don’t even notice it.