I always wave at oncoming cars when I’m running. I do this not because I’m a friendly guy, but I want to appear as a friendly guy. If it should happen (and it has) that I’m way out in the country and need a ride home, I want motorists to pick me up.
Waving has given me ample opportunity to study the return wave of drivers and passengers. Drivers typically have at least one hand on the steering wheel (hopefully), therefore the one-finger raise (index finger) is often used. Sometimes they will point the index finger.
Same goes for the two-finger raise, or point. Farmers in pick-up trucks will often include a head nod along with the finger wave, especially if they’re wearing a seed corn cap.
If they use the three-or-four-finger wave, it will often appear as if they are “throwing” their fingers at you. This type of wave almost always includes a head or chin nod.
My favorite return wave is the full-hand wave with palm showing. This is the wave I use to greet oncoming traffic, and when it is returned I feel confident that this driver would help me if necessary.
Passengers in vehicles, because they do not have their hands on a steering wheel, if they wave at all, will typically utilize the full-palm. Multiple hands raising in a vehicle, from both driver and passengers, is a great sign of friendliness. Of course, in the Midwest, drivers often wave at each other whether they know the other driver or not. It’s part of Midwest protocol.
Anthropologists tell us that the hand wave originated from ancient man. When two hunters met in the wild, the open palm was a sign of no weapon or no harm intended. This gesture eventually developed into the handshake. Not only could the lack of weapon be felt, like at night, but also the warmth of the other person.
I recently participated in a relay run across the state of Iowa. I informed my team, the Roadrunners, about my study of hand waves. We agreed that we would all wave at oncoming traffic and conduct an informal study of the different types of return waves. Low and behold, a new type of return hand wave was discovered. The evolutionary scales have been tipped. It is the cell phone wave. A good 50 percent of all the drivers we met were talking on cell phones. A woman driver actually waved back with her cell phone. Yep. You read it first right here — the melding of technology with an age-old hand gesture.
I understand for something to become a trend it has to happen multiple times. So far, we have documented only one cell phone wave. With all the cell phone users out there, I’m confident there will be more. I’m asking all of you joggers and walkers out there to wave at oncoming traffic. Let me know the unique types of hand waves you receive and if you get a cell phone wave, by all means let me know.
Nevada is the first state to legalize driverless cars. The cars are guided by sensors. Someone still has to be behind the wheel, but he/she doesn't have to have their hands on it.
What new kind of wave will develop? What happens when these driverless cars encounter a jogger? "Warning! Warning! Foreign body approaching. Prepare to stop."
There might really be some unique hand gestures.
Have a good story? Call Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at (319) 217-0526, email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com or visit his website at www.empty-nest-words-photos-and-frames.com.