The average driver won't recognize hand-on-hip as a signal that you have no plans for hinky actions. They just see it as over-confidence, or even arrogance, especially if you're passing them in the same lane in heavy traffic.
Personally, I think it's a bad idea to not have both hands where they need to be to have complete control (instant use of clutch and front brake) while you're passing within rwo feet or less of a car.
I frequently see riders in traffic (and splitting) with one hand on the bar. It's amazingly foolish. It takes 0.75 seconds to perceive a threat, and another 0.75 seconds to react. If it takes 0.5 seconds to get your hand back on the handlebars, you've given up precious distance. At 50mph 0.5sec is approximately 37ft. 37ft of nothing done to counter the threat.
I am not sure how you know what an average driver thinks.
As many know, I've been a motorcycle safety instructor for over 25yrs. Most of the students are non-motorcyclists. I'm also an automobile safety instructor. I constantly ask the students of my classes their impressions and opinions regarding motorcyclists and splitting lanes.
Here are the common responses:
- Most do not hear the motorcycle until it is passing them.
- Those that do hear the motorcycle do not know where it is.
- They notice the difference between those that split at high(er) speeds and mention that low(er) speeds doesn't bother them as much.
- Motorcyclists that weave as they split lanes are perceived as less safe than those that maintain position in their lane.
- They cannot figure out why motorcyclists 'split' by them in their lane, when the other lane is empty.
- They only see the headlight of a motorcycle approaching from the rear, not the turn-signals. (I specifically asked this due to many BARFers that claim that it helps)
- They notice riders that flash/pulse their headlight as they ride (I'm thinking that this is a headlight modulator)
- They get nervous when a rider takes their hand (or foot) off the motorcycle.
