Bicycling...Hand signals and eye contact with drivers...

Was reading in Bicycling Magazine (I love that thing...I'm getting it for another year for Christmas).  A guy who was taking a bike safety class said to try and make eye contact with drivers.  Maybe use hand signals and waving to speed up the process.  I started using it and it is working pretty good.  Before what I usually would do is not make eye contact.  I would slow down at stop signs and pretend I was turning right.  Letting the drivers go...Be super defensive.  I still am defensive in my biking. but by making eye contact and waving them through first (4 way stop), I can push on and not have to come to a complete stop.  Living and learning.  So how much eye contact and hand signals do you make...and do you trust the drivers??  PS  Dear Santa; I would really like some better paved roads for Christmas... 

i definitely use hand signals (both with drivers and other riders) and eye contact is key.  you can signal all you want, but if the driver isn't paying attention it will end poorly if you think you have the right of way and they don't see you.

 Maybe I'm ignorant... but aren't bicycles supposed to follow the rules of the road? Aka STOP at a stop sign, etc... At least that's the way my father taught me, and that's the way I always rode my bike while on the road. 

Yes, you are right...But probably less than 5% of bicyclist come to a complete (totally complete) stop.  You would have to dismount everytime.  In the real world it doesn't happen.  Cars yes, bikes no.