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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>57778</law_id><section_number>46.2-849</section_number><catch_line>How signals given</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>46.2-1038</reference><reference>46.2-1039</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Operation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="8">Regulation of Traffic</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="6">Signals by Drivers</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Signals required by &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Signals required on backing, stopping, or turning" href="/46.2-848/">46.2-848</a> shall be given by means of the hand and arm or by some mechanical or electrical device approved by the <span class="dictionary">Superintendent</span>, in the manner specified in this section. Whenever the signal is given by means of the hand and arm, the <span class="dictionary">driver</span> shall indicate his intention to start, stop, turn, or partly turn by extending the hand and arm beyond the left side of the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> in the manner following: <a id="paragraph-211602" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-849/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> For left turn or to pull to the left, the arm shall be extended in a horizontal position straight from and level with the <span class="dictionary">shoulder</span>; <a id="paragraph-211603" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-849/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> For right turn or to pull to the right, the arm shall be extended upward; <a id="paragraph-211604" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-849/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> For slowing down or stopping, the arm shall be extended downward. <a id="paragraph-211605" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-849/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Wherever the lawful speed is more than 35 miles per hour, such signals shall be given continuously for a distance of at least 100 feet, and in all other cases at least 50 feet, before slowing down, stopping, turning, or partly turning. <a id="paragraph-211606" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-849/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A person riding a bicycle, <span class="dictionary">electric personal assistive mobility device</span>, <span class="dictionary">electric power-assisted bicycle</span>, <span class="dictionary">moped</span>, or <span class="dictionary">motorized skateboard or scooter</span> shall signal his intention to stop or turn. Such signals, however, need not be given continuously if both hands are needed in the control or operation of the bicycle, <span class="dictionary">electric personal assistive mobility device</span>, <span class="dictionary">electric power-assisted bicycle</span>, <span class="dictionary">moped</span>, or <span class="dictionary">motorized skateboard or scooter</span>. <a id="paragraph-211607" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-849/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, a person operating a bicycle, <span class="dictionary">electric personal assistive mobility device</span>, <span class="dictionary">electric power-assisted bicycle</span>, <span class="dictionary">moped</span>, or <span class="dictionary">motorized skateboard or scooter</span> may signal a right turn or pull to the right by extending the right hand and arm in a horizontal position straight from and level with the <span class="dictionary">shoulder</span> beyond the right side of the bicycle, <span class="dictionary">electric personal assistive mobility device</span>, <span class="dictionary">electric power-assisted bicycle</span>, <span class="dictionary">moped</span>, or <span class="dictionary">motorized skateboard or scooter</span> and may signal slowing down or stopping by extending the right arm downward. <a id="paragraph-211608" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-849/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 46-234; 1954, c. 15; 1958, c. 541, &#xA7; 46.1-217; 1981, c. 585; 1989, c. 727; 2001, c. 834; 2002, c. 254; 2004, cc. 947, 973; 2019, c. 780.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
