Chap. 61.—An ACT to amend and re-enact sections 18, 60 and 61 of chapter 474
of the acts of 1926, entitled “An act to regulate the operation of vehicles on
public highways to govern and protect pedestrians while using such high-
ways; to provide penalties for violating the provisions of this act and the
disposition of fines and forfeitures collected hereunder, to make uniform the
law relating to the subject matter of this act, and to repeal all acts or parts
of acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act,’ as amended by acts of
1928, page 1020. [S B 62]

Approved February 27, 1930

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That sec-
tions eighteen, sixty and sixty-one of chapter four hundred and seventy-
four of the acts of nineteen hundred and twenty-six, section eighteen
having been heretofore amended, be amended and re-enacted so as
to read as follows: ,
Section 18. Signals on starting, stopping or turning—-(a) The
driver shall indicate his intention to start, stop, or turn or partly turn
ing from a direct line shall first see that such movement can be made
in safety and whenever the operation of any other vehicle may be
affected by such movement shall give a signal as required in this sec-
tion plainly visible to the driver of such other vehicle of his intention
to make such movement.

(b) The signal herein required shall be given by means of the
hand and arm, or by some mechanical device approved by the director
of the division of motor vehicles after this section takes effect, in the
manner herein specified.

Whenever the signal is given by means of the hand and arm, the
driver shall indicate his intention to start, stop, or turn or partly turn
by extending the hand and arm from and beyond the left side of the
vehicle, in the manner following:

(c) For left turn, or to pull to the left, the arm shall be extended
in a horizontal position straight from and level with the shoulder.

(d) For right turn, or to pull to the right, the arm shall be ex-
tended upward.

(e) For slowing down or to stop, the arm shall be extended down-
ward.

(f) Such signals shall be given at least fifty feet before slowing
down, stopping, turning, partly turning, or materially altering the
course of the vehicle, and the presence and use of a “stop light,” or
other electrical indication, not plainly simulating the hand and arm, or
mechanical device, signals provided herein shall not relieve the driver
of the necessity for the use of and the giving of the signals herein
contained.

(g) Drivers having once given a hand, or mechanical device, signal
must continue the course thus indicated unless they alter the original
signal and take care that drivers of vehicles and pedestrians have seen
and are aware of the change.

(h) Drivers receiving a signal from another driver shall keep their
vehicles under complete control, and shall be able to avoid an accident
resulting from a misunderstanding of such signal.

(1) Drivers of vehicles, standing or stopped at the curb or edge
before moving such vehicles, shall give signals of their intention to
move into traffic.

Section 60. Signal devices——(a) Any motor vehicle which is so
constructed or carries a load in such manner as to prevent the hand
and arm signal described in this act from being visible both to the
front and rear of such vehicle, shall be equipped with a mechanical or
electrical signal device which meets the requirements of this act and is of
a type approved by the director of the division of motor vehicles.

(b) Every device intended to give a signal of intention to turn
or stop a vehicle shall give a signal plainly visible at all times from
a distance of at least one hundred feet to the rear of the vehicle upon
which it is used.
(c) The director of the division of motor vehicles is authorizec
to adopt and enforce rules and regulations not inconsistent with this
section governing the construction, location and operation of signa
devices and the color of lights which may be used in any such electric
devices. The director is authorized to accept a certificate of the United
States bureau of standards or some other recognized testing laboratory
having an arrangement with the said bureau by which appeal may be
made to it in case of dispute as to the findings of such other laboratory,
which certificate certifies that a signal device is of a type which has
been found to meet the regulations of the director with reference
thereto.

(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale,
either separately or as a part of the equipment of a vehicle, or to use
upon a vehicle ori a highway any signal device intended to give notice
of intention to turn or stop the vehicle upon which it is used unless
meeting the requirements of this act and of a type first approved by
the director. This section shall be effective from and after ninety
days after the date this act shall go into effect.

Section 61. Retest of approved signal devices——The director
when having reason to believe that an approved signal device sold
commercially does not under ordinary conditions of use comply with
the requirements of this act or the regulations of the director may,
after notice to the manufacturer thereof suspend or revoke the certi-
ficate of approval issued therefor until such signal device is resub-
mitted to and retested by an authorized testing agency and is found
to meet such requirements. The director may at the time of such
retest purchase in the open market and submit to the testing agency
several sets of such approved signal device and if upon such retest
such device fails to meet the requirements of this act and the regula-
tions of the director, he may refuse renewal of the certificate of
approval of such device. °