TURNS TO RIGHT

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 105, 28 January 1931, Page 10

TURNS TO RIGHT

Cars from Standing Start

NO SIGNAL REQUIRED

According to a decision arrived at by Mr. T. B. McNeil, S.M., yesterday, a motorist turning to the right from what is known as a “standing start,” is not, by law, required to give the usual signal of extending the right arm. The magistrate’s decision was given after the hearing of a police prosecution against Albert J. White, for failing to signal his intention of turning to the right. This information was dismissed, as the magistrate held that it had not been proved that the defendant had moved forward before he turned. He quoted the regulation dealing with the question, to the effect that if a motorist is about to turn to the right h» should extend his right arm horizontally to the right 30 feet before beginning to make the turn, and keep the arm so extended until the turn is begun. On the evidence that had been given, the magistrate said, he was satisfied the defendant had not been moving forward before making the turn. Under the regulation it seemed that it was not necessary to extend the arm prior to turning to the right if the turn was being made from a standing start, though it might seem desirable that this should be included in the regulation. “Most motorists usually do extend the arm in such circumstances, but, apparently it is not necessary,” the magistrate said.