Arrest Reports and Laws

Appropriate signals for stopping, turning, changing lanes and decelerating.


This section establishes appropriate signals, for purposes of the vehicle code, for use when signals are required while stopping, turning, changing lanes or suddenly decelerating a vehicle. This section does not authorize the use of only hand and arm signals when the use of signal lights is required under ORS 811.405. Vehicle lighting equipment described in this section is vehicle lighting equipment for which standards are established under ORS 816.100 and 816.120. Appropriate signals are as follows:
(1) To indicate a left turn either of the following:
(a) Hand and arm extended horizontally from the left side of the vehicle.
(b) Activation of front and rear turn signal lights on the left side of the vehicle.
(2) To indicate a right turn either of the following:
(a) Hand and arm extended upward from the left side of the vehicle. A person who is operating a bicycle is not in violation of this paragraph if the person signals a right turn by extending the person’s right hand and arm horizontally.
(b) Activation of front and rear turn signal lights on the right side of the vehicle.
(3) To indicate a stop or a decrease in speed either of the following:
(a) Hand and arm extended downward from the left side of the vehicle; or
(b) Activation of brake lights on the vehicle.
(4) Change of lane by activation of both front and rear turn signal lights on the side of the vehicle toward which the change of lane is made. [1983 c.338 §635; 1985 c.16 §314]