Turn Signals
Ala. Code § 32-5A-133 — a signal for the last 100 feet before a turn, and before stopping suddenly
- No one turns or moves right or left on a roadway until it can be done with reasonable safety, and with the proper signal.
- A turn signal is given continuously during at least the last 100 feet traveled before turning.
- No one stops or suddenly slows without first signaling to the driver behind, when there is a chance to.
- The signal lamps are not flashed on one side as a courtesy or a do pass signal to drivers behind.
Who handles this in Alabama: Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Alabama directory.
A signal is given by hand and arm or by signal lamps. A vehicle whose body or load reaches more than 24 inches left of the steering post, or more than 14 feet behind it, uses signal lamps.
- A right turn, and the approach to it, is made as close as practicable to the right hand curb or edge.
- A left turn starts from the extreme left hand lane lawfully available, and where practicable ends in the extreme left hand lane of the road entered.
- Signs or markings placed by the state or a local authority can set a different course, and then drivers follow them.
Sources for this section (3)
- Ala. Code § 32-5A-133 — Turning Movements and Required Signals
- Ala. Code § 32-5A-134 — Signals by Hand and Arm or Signal Lamps
- Ala. Code § 32-5A-130 — Required Position and Method of Turning at Intersections
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Alabama attorney.