The Last Hundred Feet
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 304.019 — a signal before stopping, slowing, turning or moving right or left, by arm or by device
The signal comes first. No person stops, suddenly decreases speed, turns a vehicle from a direct course, or moves right or left upon a roadway unless and until the movement can be made with reasonable safety, and then only after giving an appropriate signal.
| The movement | The driver's arm |
|---|---|
| The movementStopping, or checking speed where other vehicles may be affected | The driver's armExtended at an angle below horizontal, seen from the rear |
| The movementTurning right | The driver's armExtended at an angle above horizontal, seen from the front and the rear |
| The movementTurning left | The driver's armExtended in a horizontal position, seen from the rear |
Arm or device. The signals are given by hand and arm, or by a signal light or signal device in good mechanical condition of a type approved by the state highway patrol. A vehicle so constructed or loaded that a hand and arm signal would not be visible both to the front and rear gives the signal by light or device.
Before the turn. A driver turning right slows and approaches as near as practicable to the right side of the highway. A driver turning left slows and approaches so that the left side of the vehicle is as near as practicable to the center line.
No set distance. The section requires the signal before the movement and does not state how far in advance of a turn it is given.
A violation of this section is a class C misdemeanor. City and county ordinances are not on this page. Whether a particular stop, charge or case was handled lawfully is a question for the court that hears it, or a licensed Missouri attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 304.019 — Hand and mechanical signals, violations, penalty
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Missouri attorney.