Miscellaneous
Bicycling and the Law Richard L. Duquette EP67 When Is a Turning Movement Illegal? Turning movements include 90-degree turns and lane changes. When done properly, they keep a bicyclist safe on the road. When is a turning movement illegal? Tune in! The Need for Safety The California Vehicle Code 22017 states that turning movement must be done with "reasonable safety." For that, the bicyclist must provide a signal before making a turn. Sometimes a car will speed up and try to catch up with the bicyclist. It is important for the bicyclist to protect himself and abide by the law when making a turn. Using Turn Signals for Protection Bicyclists should use turn signals. It is important to consider if a vehicle may be affected by the turn. Unfortunately, not all vehicles are paying attention when a signal is given. They could be busy texting, listening to the radio, or distracted. Nonetheless, Richard suggests to make it a habit to use turn signals for protection. Better Safe than Sorry Many don't use signals when riding alone on a road. When an accident has occurred, they often say they did not see a car. The California Driver’s Handbook suggests that the driver should give a signal even when there appears to be no other vehicle around. According to the Handbook, "The vehicle you don't see might hit you." Here’s a list of references for When Is a Turning Movement Illegal: California Vehicle Code 22017 California Driver’s Handbook Download and listen to the entire episode of When Is a Turning Movement Illegal. Don’t forget to leave us a 5-star rating and review if you enjoyed the show. We would love to hear from you! Connect with Richard L. Duquette at the following links: Richard's Website Email Richard Call Richard: 760-730-0500 Connect with Richard on Facebook Follow Richard on Twitter © 2016 Law Firm of Richard L. Duquette