Change to Indiana turn signal law unanimously endorsed by Senate - Shelbynews
A difficult to comply with state law requiring drivers to signal all turns and lane changes at least 200 feet before making the movement is poised to be replaced in Senate Bill 124 with a directive that motorists signal all turns and lane changes "a reasonable time" before completing them. The Indiana Senate voted unanimously in favor of the change Tuesday. The legislation now goes to the House.
John J. Watkins, file, The TimesThe Indiana Senate has unanimously agreed to fix a quirk in the state's turn signal statutes that puts just about every motorist at risk of being pulled over by police at just about any time.
Under current law, drivers in Indiana are required to use a turn signal every time they're about to make a turn or change traffic lanes.
The law also mandates the turn signal begin at least 200 feet prior to the turn or lane change, or 300 feet if the vehicle is traveling in excess of 50 mph.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb delivers his 2022 State of the State address to a joint session of the Indiana General Assembly
State Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, observed the second provision is impossible to comply with in most urban and suburban areas where streets often intersect less than 200 feet apart.
In addition, he said there's no practical way for a driver to signal for 200 feet before, for example, pulling out of a parking lot or making a quick lane change due to a traffic hazard ahead.
"Anybody who has ever pulled out of the Senate parking lot at the Statehouse, turned right onto Ohio Street and turned right onto Capitol Street has violated the law," Freeman said. "It's impossible to comply with because it's only 170 feet."
Under Freeman's Senate Bill 124, which now goes to the House, the 200 feet (or 300 feet) minimum turn signal distance would be deleted and replaced with a statutory directive that motorists signal all turns and lane changes "a reasonable time" before completing them.
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Signaling a turn still would be required every time a motorist is about to make a turn or change traffic lanes.
If the proposal next is approved by the House, and signed into law by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, it would not take effect until Jan. 1, 2023, to give the Bureau of Motor Vehicles sufficient time to revise its driver's guide and license test.
The measure additionally clarifies where a motorist whose driving privileges are suspended in Indiana must file a petition for specialized driving privileges, if the person is interested in seeking permission to drive again on a limited basis under court supervision.
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Senate District 1 (vacant)
Updated Jan 12, 2022
This article originally ran on nwitimes.com.
source: https://www.shelbynews.com/news/state/change-to-indiana-turn-signal-law-unanimously-endorsed-by-senate/article_6b8f076f-64b3-5a57-a9fa-e662b1d80aea.html
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