Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-142 (2026)
Turning movements - Signal for stop or decrease in speed
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) No person shall turn a vehicle at an intersection unless the vehicle is in proper position upon the roadway as required in § 55-8-140, or turn a vehicle to enter a private road or driveway, or otherwise turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway, unless and until this movement can be made with reasonable safety. No person shall so turn any vehicle without giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided in §§ 55-8-143 and 55-8-144 in the event any other traffic may be affected by this movement.
- (b) No person shall stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle without first giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided herein to the driver of any vehicle immediately to the rear when there is opportunity to give this signal.
Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 42; T.C.A., § 59-842.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15
cases, 1990–2017 · leading case: State v. Cox, 171 S.W.3d 174 (Tenn. 2005).
State v. Cox, 171 S.W.3d 174 (Tenn. 2005). “See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-8-142 and -143 (requiring that turn signals be used to indicate turns if other traffic may be affected by the movement).”
State v. Smith, 21 S.W.3d 251 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-142 (emphasis added).”
State v. Gonzalez, 52 S.W.3d 90 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-142 (emphasis added).”
Kelley v. Johnson, 796 S.W.2d 155 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1990). “Johnson testified that he checked his rear view mirror approximately two tenths of a mile before he turned.”
State v. Starr, 213 P.3d 214 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2009). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-142(a) (Supp.1997).”
Kim L. Higgs v. John C. Green (Tenn. Ct. App. 2017). “Failing to yield the right of way to [Plaintiff’s] vehicle in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-129 ; b. Failing to ensure that the turn could be made with reasonable safety in violation of Tenn.”
State of Tennessee v. Christopher Linsey (Tenn. Crim. App. 2004). “” In contrast to the Tennessee statutes, which dictate that a turning signal shall be used “in the event any other traffic may be affected by such movement” and “whenever the operation of any other vehicle may be affected by such movement,” Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-8-142 (a),…”
Decker v. Orosz (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997). “T.C.A. § 55-8-142(a). Every driver who intends to start, stop or turn, or partly turn from a direct line, shall first see that such movement can be made in safety,.”
State of Tennessee v. Michael D. Boon (Tenn. Crim. App. 2007). “See T.C.A. §§ 55-8-142 and 143 (requiring that turn signals be used to indicate turns if other traffic may be affected by the movement).”
State of Tennessee v. Kimberly Jeannine Cox (Tenn. Crim. App. 2004). “Compare, Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-8-142(a) requiring such signaling only when other traffic might be affected.”
State vs.Lamanis Owens (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010). “The defendant was then arrested for possession of marijuana with the intent to sell. The defendant subsequently filed a motion to suppress, alleging King had made an illegal pretextual stop.”
Worther Williams v. Robert Steward (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998). “Refusal of the trial court to instruct the jury on T.C.A. § 55-8-142 was not error. Appellant also asserts that it was error not to instruct the jury on the statute dealing with no-passing zones because the pavement markings defining each boundary of the turn lane are the same…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-142(a) — 4 cases
State v. Starr, 213 P.3d 214 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2009). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-142(a) (Supp.1997).”
Decker v. Orosz (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997). “T.C.A. § 55-8-142(a). Every driver who intends to start, stop or turn, or partly turn from a direct line, shall first see that such movement can be made in safety,.”
State of Tennessee v. Kimberly Jeannine Cox (Tenn. Crim. App. 2004). “Compare, Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-8-142(a) requiring such signaling only when other traffic might be affected.”
State of Tennessee v. Christopher Linsey (Tenn. Crim. App. 2004). “” In contrast to the Tennessee statutes, which dictate that a turning signal shall be used “in the event any other traffic may be affected by such movement” and “whenever the operation of any other vehicle may be affected by such movement,” Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-8-142 (a),…”
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