Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-143 (2026)
Signals for turns
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) Every driver who intends to start, stop or turn, or partly turn from a direct line, shall first see that that movement can be made in safety, and whenever the operation of any other vehicle may be affected by such movement, shall give a signal required in this section, plainly visible to the driver of the other vehicle of the intention to make such movement.
- (b) The signal required in this section shall be given by means of the hand and arm, or by some mechanical or electrical device approved by the department of safety, in the manner specified in this section. Whenever the signal is given by means of the hand and arm, the driver shall indicate the intention to start, stop, or turn, or partly turn, by extending the hand and arm from and beyond the left side of the vehicle, in the following manner:
- (1) For left turn, or to pull to the left, the arm shall be extended in a horizontal position straight from and level with the shoulder;
- (2) For right turn, or pull to the right, the arm shall be extended upward; and
- (3) For slowing down or to stop, the arm shall be extended downward.
- (c) These signals shall be given continuously for a distance of at least fifty feet (50') before stopping, turning, partly turning, or materially altering the course of the vehicle.
- (d) Drivers having once given a hand, electrical or mechanical device signal, must continue the course thus indicated, unless they alter the original signal and take care that drivers of vehicles and pedestrians have seen and are aware of the change.
- (e) Drivers receiving a signal from another driver shall keep their vehicles under complete control and shall be able to avoid an accident resulting from a misunderstanding of the signal.
- (f) Drivers of vehicles, standing or stopped at the curb or edge before moving these vehicles, shall give signals of their intention to move into traffic, as provided in this section, before turning in the direction the vehicle shall proceed from the curb.
Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 41; T.C.A., § 59-843.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 19
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1997–2025 · leading case: State v. Smith, 21 S.W.3d 251 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999).
State v. Smith, 21 S.W.3d 251 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). “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 such movement.”
State v. Gonzalez, 52 S.W.3d 90 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000). “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 such movement.”
United States v. Steven Pittman, 816 F.3d 419 (6th Cir. 2016). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-143(a). “The signal required,” in addition, “shall be given by means of the hand and arm, or by some mechanical or electrical device” such as a turn signal.”
United States v. Olson, 59 F. Supp. 2d 725 (M.D. Tenn. 1999). “Olson’s lane change may have affected the vehicles traveling around him and he was required under Section 55-8-143 to signal his lane change.”
State v. Starr, 213 P.3d 214 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2009). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-143(a) (Supp.1997).”
State of Tennessee v. Antoinette Feaster (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010). “Officer Robinson initially stopped the Defendant’s vehicle based on his belief that the Defendant had violated Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-8-143(a), which states that: Every driver who intends to start, stop or turn, or partly turn from a direct line, shall first see…”
State of Tennessee v. Joshua Andrew Mansfield (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016). “In relevant part, Code section 55-8-143, which governs the procedures for proper lane changes, states, (a) Every driver who intends to start, stop or turn, or partly turn from a direct line, shall first see that that movement can be made in safety, and whenever the operation of…”
Bishop v. Hamya, Inc. (M.D. Tenn. 2019). “Tennessee’s common law duty to maintain a proper forward, side, and rearview is codified at Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-143 which requires that when changing lanes a driver “shall first see that movement can be made in safety.”
Dillon v. State (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997). “T.C.A. § 55-8-143 reads in pertinent part as follows: Signals for turns.”
State of Tennessee v. Joseph Scott Turk (Tenn. Crim. App. 2012). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-8-143(a) provides that: Every driver who intends to start, stop or turn, or partly turn from a direct line, shall first see that that movement can be made in safety, and whenever the operation of any other vehicle may be affected by such…”
State of Tennessee v. Matthew T. McGee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2012). “” Code section 55-8-143(a) states that a driver who intends to start, stop or turn, or partly turn from a direct line, shall first see that that movement can be made in safety, and whenever the operation of any other vehicle may be affected by such movement, shall give a signal .”
State of Tennessee v. Carlie D. Schoenthal (Tenn. Crim. App. 2011). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-8-143(a) provides that: Every driver who intends to start, stop or turn, or partly turn from a direct line, shall first see that movement can be made in safety, and whenever the operation of any other vehicle may be affected by such movement,…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-143(a) — 10 cases
State v. Smith, 21 S.W.3d 251 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). “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 such movement.”
United States v. Steven Pittman, 816 F.3d 419 (6th Cir. 2016). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-143(a). “The signal required,” in addition, “shall be given by means of the hand and arm, or by some mechanical or electrical device” such as a turn signal.”
State v. Starr, 213 P.3d 214 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2009). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 55-8-143(a) (Supp.1997).”
State v. Gonzalez, 52 S.W.3d 90 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000). “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 such movement.”
State of Tennessee v. Antoinette Feaster (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010). “Officer Robinson initially stopped the Defendant’s vehicle based on his belief that the Defendant had violated Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-8-143(a), which states that: Every driver who intends to start, stop or turn, or partly turn from a direct line, shall first see…”
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