Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-848 (2026)

Signals required on backing, stopping, or turning

✓ current as of May 2026

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Every driver who intends to back, stop, turn, or partly turn from a direct line shall first see that such movement can be made safely and, whenever the operation of any other vehicle may be affected by such movement, shall give the signals required in this article, plainly visible to the driver of such other vehicle, of his intention to make such movement.

Code 1950, § 46-233; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-216; 1960, c. 113; 1989, c. 727.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 14 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1991–2025 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Eaves, 408 S.E.2d 925 (Va. Ct. App. 1991).

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Commonwealth v. Eaves, 408 S.E.2d 925 (Va. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 4× “Accordingly, the Commonwealth does not contend that the appellee violated the provisions of Code §§ 46.2-848 and 46.2-849 requiring that a signal of a driver's intention to turn, where the posted speed limit is fifty-five miles per hour, be given continuously for at least one…”

West v. Commonwealth, 549 S.E.2d 605 (Va. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “Polak stopped appellant for failing to signal a turn in violation of Code § 46.2-848, a traffic infraction, and subsequently discovered appellant was also in violation of Code § 46.”

Harrah v. Washington, 477 S.E.2d 281 (Va. 1996). · cites it 2× “Furthermore, the plaintiff argues, Washington violated Code § 46.2-848, which requires every driver who intends to turn from a direct line to give a plainly visible signal of such intention whenever the operation of any other vehicle may be affected by such movement.”

Latoya Yvette Wilson v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 34× “” Though Officer Fernandez apparently testified at appellant’s preliminary hearing that when appellant’s vehicle took the left turn “there was no traffic at all[,]” at the hearing on the motion to suppress, he stated that he “misspoke on that” and that in fact “There was traffic…”

Joely Bradford Hensley v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 17× “At this point, Officer Griffith initiated a traffic stop pursuant to Code § 46.2-848 which requires all drivers who intend to turn or partly turn give a proper signal that is plainly visible to other drivers.”

Stanley Eugene Coley v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 4× “” Code § 46.2-848 requires that [e]very driver who intends to back, stop, turn, or partly turn from a direct line shall first see that such movement can be made safely and, whenever the operation of any other vehicle may be affected by such movement, shall give the signals…”

Commonwealth v. Jeffrey Maurice Wells (Va. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 6× “When Brooks stopped Wells, he cited him for violation of Code § 46.2-848 for his failure to use a turn signal when he made the right-hand turn into the driveway.”

Commonwealth v. Erie, 88 Va. Cir. 96 (Norfolk Cir. Ct. 2014). · cites it 5× “Erie’s failure to signal her right turn from the right turn only lane at this intersection did not violate the provisions of Va. Code § 46.2-848. The officers lacked authority to stop Ms.”

Chrishawn Hickman, s/k/a Chrishawn Donnell Hickman v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× “See Code § 46.2-848; Rule 5A:18. Further, he does not provide any argument or authority supporting his vague suggestion that the turn-signal violation was constitutionally insufficient to permit a vehicle stop.”

Commonwealth v. White, 58 Va. Cir. 154 (2002). · cites it 3× “Va. Code § 46.2-848. After stopping the vehicle for the traffic offense, Officer Riddick of the Portsmouth Police Department determined that the defendant’s privilege to drive had been suspended or revoked and he was also in violation of Virginia Code § 46.”

Cary v. United States, 343 F. App'x 926 (4th Cir. 2009). · cites it 2× “shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction if it is so close as to constitute a hazard.”

Sword v. Greer, 44 Va. Cir. 30 (Richmond County Cir. Ct. 1997). · cites it 3× “2-825 of the Code is to be read together with Va. Code § 46.2-848 which implicitly charges a driver making a turn with the duty to see an oncoming vehicle which is in plain view that, when exercising reasonable care, she is certain to have seen.”

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