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There is nothing quite like taking an exhilarating motorcycle ride in and around Manassas. Yet as a motorcyclist, you know full well that taking such a trip often means putting your safety in the hands of the motorists on the roads around you. Sadly, for some of those that we here at The Law Offices of Locklin & Coleman, PLLC have worked with, such rides have ended in tragedy due to motorists not taking the obligation to share the road seriously. Many of those involved in accidents with motorcyclists claim that it was the motorcyclists’ unanticipated actions that caused such collisions, such as darting into their lanes without warning.
How can you counter such a claim? Yes, your bike most likely has signaling lights, yet is there more you should do to clearly indicate your intentions to others on the road? Virginia law encourages the use of hand signals to make your ride safer. Section 46.2-849 of the Code of Virginia describes the state’s approved roadway hand signals to be:
The left arm extended to a horizontal position straight from the shoulder to indicate a left turn
The left arm extended upward to indicate a right turn
The left arm extended downward to indicate your needing to slow down or stop
What if a driver that strikes you while on your bike claims that you did not signal in time? The law says that in areas where the posted speed limit is more than 35 miles per hour, your hand signal should be given 100 feet from where you intend to turn or stop. In all other areas, you must give your signal at 50 feet.
