Editorial: Mixed signals

By: Dothan Eagle Editorial Board | Dothan Eagle
Published: February 12, 2012

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The Senate unanimously approved a measure that would allow bicyclists to signal an impending right turn by using their right hand.

Alabama law mandates that cyclists – and motorists without working directional indicators – signal their intent with their left hand: straight out, parallel to the roadway for a left turn; at a right angle for a right turn. The bill approved by the Senate would allow cyclists to deviate from this, and allow excuse bikers under 16 altogether.

While this might sit well with the Uniform Vehicle Code folks, it might get sideways with the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, or the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic that predates Vienna by almost 20 years.

We aren’t aware of an epidemic of unpredictable bicyclists, and agree with those senators who, while supporting the measure, questioned whether it was really necessary.

If they could get drivers to use their turn signals consistently – or at all – that should draw earnest support.