3.2 Driver Signals, the Horn and Police Directions
Key Takeaways
Signal before turning or crossing traffic, before slowing down or stopping, and when moving off from a stationary position (reg. 31(11)).
Arm signals use the right arm: palm down and moved up and down to slow or stop, held out palm forward to turn right or move off, and swept forward in a circle to turn left (reg. 31(13)).
The horn may be used only to warn of your approach or position, never as a nuisance (regs. 31(16) and 85), and not in the silent zones of the Fourth Schedule.
Stop and remain stopped when a uniformed police officer, or a person in charge of a horse or other animal, signals you to stop (reg. 31(18)).
Follow a uniformed police officer's direction over a light signal, and obey traffic wardens in parking places (regs. 39, 92, 103 and 112(3)).
Signals are how drivers talk to each other. Barbados law says when you must signal, how to give arm signals, and when the horn may and may not be used. It also requires you to obey people who direct traffic.
When you must signal (reg. 31(11))
Every driver of a motor vehicle must:
- slow down and make the appropriate signal when approaching turnings or cross roads, or when coming out of a private road or other place onto a public road;
- slow down and signal when turning across traffic or turning left or right;
- when about to stop or slow down, do so gradually and signal;
- signal when leaving any place where the vehicle has been stationary; and
- comply with all traffic signs unless prevented by some sufficient cause.
"Not making appropriate signal when stopping, turning, slowing down" is in the 2-point demerit group of the Sixth Schedule to the Act.
Arm signals (reg. 31(13))
Indicators ("trafficators") may be used instead of arm signals (reg. 31(14)), but you must know the arm signals, because the examination tests them and indicators can fail.
| Intention | Arm signal given with the right arm |
|---|---|
| Slowing down or stopping | Extend the right arm horizontally, palm turned downwards, and move it slowly and repeatedly down and up, keeping it below shoulder level |
| Turning left | Extend the right arm straight out, then carry it forward and towards the near side in a circular sweep at shoulder level (or use the left indicator) |
| Turning right or across traffic | Extend the right arm horizontally with the palm turned to the front (or use the right indicator) |
| Moving off | Extend the right arm horizontally, palm to the front (or use the right indicator) |
Signals must never mislead. Regulation 31(14)(b) requires indicators to be fitted so that, when not in use, they cannot mislead other drivers. In practice that means cancelling your indicator after a turn. Otherwise a driver waiting to pull out may think you are about to turn.
The horn
- Only as a warning. You must not sound the horn "except for the purpose of giving warning of his approach or position" (reg. 31(16)(a)). It is not for rebuking other drivers, greeting friends or showing annoyance.
- Not as a nuisance. Regulation 85 forbids using a horn in a way that is a nuisance or an annoyance, and the Licensing Authority may ban particular horns. Every horn must be of an approved kind (reg. 31(17)).
- Silent zones. Regulation 84 and the Fourth Schedule forbid sounding a horn, except in an emergency, in named areas of central Bridgetown (some at any time, some between 09:00 and 17:00), and, between 22:00 and 05:00, within the limits of Bridgetown and Speightstown and in a defined area just east of Bridgetown (from Bay Street along Highway 7 towards Rendezvous and Worthing, and inland by Wildey). Fire, ambulance and police vehicles are exempt when compliance would hinder them.
- Public service vehicles must not use the horn to call passengers (reg. 41(a)).
Headlight signals and dimming
At night you must dim your headlights on the approach of another motor vehicle and keep them dimmed until it has passed (reg. 31(23)). You must also dim them for emergency vehicles (reg. 32). Flashing your lights has no defined legal meaning. Never assume another driver's flash means "go ahead", and check for yourself.
Directions you must obey
- Police officers. Every driver must comply with the lawful directions of a police officer in uniform (reg. 39). Failing to stop, or to keep to a line of traffic, when directed by an officer regulating traffic is an offence (reg. 103(1)(a)), and failing to comply with a lawful direction carries 4 demerit points. At signals, traffic moves "subject to the direction of any member of the Police Force in uniform" (reg. 112(3)), so an officer's direction overrides the lights.
- A request to stop. You must stop and remain stopped "for so long as may be reasonably necessary" when a uniformed police officer, or any person in charge of a horse or other animal, asks you to or raises a hand as a signal to stop (reg. 31(18)).
- Traffic wardens. In parking places, you must follow the directions of a police officer or traffic warden in uniform, including moving your vehicle (reg. 92).
- Pedestrians too. A pedestrian who fails to comply with a uniformed police officer's directions when the officer is regulating traffic commits an offence (reg. 150(1)).
Tip
When an officer, signs and lights conflict, the order of authority is: police officer first, then light signals, then signs and markings.
Which arm signal does regulation 31(13) prescribe for slowing down or stopping?
Right arm out, palm down, moved slowly up and down
Right arm raised straight up, with the palm facing forward
Left arm out of the passenger window, held still
Right arm swept forward in a circle at shoulder level
When may a driver lawfully sound the horn on a Barbados road outside a silent zone?
To call passengers to a public service vehicle
To greet a friend standing at a bus stop
To tell a slow driver ahead to hurry up
To warn other road users of their approach or position
At a junction controlled by lights, a uniformed police officer waves you on although your light is red. What should you do?
Reverse back from the stop line and wait
Wait for green, because the light overrides the officer
Sound the horn and proceed only if the junction is empty
Follow the officer's direction and proceed with care
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.