hey everybody. please help. i am new to the classic car scene. i just got a 53 chevy 210 (more door) im having a really hard time finding an answer to this question and am hoping some of my fellow canadians will see this. its common knowledge that if your car didn't have seat belts, you dont have to have them. my question is do the same rules apply for TURN SIGNALS. it clearly wasn't an option on this model. i would like to run it fairly stock and have no issues hanging my arm out the window to signal. i will put them in if i have to but was looking for a definitive answer. or i just run it as is and be the bad ass i always wanted to be. thanks a lot marc.
What do the laws say about it? In Arizona, you only have to have equipment that was originally installed. Old cars don't need seat belts (although if you have a passenger under 18 years old, they need to be belted in). Hand signals are still allowed, the driver test manual still talks about them. btw 53 was the first year that turn signals were optional in Chevy cars, you can get the switch assembly for it and the correct light sockets and install turn signals that look and work as original, if you want to. http://www.tuckersparts.com/Turn-Signal-Switch-Cup-Assembly-CTA-5854.html Or you can get an add on switch that clamps to the steering column, and add lights for it, which is how it was usually done in the old days. Or you an just drive without turn signals, but in the winter it gets to be a drag opening the window and using hand signals.
In British Columbia, if the car is modified (engine/susp change) seat belts and signals are required.
The laws by province This table contains a brief summary of all seatbelt laws in Canada. This list includes only seatbelt laws, which often do not themselves apply to children; however, all provinces and territories have separate child restraint laws. A subsequent offense may be much higher. Province/Territory Date of inception Who is covered Base fine before fees Demerit points lost Usage[4] Alberta 01987-07-01-0000July 1, 1987 Age 16+ in all seats $115 0 92.0% British Columbia 01977-10-01-0000October 1, 1977 Age 16+ in all seats $167 0 96.9% Manitoba 01984-04-01-0000April 1, 1984 Age 16+ in all seats $299.65 2 93.8% New Brunswick 01983-11-01-0000November 1, 1983 Age 16+ in all seats $172.50 2 94.8% Newfoundland and Labrador 01982-07-01-0000July 1, 1982 Age 16+ in all seats $115 2 93.1% Northwest Territories 01988-07-01-0000July 1, 1988 Age 16+ in all seats $115 2 84.9% Nova Scotia 01985-01-01-0000January 1, 1985 Age 16+ in all seats $157.50 2 90.1% Ontario 01976-01-01-0000January 1, 1976 Age 16+ in all seats $240 2 96.0% Prince Edward Island 01987-07-01-0000July 1, 1987 Age 16+ in all seats $110 3 89.7% Quebec 01976-08-15-0000August 15, 1976 Age 16+ in all seats $115-154 3 96.0% Saskatchewan 01977-07-01-0000July 1, 1977 Age 16+ in all seats $165 3 96.8% Yukon 01991-07-01-0000July 1, 1991 Age 15+ in all seats $75 4 78.1%
If they were not required when the car was built they are not required now. But in Ontario turn signals were mandatory from 1951 on. Having said that, you are crazy if you don't have turn signals. They are easy and cheap to install. It is more than 60 years since they became common and nobody outside an old age home even knows what a hand signal is. People DO NOT look for hand signals, DO NOT see them and don't know what they mean. Hell, they are perfectly capable of ignoring turn signals and brake lights and plowing right into the back of your car. So why not give yourself every advantage you can get? PS if someone does smash your car, and you take them to court, they could quite logically argue that they did not see any turn signal and I can see the judge agreeing with them.
Turn signals were available as an accessory from the twenties on. By the forties all cars offered them as optional equipment. They became mandatory about 1951, maybe a year or 2 later in some jurisdictions.
yep, what rusty said. i ran without turn signals for years.......20 years ago. it was confusing to people then so i put them in. i can't imagine how bad it would be now.......the A-holes don't seam to pay attention to any thing.
I drove without turn signals - in 1968. Even then it was a bad idea, I found out. Since then I install turn signals on old cars and motorcycles, it isn't difficult or expensive.
Put the turn signals in the car , run on the highway with the head lights on . Watch out for blind baby boomers and people texting . Oh by the way I 'm a baby boomer.
all legit. so sounds like i don't have to have them but i should. (which make perfect sense) i was planning on putting them in but needed to know if i have to. at least i know that if i get it rolling before i get around to the lights i can get around town without getting into too much trouble. thanks a lot guys.
Paintspill, Depending on what province you are in, in response to original equipment, it may or may not work for you. In Manitoba even cars with Vintage plates (restricted use; shows, parades, etc.) you must have turn signals as well as 2 brake lights. As mentioned above, there are lots of accessory column mounted turn signal switches available. I have occasionally have driven cars without and believe me it a royal pain in the ass. You'll soon find out. By the way, currently if you have a modified vehicle, you must have seat belts, but only lap and not three point. DoUg
Stated above but in Washington, they DO NOT know the meaning of hand signals. I found out first hand that some think they mean "come on around". No joke. I have turn signals and seat belts in all my cars....and use them.
You never did say which province you were in. I can't imagine rolling down the window in downtown Winnipeg when it's minus 40 every time I made a turn. I saw a guy on a riding mower at the University use hand signals one day... first time I've seen anyone use them for years and I'm pretty sure I was the only one on the street that knew what the hell he was doing.
I believe that since they have allowed passing on the right side your most important signal is going to go un-noticed as you will never be allowed into the curb lane to make your right turn. Hell even the bicycle cops here are using their right(!) hand to signal right turns - what the heck is that all about? Hand signals are a foreign language to all but us geezers now-a-days.. Have fun with your mor-dor and be safe!! Dave
My 32 does not have turn signals. Like others have stated very few people know what you are doing with hand signals, although I have had quite a few "wave" back.
I used to run without turn signals in the A, and on my vintage bike. About 1/3rd. of the time I turned right, someone waved back. They both have turn signals now.
This is what I have for my 46 Olds, NOS Allstate. Plenty of Guide, Yankee and other similar brands available on that site.
You put yourself at risk when the majority of the population in your area are not familiar with hand signals other than single finger gestures... and even those can me conceived as a compliment. My vehicle had no signal lights and I would not even consider putting it on the road without them
I was going to say that if you drive an Olds 1904 perhaps hand signals would work. But then I remembered that I was nearly run down on my bike the other day by some jerk pullin out from a sideroad while busy on the phone, my headlights on. If you drive an old car today a lot of people are going to take pics while passing or start texting and not care so much about other traffic.
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