A Guide to the Laws of the Road in Connecticut
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Wherever vehicles and pedestrians may meet, there should be rules governing the right of way. Everyone has a legal and moral obligation to avoid accidents that could damage people and vehicles. Right-of-way laws in Connecticut are there to protect you and others, so use common sense and obey the laws.
Summary of Connecticut Right of Way Laws
In Connecticut, the rules for driving are as follows:
Fundamental rules
You must obey any signals given by the police, even if they conflict with traffic lights.
You must always give way to any pedestrian in the crosswalk, whether marked or not.
You must give way to cyclists at places where cycle lanes cross the road.
Anyone walking with a white cane or walking with a guide dog automatically has right-of-way anywhere due to visual impairment.
Vehicles turning left must yield to vehicles moving straight ahead.
If you enter a turntable or roundabout, you must give way to anyone already in the turntable or traffic circle.
If you are approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle that reaches the intersection first has the right of way.
Rules for safe behavior on the road
If you are approaching a road from the side of a road, lane or driveway, you must give way to any vehicles already on the road.
You shouldn't create traffic jams - in other words, don't enter an intersection if you can't drive through it without stopping. You cannot block movement coming from the other direction.
You must always give way to emergency vehicles when you hear sirens or see flashing lights. Pull over and pull over and stay where you are unless a police officer or fireman tells you to do otherwise.
Roundabouts/roundabouts/roundabouts
- Any traffic entering a roundabout or roundabout must give way to traffic already at the roundabout.
Common Misconceptions About Connecticut Right of Way Laws
A huge misconception that Connecticut drivers live in is that the law gives them the right of way under certain conditions. In fact, the law never gives you the right of way. This requires you to give it to other drivers. And if you insist on the right of way and a collision occurs, whether you were first at the intersection and someone else cut you off, you must take all reasonable precautions to avoid an accident, including bypassing the right of way.
Penalties for not ceding the right of way
If you do not yield the right of way, your driver's license will be awarded three points. Fines vary, depending on jurisdiction, from $50 for failing to yield to a vehicle to $90 for failing to yield to a pedestrian. You also have to account for taxes and surcharges, so you can pay between $107 and $182 for a single violation.
For more information, see the Driver's Manual, Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, Chapter 4, pages 36-37.
