As experienced personal injury attorneys serving Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stamford and surrounding Connecticut communities, the legal team at The Law Office of Michael E. Skiber often fields questions from local residents about vehicle lighting requirements and regulations. One of the most common inquiries we receive is whether it is legal to drive with hazard lights on in The Constitution State.
In this article, we’ll provide an overview of when Connecticut drivers are and are not permitted to use their hazard lights (also known as flashers or emergency lights). We’ll also address some frequently asked questions about hazard light use and discuss other vehicle lighting requirements under Connecticut law. Armed with this knowledge, you can help keep yourself and others safe on the road and avoid citations for improper hazard light usage.
When Can You Use Hazard Lights in Connecticut?
Connecticut state statutes dictate that hazard lights should only be activated on a vehicle that is stopped, standing, or parked, whether on the roadway or shoulder. Hazard lights must also be in use if your vehicle is disabled or being towed.
In essence, the purpose of hazard lights is twofold:
- To indicate that a vehicle is stopped and alert approaching drivers to proceed around it with caution. This applies whether you are pulled over on the shoulder, stopped in a travel lane due to an obstruction, or parked where standing vehicles are not typically expected.
- To warn other motorists of sudden or unexpected traffic hazards, such as debris on the roadway, a traffic crash, or a stalled vehicle in the travel lanes. In these situations, drivers approaching the hazard should slow down and move over if possible.
The only time hazard lights may be used on a moving vehicle is to warn drivers behind you of a traffic hazard or emergency situation ahead that is not yet visible to them. Even then, hazards should only be used briefly to capture attention before being switched off.
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When Is It Illegal To Use Hazard Lights?
Outside of the stopped/standing, disabled vehicle, and emergency hazard scenarios described above, it is illegal to drive with your hazard lights activated in Connecticut. This means you cannot simply switch on your flashers because of rain, snow, fog, or just because you feel like it.
Driving with hazards on in normal conditions is not only illegal, it’s dangerous. Hazard lights can actually reduce visibility, make it difficult for other drivers to discern your turn signals and brake lights, and create confusion since they are typically associated with stopped vehicles.
Penalties for Improper Hazard Light Use Improper use of hazard lights is an infraction in Connecticut and can result in a fine. While less serious than a misdemeanor or felony traffic offense, infractions are still a moving violation that will appear on your driving record.
Fines for hazard light violations are subject to change, but are currently $70 not including fees and surcharges. Subsequent offenses can result in increased fines up to $100.
Additionally, if your improper hazard light usage contributes to an accident, responding officers could cite that as a contributing factor in their crash report. This could potentially open you up to liability if other parties are injured or sustain property damage. For this reason, it’s always best to reserve hazard lights only for their legally permitted uses.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hazard Lights in CT
Here are some common questions we get from Connecticut drivers about using hazard lights:
Can I use hazard lights to say thank you to another driver?
No, expressions of courtesy or gratitude are not an approved use for hazards under Connecticut law. Hazard lights are for indicating stopped or disabled vehicles and warning of immediate hazards only. Flashing your lights at other drivers could create confusion.
Are hazard lights required to be functional in CT?
Yes. All vehicles registered in Connecticut must be equipped with functional hazard lights that can be activated by the driver. Driving without working hazards could earn you a defective equipment ticket if pulled over.
Can I drive with my hazards on if weather conditions are bad?
No, hazard lights are not permitted simply for rain, snow, fog, or other inclement weather in Connecticut. If conditions are so bad that you feel flashers are necessary, the safest thing to do is pull over and wait until the weather improves.
What should I do if I see a car with its flashers on while driving?
If the vehicle is traveling very slowly compared to the flow of traffic or behaving erratically, maintain a safe following distance and prepare to stop suddenly if needed. The driver may be trying to warn you of an impending traffic hazard. If you see a vehicle on the shoulder with flashers activated, slow down and give them as much room as possible in case someone is outside the vehicle.
Other Connecticut Vehicle Lighting Laws to Know In addition to hazard light requirements, Connecticut has several other key laws related to vehicle lamps and lighting that all drivers should be aware of:
- Headlights: All vehicles must be equipped with two functional white headlights. Headlights must be used from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, when visibility is less than 500 feet, and whenever windshield wipers are in use. It is illegal to drive with only one working headlight at night.
- Tail & brake lights: Vehicles must have two red tail lamps and two red brake lamps in working order. An extra red light is required to illuminate the rear license plate. Brake lights must be visible in normal sunlight from at least 300 feet away.
- Turn signals: All vehicles must have right and left turn signal lamps in amber or white (front) and red or amber (rear). Signal lamps must be visible from at least 500 feet away in normal sunlight.
- Extra lighting: Any aftermarket vehicle lighting must conform to the color and placement requirements in state statutes. Flashing lights are reserved for authorized emergency vehicles, maintenance vehicles, and school buses only. Neon underglow and interior lights that produce a glaring or dazzling effect are not permitted.
Liability in Connecticut Car Accidents Involving Improper Lighting
Driving with malfunctioning headlights, tail lights, or turn signals — or misusing hazard lights in a way that confuses other drivers — can absolutely be a contributing factor in serious car crashes. Drivers have a responsibility to ensure their vehicle lighting is in proper working order and being used in accordance with state law. Failure to do so could result in the at-fault driver being held liable for injuries and property damage they cause.
If you’ve been involved in an accident in Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stamford, or the surrounding areas and believe the other driver’s improper use of hazard lights or negligent vehicle maintenance may have been to blame, the personal injury attorneys at The Law Office of Michael E. Skiber may be able to help.
In his over a decade of practicing personal injury law, Attorney Michael Skiber has earned a positive reputation as an aggressive advocate for crash victims and their families. He prepares every case thoroughly, bringing in expert witnesses and cutting-edge technologies as needed to build the strongest cases possible for his clients.
Our law firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t get paid unless we successfully recover money for you first. We also offer lifelong legal counsel to injured clients, even well after their case concludes. And with our 24/7 accessibility pledge, you’ll never have to wait to get answers to pressing legal questions.
Hurt in a Connecticut car accident that wasn’t your fault?
Call The Law Office of Michael E. Skiber at (203) 615-0090 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Our Norwalk accident attorneys are standing by to listen without judgment, clearly explain your rights, and discuss all your legal options for moving forward. You have nothing to lose and potentially much to gain, so reach out now.