Section 14-300 - [Effective 7/1/2024] Crosswalks. Pedestrian-control signals. Regulation of pedestrians and motor vehicles at crosswalks. Pedestrians who are blind or have guide dogs(a) The traffic authority may designate, by appropriate official traffic control devices, as defined in section 14-297, or markers, or by lines upon the surface of the highway, such crosswalks and intersections as, in its opinion, constitute a danger to pedestrians crossing the highway including, but not limited to, specially marked crosswalks in the vicinity of schools, which crosswalks shall have distinctive markings, in accordance with the regulations of the Office of the State Traffic Administration, to denote use of such crosswalks by school children; and may maintain suitable signs located at intervals along highways, particularly where there are no sidewalks, directing pedestrians to walk facing vehicular traffic.(b) At any intersection where special pedestrian-control signals bearing the words "Walk" or "Don't Walk" or the image of a walking person symbolizing "Walk" or an upraised hand symbolizing "Don't Walk" are placed, pedestrians may cross the highway only as indicated by the signal. At any intersection where traffic is controlled by other traffic control signals or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross the highway against a red or "Stop" signal and shall not cross at any place not a marked or unmarked crosswalk. A pedestrian started or starting across the highway or on any such crosswalk shall have the right-of-way over all vehicles, including those making turns, until such pedestrian has reached the opposite curb or safety zone.(c) Except as provided in subsection (c) of section 14-300c, at any crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any unmarked crosswalk, provided such crosswalks are not controlled by police officers or traffic control signals, each operator of a vehicle shall grant the right-of-way, and slow or stop such vehicle if necessary to so grant the right-of-way, to any pedestrian crossing the roadway within such crosswalk. For the purposes of this subsection, a pedestrian is "crossing the roadway within such crosswalk" when the pedestrian (1) is within any portion of the crosswalk, (2) steps to the curb at the entrance to the crosswalk and indicates his or her intent to cross the roadway by raising his or her hand and arm toward oncoming traffic, or (3) indicates his or her intent to cross the roadway by moving any part of his or her body or an extension thereof, including, but not limited to, a wheelchair, cane, walking stick, crutch, bicycle, electric bicycle, stroller, carriage, cart or leashed or harnessed dog, into the crosswalk at the entrance to the crosswalk. No operator of a vehicle approaching from the rear shall overtake and pass any vehicle, the operator of which has stopped at any crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any unmarked crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway. The operator of any vehicle crossing a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to each pedestrian and all other traffic upon such sidewalk.(d) The operator of a motor vehicle who approaches or comes into the immediate vicinity of a pedestrian who is blind, as defined in subsection (a) of section 1-1f, carrying a white cane or a white cane tipped with red, or a pedestrian being guided by a service animal, shall reduce speed or stop, if necessary, to yield the right-of-way to such pedestrian. No person, except one who is blind, shall carry or use on any street or highway, or in any other public place, a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white, tipped with red. For the purposes of this subsection, "service animal" has the same meaning as provided in section 22-345.(e) Any crosswalk designated by a traffic authority on or after October 1, 2010, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be required by such authority to have markings, signage, or any control signals deemed necessary by such authority to provide sufficient time for the safe crossing of pedestrians.(f) The operator of any motor vehicle who violates this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.(g) In any civil action arising under subsection (c) or (d) of this section or sections 14-300b to 14-300 d, inclusive, the doctrine of negligence per se shall not apply.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-300
(1949 Rev., S. 2519; 1955, S. 1403d; 1967, P.A. 639; P.A. 78-309, S. 2; P.A. 94-189 , S. 33 , 34 ; P.A. 00-196 , S. 13 ; P.A. 07-167 , S. 26 ; P.A. 08-150 , S. 32 ; P.A. 10-159 , S. 9 ; P.A. 12-132 , S. 30 ; P.A. 16-54 , S. 1 .)
Amended by P.A. 24-0018,S. 4 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2024 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2024.Amended by P.A. 23-0135, S. 2 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2023.Amended by P.A. 21-0028, S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2021.Amended by P.A. 16-0054, S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2016 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2016.Amended by P.A. 12-0132, S. 30 of the the 2012 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2012.Amended by P.A. 10-0159, S. 9 of the February 2010 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2010.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments. Subsec. (a): What lines constitute compliance with section. 126 C. 527. Subsec. (b): Cited. 125 C. 223 . Rule for pedestrians crossing from one curb to the other; not applicable to one marooned in middle of street when the light changed. 127 C. 160 . Cited. Id., 301. Pedestrian crossing with light could not be found guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. 130 C. 614. Cited. 133 C. 581 ; 138 Conn. 81 . A pedestrian who has the right of way is not justified in being oblivious to the circumstances and failing to exercise care commensurate with the situation. 142 C. 385 . Cited. 146 C. 210 . Violation constitutes negligence per se. 147 Conn. 644 . Cited. 149 Conn. 61 . Statute not applicable where evidence did not show that decedent was on or near crosswalk until bus had nearly completed its turn. 151 C. 14 . Statutory right-of-way to pedestrians at crosswalks limited to crosswalks on public highways. 163 Conn. 365 . Legislature intended to make it possible for the pedestrian to cross and to be protected while crossing. 5 CS 133 . A pedestrian desiring to cross a street upon a crosswalk at a street intersection where traffic is controlled by traffic light may rely solely upon the assumption that other traffic will obey such lights. 10 CS 413 . Stoplights and flashers on school bus not the type of signals specified in Subsec. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 214.
See Sec. 53-182 re penalties for infractions committed by pedestrians.