(a) As used in this section, “platoon” means two or three commercial motor vehicles or buses, excluding school buses, traveling in a unified manner at electronically coordinated speeds at following distances that are closer than would be reasonable and prudent without such coordination.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, no person operating a motor vehicle shall follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having regard for the speed of such vehicles, the traffic upon and the condition of the highway and weather conditions.
(c) No person operating a motor vehicle shall drive such vehicle in such proximity to another vehicle as to obstruct or impede traffic.
(d) Motor vehicles being driven upon any highway in a caravan shall be so operated as to allow sufficient space between such vehicles or combination of vehicles to enable any other vehicle to enter and occupy such space without danger. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to funeral processions or to motor vehicles under official escort, traveling under a special permit or operating in a platoon.
(e) (1) A person may operate a platoon on the highways of this state, provided such person files a plan for the general platoon operations with the Commissioner of Transportation and such plan is approved by the commissioner. The commissioner shall approve or reject a plan for general platoon operations not later than fifteen days after the receipt of such plan. If the commissioner rejects any such plan, the commissioner shall provide a written explanation of the reason for such rejection and guidance to amend such plan for resubmission.
(2) Each commercial motor vehicle or bus in a platoon shall display a mark identifying such vehicle or bus as part of a platoon at all times when such vehicle or bus is engaged in platooning. Such mark shall be issued by the commissioner and displayed in a manner prescribed by the commissioner.
(3) Each person operating a commercial motor vehicle or bus in a platoon shall be seated in the driver's seat of such vehicle or bus and hold a commercial driver's license of the appropriate class and bearing endorsements for the type of vehicle or bus being driven.
(4) No person operating a commercial motor vehicle or bus in a platoon shall pull or drag another motor vehicle in the platoon.
(f) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall have committed an infraction, except that (1) any person operating a commercial vehicle combination or a commercial motor vehicle or bus in a platoon in violation of any such provision shall have committed a violation and shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one hundred fifty dollars, or (2) if the violation results in a motor vehicle accident, such person shall have committed a violation and shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two hundred dollars.
(1955, S. 1392d; P.A. 75-577, S. 84, 126; P.A. 84-372, S. 6, 9; P.A. 96-180, S. 42, 166; P.A. 18-164, S. 29; P.A. 22-40, S. 15.)
History: P.A. 75-577 added Subsec. (d); P.A. 84-372 established higher penalty for person operating a commercial vehicle combination; P.A. 96-180 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective June 3, 1996; P.A. 18-164 amended Subsec. (d) to designate existing provision re operation of commercial vehicle combination as Subdiv. (1) and add Subdiv. (2) re violation resulting in motor vehicle accident, and made technical and conforming changes; P.A. 22-40 added new Subsec. (a) re defining “platoon”, redesignated existing Subsec. (a) as Subsec. (b) and amended same to add provision re except as provided in Subsec. (e), redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c), redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d) and amended same to add provision re operating in platoon, added Subsec. (e) re operation of platoon and redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (f) and amended same by adding “or a commercial motor vehicle or bus in a platoon” in Subdiv. (1), effective July 1, 2022.
See Sec. 14-111g re operator's retraining program.
See Sec. 14-260n for definition of “commercial vehicle combination”.
Cited. 148 C. 266; 150 C. 217. Request to charge statute must be made. 154 C. 381. Cited. 160 C. 128; 166 C. 152; 171 C. 303; 180 C. 415; 185 C. 483; 206 C. 608; 217 C. 73; 231 C. 930. Statute is directed against practice of “tailgating”. 234 C. 401. Cited. Id., 408.
Cited. 4 CA 451; 11 CA 122; 17 CA 209. Application of “following too closely” statute discussed; statute directed against practice of “tailgating”; legislature did not intend provisions of statute to apply in all rear-end collisions. 35 CA 464.
Cited. 29 CS 21; 39 CS 228.
Statute not limited to situations where car ahead is moving. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 487. Cited. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 107; 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 697.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 14 - Motor Vehicles. Use of the Highway by Vehicles. Gasoline
Chapter 248 - Vehicle Highway Use
Section 14-212. - Definitions.
Section 14-212b. - School zones. Fines doubled.
Section 14-212d. - Highway work zone. Highway worker. Endangerment of highway worker. Penalties.
Section 14-212g. - Work zone safety account.
Section 14-213. - Operation without carrying operator's license.
Section 14-214. - Instruction of unlicensed person in motor vehicle operation.
Section 14-215a. - Operation while license is suspended pursuant to section 14-140.
Section 14-216. - Operation by persons under eighteen without insurance.
Section 14-218. - Negligent homicide.
Section 14-218a. - Traveling unreasonably fast. Establishment of speed limits.
Section 14-219a. - Parking area defined.
Section 14-219b. - Limitation of municipal liability.
Section 14-219c. - Use of speed monitoring devices to support a conviction.
Section 14-221. - Low-speed vehicles carrying passengers for hire.
Section 14-222. - Reckless driving.
Section 14-222a. - Negligent homicide with a motor vehicle.
Section 14-223a. - Striking an officer with a motor vehicle. Penalties.
Section 14-225. - Evading responsibility in operation of other vehicles.
Section 14-225a. - Operation of motor vehicles in parking areas.
Section 14-226. - Operator to report injury to dog.
Section 14-227. - Operation while intoxicated.
Section 14-227f. - Alcohol and drug addiction treatment program. Waiver. Appeal. Regulations.
Section 14-227k. - Avoidance of, tampering with or failure to install ignition interlock device.
Section 14-227o. - Ignition interlock device services. Discount re for indigent persons.
Section 14-228. - Leaving motor vehicle without setting brake.
Section 14-229. - Using motor vehicle without owner's permission.
Section 14-230. - Driving in right-hand lane.
Section 14-230a. - Restricted use of left-hand lane on divided limited access highways.
Section 14-231. - Vehicles in opposite directions to pass on right.
Section 14-233. - Passing on right.
Section 14-234. - Determination of no-passing zones. Overtaking and passing in no-passing zones.
Section 14-235. - Vehicle not to be driven on left side of highway on curve or upgrade.
Section 14-236. - Multiple-lane highways.
Section 14-237. - Driving on divided highways.
Section 14-238. - Controlled-access highways.
Section 14-238a. (Formerly Sec. 13a-59). - Illegal entry on limited access highway.
Section 14-239. - One-way streets. Rotaries or roundabouts.
Section 14-240. - Vehicles to be driven reasonable distance apart. Exceptions. Operation of platoon.
Section 14-240a. - Vehicles to be driven reasonable distance apart. Intent to harass or intimidate.
Section 14-243. - Starting or backing vehicle.
Section 14-245. - Intersection. Right-of-way.
Section 14-246. - Right-of-way at intersection turn.
Section 14-246a. - Right-of-way at junction of highways.
Section 14-247. - Right-of-way at driveway or private road.
Section 14-247a. - Right-of-way yielded by one emerging from alley, driveway or building.
Section 14-247b. - Right-of-way yielded to signaling motor bus.
Section 14-248. - Cattle crossings.
Section 14-248a. - Cattle crossings.
Section 14-248b. - Livestock crossing paths. Right-of-way.
Section 14-249. - Stopping at grade crossings.
Section 14-250. - Certain motor vehicles to stop at railroad crossing. Regulations. Penalty.
Section 14-250a. - Vehicles prohibited on sidewalks.
Section 14-250b. - Obstructing intersection.
Section 14-251. - Parking vehicles.
Section 14-252. - Parking so as to obstruct driveway.
Section 14-252a. - Removal of ice and snow from motor vehicle required. Penalty.
Section 14-253. - Parking privileges of handicapped persons.
Section 14-253b. - Municipal police departments to report violations of handicapped parking laws.
Section 14-254. - Parking privileges of disabled veterans.
Section 14-257. - Crowded seats. Riders on outside of vehicle. Aisle seats.
Section 14-258 and 14-259. - Use of metal tires restricted. Use of radio telephones.
Section 14-260. - Filling tanks.
Section 14-260n. - Definitions.
Section 14-261. - Towing and pushing of vehicles. Double trailers and semitrailers.
Section 14-261a. - Regulation of commercial vehicle combinations.
Section 14-262. - Width and length of vehicles. Exceptions. Permits.
Section 14-263. - Length of camp trailers.
Section 14-264. - Special permits for vehicles of excessive height.
Section 14-265. - Special permits for trailers.
Section 14-266. - Operating vehicles of over four tons' capacity on restricted highways.
Section 14-267. - Operating overweight commercial vehicles. Highway weighing required. Penalty.
Section 14-267b. - Weight restrictions for motor buses. Penalties.
Section 14-268. - Weight of vehicles and trailers restricted.
Section 14-269. - Weight of vehicles and trailers engaged in construction work.
Section 14-269a. - Weight of refuse vehicles.
Section 14-270. - Permits for nonconforming vehicles. Regulations. Penalties.
Section 14-270a. - Portable truck weight scales.
Section 14-270b. - Truck weight enforcement program.
Section 14-270c. - Official weighing areas. Staffing requirements.
Section 14-270d. - Temporary closing of weigh stations.
Section 14-270f. - Weigh station logs.
Section 14-271. - Securing of loads.
Section 14-271a. - Limits for weakening of vehicle frames. Regulations.
Section 14-272. - Projecting loads. Carrying of animals.
Section 14-272a. - Carrying of children in pick-up trucks or open-bed vehicles. Restrictions.
Section 14-272b. - Transport of dogs in pick-up trucks. Restrictions.
Section 14-275b. - Transportation of students who have mobility impairments.
Section 14-277. - Operator's duties on stopping bus. Prohibition on idling of bus.
Section 14-279. - Vehicles to stop for school bus. Penalties. Written warning or summons.
Section 14-279b. - Review of evidence file. Summons. Defenses.
Section 14-281a. - Speed of school buses. Display of head lamps.
Section 14-282. - Vehicle formerly used as a school bus to be repainted. Penalty.
Section 14-282a. - School bus and student transportation vehicle inspectors.
Section 14-283. - Rights and duties re emergency vehicles. Obstruction of emergency vehicle.
Section 14-283a. - Pursuits by police officers. State-wide policy. Prohibitions. Reports.
Section 14-283c. - Definitions.
Section 14-283e. - Equipment of frozen dessert truck. Penalty.
Section 14-283f. - Operation of frozen dessert truck. Penalty.
Section 14-283g. - Restrictions on vending from frozen dessert truck. Penalty.
Section 14-283h. - Information concerning equipment and operation of frozen dessert truck.
Section 14-284. - Use of restricted highway by livery service vehicles.
Section 14-285. - Use of mirrors by vehicles other than motor vehicles.
Section 14-286c. - Left and right turns.
Section 14-286e. - Police officers, firefighters or emergency service personnel on bicycles.
Section 14-286f. - “Share the Road” public awareness campaign.
Section 14-287. - Carrying person other than operator on bicycle.
Section 14-289a. - Riding on motorcycle. Carrying of passenger.
Section 14-289b. - Operation of motorcycles and autocycles.
Section 14-289d. - Vision-protecting devices for operators of motorcycles or motor-driven cycles.
Section 14-289e. - Headgear for motorcyclists and passengers.
Section 14-289f. - Liability insurance required for motorcycles or autocycles.
Section 14-289h. - Electric personal assistive mobility devices. Definition. Operation.
Section 14-289i. - Vehicles used for landscaping purposes with caged trailers.
Section 14-289j. - Restrictions on the use and sale, lease or rental of mini-motorcycles.
Section 14-289l. - Duties of electric bicycle manufacturers.
Section 14-290. - Exemptions from motor vehicle laws.
Section 14-291. - Traffic regulations for special occasions.
Section 14-292. - Marking of vehicle operated by student driver.
Section 14-293. - Vehicles and persons driving or leading animals to display lights.
Section 14-293a. - Riding animals on highways.
Section 14-293b. - Responsibilities of motor vehicle operators when approaching equestrians.
Section 14-294. - Security for appearance of accused.
Section 14-295a. - Assessment for certain violations and payments of fines by mail.
Section 14-295b. - Brain injury prevention and services account.
Section 14-296. - General penalty.
Section 14-296a. - House trailer not to be occupied when on highway.
Section 14-296b. - Following or parking near fire apparatus, driving over hose prohibited.
Section 14-296bb. - Access to dedicated roadway for bus rapid transit service.