Distractions, Fatigue and Aggressive Driving

Key points

1. Adult drivers may use only hands free phone accessories.

   Source: Handbook p. 13

   “Drivers are permitted only to use hands-free mobile telephone accessories.”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 13

2. Drivers who are 16 or 17 may not use any phone, even hands free.

   Source: Handbook p. 13

   “drivers who are 16 or 17 years of age are not permitted to use any type of cell phone or mobile electronic device, including a hands-free device.”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 13

3. If you are distracted and crash, the responsibility falls on you, not the distraction.

   Source: Handbook p. 27

   “If you are distracted and you experience a crash, the responsibility falls on you, not the distraction.”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 27

4. Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep to stay alert.

   Source: Handbook p. 28

   “most adults need 7 to 9 hours to maintain proper alertness during the day”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 28

5. Avoid driving between midnight and 6 a.m.

   Source: Handbook p. 28

   “Try not to drive late at night between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 28

6. If you hit a shoulder rumble strip, pull off safely and check how alert you are.

   Source: Handbook p. 28

   “If you run over a shoulder rumble strip, pull off the road at a safe place immediately and check your alertness level.”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 28

7. Do not retaliate against an aggressive driver; leave punishment to the police.

   Source: Handbook p. 26

   “However, it is best to leave punishment to the police.”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 26

8. If a motorist pursues you, do not go home; drive to a police station or busy public place.

   Source: Handbook p. 26

   “If a motorist pursues you, do not go home. Instead, drive to a police station, convenience store, or other public and welllit location where you can get help.”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 26

9. On long trips, take a break about every 100 miles or 2 hours.

   Source: Handbook p. 28

   “about every 100 miles or 2 hours during long trips”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 28

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Connecticut practice test

1. 1. Which statement describes the special Connecticut cell phone rule for a licensed driver aged 16 or 17?

   1. Hands-free calls are permitted, but texting is not
   2. All phone use is prohibited, including hands-free use
   3. Phone use is allowed when the vehicle is stopped in traffic
   4. Only mobile devices with screens are prohibited
   Show answer

   All phone use is prohibited, including hands-free use. For a 16- or 17-year-old, Connecticut prohibits every type of cell phone or mobile electronic device while driving, and that includes hands-free equipment. The rule is broader than the adult restriction on hand-held use. A stopped vehicle in traffic is not a safe loophole because the manual also prohibits device use during temporary stops caused by traffic, road conditions, or a control signal. The age of the driver and the words including a hands-free device are the key cues.

2. 2. What phone use does Connecticut permit an adult driver to use while operating on a public highway?

   1. Hand-held calls whenever traffic is light
   2. Only hands-free mobile telephone accessories, subject to listed exceptions
   3. Texting while stopped at a traffic signal
   4. Any device use if the driver keeps one hand on the wheel
   Show answer

   Only hands-free mobile telephone accessories, subject to listed exceptions. For adult drivers, Connecticut prohibits hand-held cell phones and mobile electronic devices on public highways. The general permission is limited to hands-free mobile telephone accessories, while separate emergency and qualifying public-safety exceptions are listed in the manual. A traffic stop does not authorize texting or other device use, and keeping one hand on the wheel does not make a hand-held call lawful. Remember the contrast: adults have a hands-free rule, while 16- and 17-year-olds cannot use these devices at all.

3. 3. What is the safest response when another driver behaves aggressively toward you?

   1. Use your vehicle to block the driver's path
   2. Chase the driver so you can explain the problem
   3. Avoid retaliation and leave punishment to the police
   4. Race ahead to prove that you will not be intimidated
   Show answer

   Avoid retaliation and leave punishment to the police. The manual recommends self-control when another road user drives aggressively. Do not turn the vehicle into a tool for retaliation or compete with the other driver. Chasing, blocking, and racing can turn an unsafe encounter into a crash or a road-rage confrontation. Leave enforcement to police and report the conduct after reaching your destination. A useful cue is to create distance and keep driving defensively, rather than trying to teach the other driver a lesson in traffic.

Source: the Connecticut Driver's Manual, Dangerous Driving Behaviors. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.