Proper Turn Signal Rules in Colorado: What You Need to Know

According to Pemco Insurance, nearly half of drivers do not use turn signals. It's not that cars sold in Colorado do not include them, it's the drivers behind the wheel who forget to use them.

Read More: How To Protect Your Car from Colorado’s Harsh Weather

It would be a shame to spend 2025 paying off a bunch of traffic tickets for failing to signal when turning, or for failing to signal when changing lanes, so let's take a quick look at what every driver in the Centennial State should know.

Get our free mobile app

Colorado Drivers Who Are Doing It Wrong

Still holding your phone while driving in Colorado? Haiyaa! Maybe this is why so many people forget to use a turn signal while driving. What are some of the reasons people fail to use a turn signal?

• I Forgot: Some people fail to signal who are so familiar with a route that their brain just does not remember. Others fail to do so as they have no idea where they are going and suddenly their GPS just told them to turn.
• Lazy: Some drivers just do not care. Perhaps they need a traffic ticket to motivate them to use the blinker again.
• Lane Dancing: Some people are changing lanes so frequently trying to get around people that they do not bother to signal.
• Infinite Blinker: How about that individual who signals and then doesn’t realize their blinker is still blinking after the turn is complete? Doh!

What Does Colorado's Law Say?

According to the Colorado Driver Handbook, drivers are required to signal the intention to turn or change lanes for at least 100 feet when they are in a town or city. On a four-lane highway or highway with a speed greater than 40 mph, you are required to signal continuously for 200 feet.

Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) Title 42, sections 42-4-608 and 42-4-903 outline how to signal properly.

Read More: See 3 Cars Swallowed By Massive Colorado Sinkholes

What Happens If I Forget To Signal A Turn?

If you make a habit out of forgetting to use your turn signal it's going to catch up with you. In Colorado, failure to signal where required is a Class A traffic infraction. You could get a ticket costing you anywhere between $15 to $100. You could also see 1 to 2 points added to your driving record, depending on the incident.