Pedestrians and crosswalks

By the end of this topic you can

• You can spot both marked and unmarked crosswalks at intersections.
• You can stop at the right place and yield to pedestrians who are crossing.
• You can take extra care around children, older people and people with disabilities.
• You can adjust your speed in school zones and stop correctly for a school bus.
• You can check for pedestrians before turning right or left.

What you need to know and understand

• In most states pedestrians have the right-of-way in both marked and unmarked crosswalks.
• An unmarked crosswalk usually exists at an intersection even when no lines are painted.
• If there is a stop line or limit line before a crosswalk, you stop at that line.
• Never pass a vehicle that has stopped at a crosswalk: a pedestrian may be crossing in front of it.
• A person using a white cane or a guide dog has the right-of-way at all times.
• School zone speed limits and distances vary by state: check your state manual. California, for example, sets 25 mph within 500 feet of a school while children are outside or crossing, and some of its school zones are as low as 15 mph.
• Stopping for a school bus with flashing red lights is required in every state, but the rules for divided highways vary.

Where crosswalks are, even when you cannot see them

A marked crosswalk has painted white or yellow lines, and some have flashing lights or signs. An unmarked crosswalk is the space where a sidewalk would naturally continue across the road at an intersection. Most state laws treat both the same way, so a pedestrian at a corner with no paint still has the right-of-way.

Pedestrians should not step suddenly into traffic, but you must still try to avoid hitting anyone, even someone crossing in the wrong place. Slow down and be ready to stop whenever people are near the curb.

Yielding the right way

A flashing Don't Walk signal tells pedestrians not to start crossing, but anyone already in the crosswalk still has the right-of-way. Never honk at a blind pedestrian. If a person with a white cane pulls the cane back and steps away from the curb, that usually means they want you to go ahead.

1. Scan corners and crosswalks as you approach every intersection.
2. Ease off the gas and cover the brake if anyone is waiting or crossing.
3. Stop behind the stop line or before the crosswalk, not on it. Blocking the crosswalk can push people, including blind pedestrians, out into traffic.
4. Wait until the pedestrian has safely finished crossing your half of the road, or the whole road if your state requires it.
5. Before you move, look again for anyone else stepping off the curb, especially when turning.

School zones and school buses

Near schools, expect children to dart out between parked cars. Obey reduced speed limits when the signs say they apply, and follow the directions of crossing guards. The exact speed, distance and hours vary by state.

When a school bus shows flashing yellow lights, slow down and prepare to stop. When it shows flashing red lights and a stop arm, stop and stay stopped until the lights turn off. On a two-lane road, traffic in both directions stops. On a divided highway, traffic on the other side may not need to stop in many states, but this varies: check your state manual.

Common mistakes

• Looking only for cars when turning right on red: always check the crosswalk you are about to cross.
• Stopping on top of the crosswalk: stop behind the line so people can cross safely.
• Passing a car that has stopped for no obvious reason: assume a pedestrian is crossing in front of it.
• Moving off as soon as the walker passes your bumper: wait until they are well clear.
• Forgetting school zone times: read the sign, and slow down whenever children are around.

Test yourself: Pedestrians and crosswalks

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Do You Have to Stop for Pedestrians in a US Crosswalk?