Pedestrian Crosswalks and Pedestrian Safety

Summer is upon us and nicer weather means more pedestrians.  With the increase in the number of pedestrians, both pedestrians and motorists need to be vigilant to avoid becoming another statistic. The majority of traffic collisions involving pedestrians occur within crosswalks.  Only half of traffic collisions involving pedestrians are caused by the pedestrians.

Every intersection has a marked or unmarked crosswalk.  Simply put, a crosswalk goes from one corner to another corner, or a point directly opposite the corner on the other side of the road.  For the most part, crosswalks cross at a 90-degree angle.  The difference between a marked and unmarked crosswalk is the visibility of paint on the ground.

Pedestrians need to remember that they have the right of way at crosswalks ONLY when it is safe to cross.  If a pedestrian enters a crosswalk into the path of a moving vehicle that is dangerously close, the pedestrian does not have the right of way.  A pedestrian cannot unnecessarily slow or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.[1] Pedestrians do not have the right of way when crossing the street outside of crosswalks.[2] Additionally if there is a stop light at each end of a block, pedestrians shall not cross the street unless using a crosswalk.[3]  The Vehicle Code actually requires pedestrians to use a sidewalk if there is one. If a pedestrian cannot use a sidewalk, they should walk on the left hand side of the roadway, against traffic.[4]  Pedestrians cannot use the bicycle lane to walk, if there is a sidewalk or shoulder to walk on.[5]

Here are a few guidelines to make sure you stay safe when crossing the road:

1. Never assume the driver of the car can see you.
2. Try to make eye contact with the driver and get some sort of acknowledgement before stepping into the roadway.
3. Always use a crosswalk on busy streets.

When driving, it is important to remember that cars are dangerous and can easily injure or kill a pedestrian.  If a pedestrian steps into the roadway, whether in a crosswalk or not, a driver must exercise due care or caution for the safety of the pedestrian.  Generally speaking, this means the driver must stop.  If one driver has stopped for a pedestrian, then all the drivers approaching that crosswalk must stop for that pedestrian.[6]

Here are a few guidelines to use when you are driving to help keep pedestrians safe:

1. Scan the roadway.  Pedestrians come in all shapes, sizes and ages. The younger the pedestrian, the harder it is to see them.
2. Be especially vigilant in residential areas.  Children love to play in the street and chase after balls that roll into the street.
3. The faster you go, the longer it takes to stop. At 25 MPH (the speed limit on residential streets in Fort Bragg) it takes 150 feet to recognize a hazard and come to a complete stop.

Remember the key to being safe on the streets is to Stay Alert and Stay Alive.