As a driver do you know the rules for pedestrians in cross walks?

[kaytieeldr]

Well, this is interesting https://getinjuryanswers.com/pedestrians-always-right-way-california/ "In California, the law prohibits pedestrians from jaywalking. Pedestrians who need to cross the street must do so at a crosswalk at an intersection. The crosswalk can be marked or unmarked, but it must be at an intersection. Pedestrians generally have the right of way when they are in a crosswalk. However, pedestrians have a duty to yield the right of way to vehicles on the road if it is necessary to avoid an immediate hazard. So, if a car is approaching as a pedestrian intends to cross the street the pedestrian should wait until the car has passed. The duty to yield may depend on how close the oncoming traffic was."

https://driversprep.com/do-pedestrians-always-have-the-right-of-way/

 

[bcla]

Well, this is interesting https://getinjuryanswers.com/pedestrians-always-right-way-california/ "In California, the law prohibits pedestrians from jaywalking. Pedestrians who need to cross the street must do so at a crosswalk at an intersection. The crosswalk can be marked or unmarked, but it must be at an intersection. Pedestrians generally have the right of way when they are in a crosswalk. However, pedestrians have a duty to yield the right of way to vehicles on the road if it is necessary to avoid an immediate hazard. So, if a car is approaching as a pedestrian intends to cross the street the pedestrian should wait until the car has passed. The duty to yield may depend on how close the oncoming traffic was."

https://driversprep.com/do-pedestrians-always-have-the-right-of-way/

Not completely the case. It's required between "traffic control devices" (i.e. traffic lights). The law that was cited by that article does allow for pedestrians to cross the street outside of crosswalks as long as it's safe to do so and it doesn't create a hazard. This is the only California law that makes jaywalking specifically illegal under any circumstances:

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=21955.&lawCode=VEH​

21955. Between adjacent intersections controlled by traffic control signal devices or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross the roadway at any place except in a crosswalk.​

It gets kind of weird too what "adjacent intersections" means. I understand that legally if there's an alley without a traffic signal, that breaks up what's between intersections. I still wouldn't cross the street outside of an intersection in downtown San Francisco. That would be near suicide.

I've actually seen some streets where there are clear signs stating that crossing the street outside of an intersection is a violation.

 

[mrodgers]

I’ll give pedestrians the right of way in the street the day my car has the right of way on the sidewalk, dagummit.

As the most basic form of travel, pedestrians have more of a right to the street than you do in a car. It's in the constitution.

 

[mrodgers]

Well, this is interesting https://getinjuryanswers.com/pedestrians-always-right-way-california/ "In California, the law prohibits pedestrians from jaywalking. Pedestrians who need to cross the street must do so at a crosswalk at an intersection. The crosswalk can be marked or unmarked, but it must be at an intersection. Pedestrians generally have the right of way when they are in a crosswalk. However, pedestrians have a duty to yield the right of way to vehicles on the road if it is necessary to avoid an immediate hazard. So, if a car is approaching as a pedestrian intends to cross the street the pedestrian should wait until the car has passed. The duty to yield may depend on how close the oncoming traffic was."

https://driversprep.com/do-pedestrians-always-have-the-right-of-way/

That is in there because it is impossible for a car to yield the right of way to a pedestrian if they are half an inch from the crosswalk at 35 mph and the pedestrian steps into the crosswalk. That happens a lot, people walking out in front of moving traffic because "pedestrians have the right of way" and expecting traffic to stop. My car doesn't stop that fast, nor could anyone have that kind of reaction time.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You probably shouldnt be driving fast enough around pedestrians that you can't stop for one.

 

[bcla]

That is in there because it is impossible for a car to yield the right of way to a pedestrian if they are half an inch from the crosswalk at 35 mph and the pedestrian steps into the crosswalk. That happens a lot, people walking out in front of moving traffic because "pedestrians have the right of way" and expecting traffic to stop. My car doesn't stop that fast, nor could anyone have that kind of reaction time.

Depends. I saw one driver at a marked crosswalk who had plenty of time to stop but chose not to. Then he buzzed a pedestrian and continued yelling a certain expression containing a four-letter word. But if someone steps off the sidewalk a driver should be prepared to stop at any time if there's a crosswalk and no traffic lights. A lot of police around here run stings just to catch people failing to stop when it was reasonable to do so.

 

[bcla]

You probably shouldnt be driving fast enough around pedestrians that you can't stop for one.

It's kind of weird where there's 45 MPH speed limits and marked crosswalks without stop signs or traffic lights. I've seen a few intersections or marked crosswalks like that.

This one is pretty crazy. I've driven on this road. 50 MPH speed limit but with a marked crosswalk where a hiking trail crosses the road. I chose this view because the speed limit sign is pretty clear, but it'll require zooming in to clearly see the marked crosswalk.

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.935...4!1s2m8SohdMK_AEfKrlli3-jg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

 

[barkley]

You probably shouldnt be driving fast enough around pedestrians that you can't stop for one.

even if i'm only driving 15 miles per hour (which is much less than the legal speed limit on the streets around our local university) i've had people run out or bounce off the curb in front of me (with no crosswalk) causing me to slam on my brakes barely missing them-it takes 27 feet according to most charts from perception to full stop going 10 mph.

 

[dclpluto]

i would of have to give the person the finger.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Today was not my first close call with a car while I Today I had someone sit and blow their horn at me because they were making a left, the arrow turns green at the same time the cross walk turns green,

While the driver certainly is in the wrong, perhaps whatever governmental authority that controls that light should consider switching it so the left turn signal and walk sign don't turn on at the same time.

 

[Searc]

This reminds me of our trip to Toronto last week. Outside the CN Tower, there are signs by the crosswalk saying pedestrians must yield to traffic. So I was standing on the sidewalk, patiently waiting for cars to go by and waiting for an opening. Both times we crossed, traffic stopped for us. So I jogged across the street while giving the "thanks" wave and DH said "why are you running?" I don't know, they were nice enough to stop, the least I can do is hurry across.

 

[Searc]

While the driver certainly is in the wrong, perhaps whatever governmental authority that controls that light should consider switching it so the left turn signal and walk sign don't turn on at the same time.

We have lights that are the same here...the green left turn arrow and the WALK signal for pedestrians to your left turn green at the same time. So you need to be cognizant of whether there are pedestrians crossing at the same time, and hope to god people behind you are paying attention to you slowing down in the middle of the intersection.

 

[soccerdad72]

This reminds me of our trip to Toronto last week. Outside the CN Tower, there are signs by the crosswalk saying pedestrians must yield to traffic. So I was standing on the sidewalk, patiently waiting for cars to go by and waiting for an opening. Both times we crossed, traffic stopped for us. So I jogged across the street while giving the "thanks" wave and DH said "why are you running?" I don't know, they were nice enough to stop, the least I can do is hurry across.

Yeah, my experience in Canada in general is that drivers are very conscientious about pedestrians, even going as far as stopping (like you mentioned) for people who are waiting to cross.

There's a crosswalk at the school where my younger son practices soccer in the spring. The parking lot is across the street from the field so everyone has to cross. It's not at an intersection, but marked as a crosswalk and has signs saying that drivers must yield to pedestrians. It's hit or miss, however, as to whether a driver will stop. My son always points out that the driver would be in the wrong if we were to get hit by their car. My response, however, is that it won't make it suck any less to get hit by a car.

 

[Moliphino]

While the driver certainly is in the wrong, perhaps whatever governmental authority that controls that light should consider switching it so the left turn signal and walk sign don't turn on at the same time.

Yeah, that. It was a horrible idea to do it this way, I've never seen it around where I live.
We do have a few intersections where all traffic is stopped when pedestrians can cross. Mildly annoying when there's only one pedestrian that's not even crossing in front of your car, but safe.

 

[kdonnel]

I've never seen it around where I live.

It can't be that unique, virtually every intersection I have seen will turn the cross walk green while turning the opposing lanes green. At that point even without a green arrow there is a chance a car will be wanting to turn left. Or there is always the chance a car is making a right on red.

In either of those instances the driver still must follow the rules, yet they rarely do.

 

[Moliphino]

It can't be that unique, virtually every intersection I have seen will turn the cross walk green while turning the opposing lanes green. At that point even without a green arrow there is a chance a car will be wanting to turn left. Or there is always the chance a car is making a right on red.

In either of those instances the driver still must follow the rules, yet they rarely do.

Looking at your diagram again, I had interpreted it wrong the first time I read the original post. I read it as the left turn lane that you were crossing had a green at the same time, not that the left turn lane from the cross street had a green. I have seen that. The other way would be ridiculous. I still think it would be even better to stop all car traffic for pedestrian traffic at particularly busy or dangerous intersections.

 

[skyblue17]

Here, you're kind of on your own in a crosswalk. I always make sure cars in my neighborhood appear to be stopping before I cross, and I always look at a corner to make sure no one is turning before crossing. However, lots of cars here kinda do what they want, as do a lot of pedestrians. It's more common than not to have to glare back a driver who is basically on your butt as you cross and they want to turn.

 

[littlejimmy]

even if i'm only driving 15 miles per hour (which is much less than the legal speed limit on the streets around our local university) i've had people run out or bounce off the curb in front of me (with no crosswalk) causing me to slam on my brakes barely missing them-it takes 27 feet according to most charts from perception to full stop going 10 mph.

because of my superior reflexes, I can stop in 22 feet.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I can’t even imagine a nine lane road.

He's saying in both directions. Main is 8 lanes across at Portage and Main.

 

[Kennywood]

Pedestrians? Do you mean "nature's speed bumps"??