Pedestrian Safety

• Look left-right-left before and during crossing a road.
• Always cross the street at marked crosswalks.
• Avoid using headsets or in-ear audio devices when crossing roadways.
• Stay away from traffic after drinking alcohol or when taking medication that may cause dizziness or blurred vision. Call a cab if necessary.
• When walking after dark, carry a flashlight and wear retroreflective materials.
• In bad weather, allow extra time and distance for a vehicle to stop. Do not let umbrellas or jacket hoods block your view of approaching traffic.
• If your view of approaching traffic is blocked, move to where you can see traffic before crossing. Stop and look left-right-left again.
• Watch out for cars backing out of parking spaces. Stay out of a driver’s blind spot.
• Where sidewalks are available, use them. If sidewalks are not available, walk facing traffic and keep to the left of the roadway.
• At intersections, scan over your shoulder for turning vehicles. Make eye contact with the driver of a stopped car before crossing in front or in back of it.
• Do not step in front of a moving vehicle, even if you have the right of way. Be alert and use common sense.

Pedestrians’ Right of Way at Crosswalks

• When traffic-control signals are not in place or not operational, the driver of a vehicle must yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping to yield to a pedestrian within a crosswalk.
  • Exception: A pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where there is a pedestrian tunnel or overpass must yield the right of way to all vehicles.
• A pedestrian must not suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and enter into the path of a vehicle where it is impractical for the driver to yield.
• If a vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any intersection with an unmarked crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of a vehicle approaching from the rear must not pass the stopped vehicle.

• Yield to pedestrians anywhere in a crosswalk and come to a complete stop if necessary.
• Do not pass vehicles stopped at crosswalks.
• Slow down when driving on campus. Be alert to heavy foot traffic.
• If an elderly person or a person with access and functional needs is crossing at an intersection or crosswalk, be patient.
• Watch out for pedestrians when you are making a turn or backing up.
• As you drive, scan for pedestrians about to cross or enter your path. Always be alert.
• Use caution driving at night. Pedestrians and cyclists are difficult to see.
• In bad weather, remember that your braking distance increases.
• The behavior of alcohol-impaired pedestrians is unpredictable. Be particularly attentive late at night, on weekends and after sporting events.