Cross-walks at traffic lights - pedestrians that just go on green?

Question

I was curious about this. If you're driving up to a light that is green and a pedestrian decides to cross the street anyway, who has the right of way? Should they wait until it's red for the driver or not?

Curious what others think. I hate people that just go and expect you to stop.

Answer 1

Here are four Tennessee State Laws that may help you understand:

55-8-111. Pedestrian-control signals. -

Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words “Walk” or “Wait” or “Don't Walk” are in place, such signals shall indicate as follows:

(1) Walk. Pedestrians facing such signals may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles; and

(2) Wait or Don't Walk. No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed crossing on the walk signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the wait signal is showing.

55-8-134. Pedestrians' right-of-way in crosswalks. -

(a) When traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.

(b) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.

(c) Subsection (a) does not apply under the conditions stated in § 55-8-135(b).

(d) Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.

55-8-135. Crossing at other than crosswalks. -

(a) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.

(b) Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.

(c) Between adjacent intersections at which traffic-control signals are in operation pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk.

55-8-136. Drivers to exercise due care. -

(a) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this chapter, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon any roadway, and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary, and shall exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any confused or incapacitated person upon a roadway

So not all pedesrians have the right of way all the time.

Answer 2

It is a myth that a pedestrian always has the right of way, and it is not an accurate assessment to say that because a motorist can't just mow down a pedestrian that the pedestrian has the right of way.

Also, a crosswalk is not necessarily a safe haven. If there is a traffic control device in operation at the crosswalk and the pedestrian walks against it, a motorist would generally not be committing a traffic offense if a crash were to ensue. (A pedestrian already in the act of crossing when the light goes against him would have the right of way, however.)

Answer 3

The answer is this. If there is a white line or cross walk for pedestrians, then they always have the right of way if they are in that area. Traffic lights dont matter if there is a pedestrian walk way outlined by paint on the street. Similarly, if a pedestrian jumps from between two parked cars in the middle of the block, and there is no painted pedestrian crossing, then they have to give you the right of way.

Answer 4

I artwork in NYC and that i could definitely say... i glance extra on the site visitors than I do on the lights. human beings walk whilst they don't have a sign... yet drivers behave basically as badly. They make a ideal turn and don't yield to pedestrians that have a walk sign. I consistently see vehicles skid around the intersections even however that they had a crimson mild already. the only risk-free way you may walk in the time of a highway in the city is thru finding if there's a motor vehicle coming and then going. the prevalent rule is: flow once you may, yet do no longer make the vehicles decelerate or end for you - except your mild can grant the perfect to! lamentably, there is quite some idiots available which will basically walk on each occasion they think of it quite is ideal - without regard to site visitors types or something. and those are oftentimes the human beings who get hit... or some undesirable person who concept that they had a walk sign and have been given hit by a driving force disobeying the indicators and not paying interest. So right this is how I walk: i'm getting to a crossing, look if there are vehicles coming, gauge how long they're going to take to get to my intersection and if my way is sparkling, I walk. If I relatively have a walk sign - much extra constructive! yet I in no way place self assurance in it. i are turning out to be run over by a bike courier that replaced into going the incorrect way down a one-way highway on an identical time as I had a walk sign... it quite is ny city for you ;)

Answer 5

If there is a pedestrian signal and it says to not cross, then you have the right of way.

Answer 6

Hey let’s not all forget that in most States pedestrians have the right away. Doesn’t really matter if they are crossing the street legal or illegally.

Answer 7

The law reads the pedestrian always has right of way whether we agree or not.

Answer 8

pedestrians always have the right of way in a zebra stripe. The fact that you had the light might save you some prison years in a trial...but I think it's smarter just to suck it up and stop....I hate the walkers who STROLL leisurely through the zebra....

Answer 9

You do. But in fact if you crushed him you won't be held liable for criminal lawsuit. But it will cost you to hire lawyers in a civil lawsuit, which is much tolerable than if you're regarded as a criminal.