Drivers, if you are driving down the street and a pedestrian appears mid-block between two intersections or two sets of crosswalks, do you have to stop and let them cross?
That’s a decision that is up to you but, legally, you’re not required to.
According to state law, “Pedestrians have the right of way when crossing at intersections whether marked by a crosswalk or not,” said Ask George, the DMV’s weekly transportation column that features answers to frequently asked questions. “The Driver Handbook points out that both drivers and pedestrians should be aware that a person should not assume that the other party will yield the right of way. Being in the right will be of little solace when a pedestrian is seriously injured.”
In contrast, pedestrians should make sure drivers see them before attempting to cross the street and should “never demand the right of way when their personal safety is in question,” Ask George reported. “Pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility; both the vehicle operator and the pedestrian have to cooperate. Vehicles have the right of way on the roadways unless the California Vehicle Code provides specific right of way access to other parties such as bicyclists and pedestrians.”
Research this and other road rules online at www.dmv.ca.gov.
