Public Transportation and Smart Growth

Gormy Cuss

(30,884 posts)

12. Less of a problem in states where motorists are required to stop until pedestrians clear the lane.

Fri Mar 29, 2013, 04:51 PM

Mar 2013

California is a yield state and that's why drivers crawl up your backside while crossing in a crosswalk. It's one of the odd traffic rules that made me shake my head when I moved here (motorcycle lane splitting is another, but I digress.)

Other states require full stops until pedestrians clear the lane and some buffer, and in many cases until pedestrians have cleared ALL lanes in the same traffic direction. Here's an example from Washington state law:

(1) The operator of an approaching vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian or bicycle to cross the roadway within an unmarked or marked crosswalk when the pedestrian or bicycle is upon or within one lane of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For purposes of this section "half of the roadway" means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel, and includes the entire width of a one-way roadway.

New Jersey changed its laws a few years ago from YIELD to STOP specifically because of its high rate of pedestrian injuries and deaths.

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Most signaled intersections are unsafe for pedestrians, here's why [View all] CreekDog Mar 2013 OP

They used to have one of those in London, Ontario TrogL Mar 2013 #1

Seems worse in places like NYC and WashDC. ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2013 #2

but it IS a problem in California CreekDog Mar 2013 #7

The drivers seem less aggressive/impatient here than they did on the east coast ProgressiveProfessor Mar 2013 #10

that's anecdotal, the stats are what's important CreekDog Mar 2013 #11

It's beyond horrible in my part of CA. Pedestrians take their lives in their kestrel91316 Mar 2013 #14

I just cross where ever I feel like it. Kalidurga Mar 2013 #3

come on, what about cars behind you when you have a walk signal? CreekDog Mar 2013 #4

I live in Minnesota maybe crossing is different here. Kalidurga Mar 2013 #5

well which is the simpler fix? CreekDog Mar 2013 #6

Oh sorry I really missed an opportunity... Kalidurga Mar 2013 #8

Thank you, I'm sorry for misunderstanding you CreekDog Mar 2013 #9

Less of a problem in states where motorists are required to stop until pedestrians clear the lane. Gormy Cuss Mar 2013 #12

with all due respect, i'm writing this from San Francisco and it's a HUGE problem here CreekDog Mar 2013 #15

With all due respect, it's far worse here in SF than in cities where the full stop is the law. Gormy Cuss Mar 2013 #17

i definitely agree with those ideas CreekDog Mar 2013 #18

The fault lies entirely with negligent drivers. kestrel91316 Mar 2013 #13

yeah but the signaling needs to be fixed to separate them CreekDog Mar 2013 #16