Roadwise States Alaska Driving lessons Pedestrians Alaska driving lesson · Sharing the Road
Pedestrians A 3-minute lesson from the Alaska course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Sharing the Road
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 48, 49 You share the road with people who have no protection: people walking and biking, highway workers on foot in work zones, and people using mobility devices such as wheelchairs. At high speed, a pedestrian rarely survives, so look for them everywhere, all the time.
As a driver: Look out for pedestrians and bicyclists everywhere, at all times Use extra caution at dusk, dawn, at night, and in bad weather Slow down and be ready to stop when turning or entering a crosswalk Make eye contact with and yield to pedestrians in crosswalks Stop well back from the crosswalk so other drivers can see the pedestrians and stop too Follow the speed limit, especially in school zones and neighborhoods with children Be extra careful when backing up; look for pedestrians Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs Handbook p. 48 ↗ Know the rule
Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. People may be crossing where you can't see them.
Handbook p. 48 ↗ As a pedestrian: Cross only at crosswalks, and obey all traffic laws and signals Never start across on a "stale" green or a steady or flashing DON'T WALK / upraised hand Look for turning vehicles before crossing Walk on the left side of the highway, facing oncoming traffic Don't solicit a ride from anyone on or along a highway Wear light-colored clothing when walking along the road at night Don't drink an intoxicant or be intoxicated on or along a highway Handbook p. 49 ↗ "Stale" green light A green signal that has been on a while and has about run out of time. Pedestrians should never start crossing on one.
Handbook p. 49 ↗ Put it into practice
The car in the lane beside you has stopped at a crosswalk, blocking your view. Stop too. A pedestrian may be stepping out right in front of that car, where you can't see.
Put it into practice
You're walking along a rural road at night with no sidewalk. Walk on the left side, facing traffic, and wear light-colored clothing.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
Where should pedestrians cross the street, according to the handbook? Anywhere with clear visibility Only at intersections with stop signs Only at crosswalks Wherever traffic looks light Answer: Only at crosswalks
Pedestrians should cross only at crosswalks.
Handbook p. 49 ↗ What should pedestrians do about a green light that has about run out of time? Cross quickly if no cars are moving Cross only if running It is always safe to start crossing Never cross on a stale green light Answer: Never cross on a stale green light
Pedestrians should never start crossing on a light that has almost run out of time.
Handbook p. 49 ↗ Which side of the highway should a pedestrian walk on if there's no sidewalk? The left side, facing traffic The right side, with traffic flow Either side, it does not matter Whichever side has the wider shoulder Answer: The left side, facing traffic
Pedestrians should walk facing oncoming traffic on the left side of the highway.
Handbook p. 49 ↗ What should a driver do when a pedestrian is in a crosswalk? Proceed if they are still on the curb Establish eye contact and yield to them Wait only if they are directly in your lane Speed up slightly to clear the crosswalk first Answer: Establish eye contact and yield to them
Drivers should establish eye contact and yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
Handbook p. 48 ↗ Where should a driver stop when approaching a crosswalk with pedestrians crossing? Right at the edge of the crosswalk Partly inside the crosswalk Well back, to give other vehicles a view of the pedestrians Just past the crosswalk Answer: Well back, to give other vehicles a view of the pedestrians
Stopping well back lets other vehicles also see the crossing pedestrians.
Handbook p. 48 ↗ Pedestrians should never cross a street on a 'stale' green traffic light that is about to change. True False Answer: True
The handbook warns against crossing on a green light that has about run out of time.
Handbook p. 49 ↗ Previous lesson Arrows, stop lines & crosswalks Next lesson Bicycles About the source Roadwise’s Alaska course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 48, 49. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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