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Colorado driving lesson · Sharing the Road

Pedestrians

A 3-minute lesson from the Colorado course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Sharing the Road
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
27

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users: people standing, walking, running or using mobility aids on streets, highways and private property. A vehicle can seriously injure or kill them, so watching out for them is your job.

Know the rule

Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all intersections and crosswalks, even if the lines are not marked or painted. Yield or stop completely to let them pass safely.

Handbook p. 27 ↗

Know the rule

Never assume a pedestrian can see or hear your vehicle or crossing signals; some are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind or blind.

Handbook p. 27 ↗

Know the rule

Obey the speed limit, or drive slower when needed, to see and respond to pedestrians. Children and people in wheelchairs have a lower profile.

Handbook p. 27 ↗

Know the rule

Look for pedestrians at all intersections, especially when turning.

Handbook p. 27 ↗

Know the rule

Turning at a red light: be in the correct lane, stop completely, and check for pedestrians in all directions before moving forward to check for cars.

Handbook p. 27 ↗

Know the rule

Do not stop with any part of your vehicle covering the crosswalk.

Handbook p. 27 ↗

Know the rule

Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk; the driver may be stopping for pedestrians you can't see.

Handbook p. 27 ↗

Drive very cautiously around:

  • Schools
  • Parks
  • Parking lots
  • Bus stops
  • Special events
Handbook p. 27 ↗

Know the rule

Watch for people getting in or out of parked cars, and check blind spots and mirrors when backing out of a parking space or driveway.

Handbook p. 27 ↗

Put it into practice

In the right lane, you see the car in the left lane stop at an unmarked crosswalk. Stop too. A pedestrian may be crossing out of your view, and the unmarked crosswalk still gives them the right-of-way.

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 do pedestrians have the right-of-way, according to the handbook?
  1. Only at marked crosswalks with signals
  2. All crosswalks, marked or not
  3. Only in designated school zones
  4. Only during daylight hours

Answer: All crosswalks, marked or not

Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all intersections and crosswalks, even if the lines are not marked or painted.

Handbook p. 27 ↗
When turning right at a red light where it is legal, what must you do before proceeding?
  1. Only check for pedestrians on the right
  2. Stop fully and check all directions for pedestrians
  3. Slow down but you don't need to stop
  4. Only check for oncoming traffic

Answer: Stop fully and check all directions for pedestrians

Before turning right at a red light, come to a complete stop and check all directions, including for pedestrians, before proceeding.

Handbook p. 27 ↗
What should you check for before backing your car out of a parking space or driveway?
  1. Nothing extra beyond a rear camera
  2. Blind spots and mirrors for people
  3. Only the lane you are backing into
  4. Only oncoming vehicle traffic

Answer: Blind spots and mirrors for people

Check your blind spots and mirrors while backing out of a parking space or driveway to watch for pedestrians.

Handbook p. 27 ↗
Near which of these locations should you drive especially cautiously due to likely pedestrian presence?
  1. Freeway on-ramps
  2. Rural interstate highways
  3. Tunnels
  4. Schools, parks, and bus stops

Answer: Schools, parks, and bus stops

Drive very cautiously around schools, parks, parking lots, bus stops, and special events where pedestrians are likely present.

Handbook p. 27 ↗
Pedestrians only have the right-of-way at crosswalks with painted lines.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all intersections and crosswalks, even unmarked ones.

Handbook p. 27 ↗
You should never stop your vehicle so that it covers part of a crosswalk.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

The handbook states you should not stop with any portion of your vehicle covering the crosswalk area.

Handbook p. 27 ↗
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