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Connecticut driving lesson · Sharing the Road

Pedestrians and crosswalks

A 4-minute lesson from the Connecticut 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
4 minutes
Course unit
Sharing the Road
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
18, 38

Pedestrians have no protection in a crash, so the law puts the burden on you. Children, older people and disabled pedestrians are hit most often. Expect a crosswalk at every intersection, painted or not, and stop for anyone who is in it or clearly about to step in.

Know the rule

Be especially alert for children, the elderly and disabled pedestrians — they are the most frequent victims in auto-pedestrian collisions. Elderly and disabled pedestrians may have poor vision and hearing and may move slowly.

Handbook p. 18 ↗

Know the rule

There is a crosswalk at every intersection, even if it isn't marked by painted lines. To find an unmarked crosswalk, imagine the sidewalk or shoulder at the corner extending across the road to meet the other side.

Handbook p. 18 ↗

Know the rule

You must slow or stop and grant the right-of-way to a pedestrian within any portion of a crosswalk, marked or unmarked.

Handbook p. 18 ↗

This includes a pedestrian who shows intent to cross by:

  • Stepping to the curb at the crosswalk and raising a hand and arm toward oncoming traffic
  • Moving any body part into the crosswalk entrance
  • Moving an extension of the body into it: wheelchair, cane, walking stick, crutch, stroller, carriage or cart
  • Moving a bicycle, electric bicycle, or leashed or harnessed dog into the entrance
Handbook p. 18 ↗

Know the rule

Do not open a vehicle door if it hits or gets in the way of a pedestrian, bicyclist or other moving traffic.

Handbook p. 18 ↗

Know the rule

Children are the least predictable and hardest to see — take extra care near schools, bus stops, playgrounds, parks and ice cream trucks, and when backing out of a driveway.

Handbook p. 18 ↗

Know the rule

Obey the slower posted speed limit in school zones or face fines. Children are present outside school hours too. Stop and yield to students crossing, or when a crossing guard signals you to.

Handbook p. 18 ↗

Know the rule

Give the right-of-way to a pedestrian with a guide dog or a white cane (with or without a colored tip). Stop and stay stopped while the person tries to cross or is crossing; at signals, stay stopped until they are out of the road, even on green.

Handbook p. 18 ↗

Know the rule

Pedestrians with a guide dog or white cane have absolute right-of-way. Don't use your horn — it could confuse or frighten them.

Handbook p. 38 ↗

Know the rule

Drivers must yield to pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk at all times, and to bicyclists and pedestrians where a bicycle path crosses the roadway.

Handbook p. 38 ↗

Put it into practice

At a corner with no painted lines, a woman pushing a stroller rolls its front wheels off the curb. That is a crosswalk and she has shown intent to cross — you must stop and let her cross.

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 generally have the right of way?
  1. Only at traffic signals
  2. Only when a crossing guard is present
  3. In crosswalks, marked or unmarked
  4. Only in marked crosswalks

Answer: In crosswalks, marked or unmarked

Generally, pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks, and there is a crosswalk at every intersection, marked or not.

Handbook p. 18 ↗
How can a driver identify the location of an unmarked crosswalk?
  1. Unmarked crosswalks do not legally exist
  2. Extend the sidewalk line across the road
  3. Look for a pedestrian crossing sign
  4. Only within 100 feet of a stop sign

Answer: Extend the sidewalk line across the road

To determine an unmarked crosswalk, imagine the sidewalk or shoulder extending across the road to the other side.

Handbook p. 18 ↗
A pedestrian steps to the curb and raises a hand and arm toward oncoming traffic at a crosswalk entrance. What must drivers do?
  1. Proceed, since a raised hand has no legal meaning
  2. Yield only if the crosswalk is marked
  3. Ignore the gesture unless the pedestrian is already in the road
  4. Yield; it signals intent to cross

Answer: Yield; it signals intent to cross

Raising a hand and arm toward oncoming traffic while at the crosswalk entrance indicates intent to cross and requires drivers to yield.

Handbook p. 18 ↗
A blind pedestrian carrying a white cane is attempting to cross the road. What must a driver do?
  1. Sound the horn to alert the pedestrian
  2. Proceed if the driver has a green light
  3. Only slow down slightly
  4. Stop until they're out of the road

Answer: Stop until they're out of the road

You must give right-of-way to a pedestrian with a white cane or guide dog and remain stopped until they're out of the road, even with a green light.

Handbook p. 18 ↗
Why should you never sound your horn near a pedestrian using a guide dog?
  1. It could confuse or frighten the pedestrian
  2. Honking near any crosswalk is illegal
  3. It could startle drivers behind you
  4. Guide dogs are trained to ignore horns

Answer: It could confuse or frighten the pedestrian

Do not use your horn because it could confuse or frighten the pedestrian.

Handbook p. 38 ↗
A pedestrian moves a wheelchair, cane, or stroller into a crosswalk's entrance. What does this indicate under Connecticut law?
  1. Only a warning, not a right-of-way trigger
  2. This only applies to marked crosswalks
  3. Nothing legally significant until they step fully into the road
  4. Intent to cross; drivers must yield

Answer: Intent to cross; drivers must yield

Moving any body part or extension like a wheelchair, cane, or stroller into the crosswalk entrance indicates intent to cross.

Handbook p. 18 ↗
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