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Delaware driving lesson · Sharing the Road

Pedestrians

A 3-minute lesson from the Delaware 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
92, 93

Pedestrians have no protection in a crash. Delaware had 89 pedestrian deaths from 2021 to 2023—often at night, outside crosswalks or involving alcohol. As a driver you must stop for anyone actively crossing in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

Know the rule

Stop if a pedestrian is actively crossing in a marked or unmarked crosswalk. You may proceed with caution if the pedestrian is standing or stopped safely on the sidewalk.

Handbook p. 92 ↗

Know the rule

Be alert for pedestrians and tap your horn lightly if necessary—but sounding the horn is never a substitute for yielding.

Handbook p. 92 ↗

Know the rule

Yield to pedestrians who are hearing impaired or who use canes, crutches, walkers, guide dogs or service animals, wheelchairs or motorized scooters; they may need extra time to cross.

Handbook p. 92 ↗

As a driver you must not:

  • Drive through a pedestrian safety zone or block a crosswalk
  • Pass a vehicle that has stopped to let a pedestrian cross
  • Speed in school zones—watch for children near schools and in residential areas
  • Pass a school bus stopped to load or unload (except on the opposite side of a divided 4+ lane highway)
Handbook p. 93 ↗

Pedestrians have the right-of-way when:

  • Crossing at an intersection with a green light or WALK signal in their favor
  • Crossing within a marked or unmarked crosswalk
  • On a sidewalk where it crosses an alley, entrance or driveway
  • Blind and crossing with a white cane or guide dog
Handbook p. 93 ↗

Pedestrians must yield when:

  • Crossing anywhere other than a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection
  • Crossing where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead crossing is provided
Handbook p. 93 ↗

Pedestrian duties:

  • Walk on the sidewalk when there is one
  • No sidewalk: walk on the shoulder facing oncoming traffic, as far from the road as possible
  • At night on a roadway, carry a light or reflector; wear light-colored clothing if possible
  • Don't walk on a highway under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Don't stand in the highway to ask for a ride or to do business
  • Cross at marked crosswalks, else at intersections; never diagonally unless signals allow it
  • Obey WALK/DON'T WALK—a blinking DON'T WALK means don't enter the intersection
Handbook p. 93 ↗

Know the rule

Look carefully for traffic before getting out of your vehicle, so you don't become a pedestrian casualty yourself.

Handbook p. 93 ↗

Put it into practice

The car in the lane beside you stops at an unmarked crosswalk and you can't see why. Stop too—a pedestrian may be crossing in front of it, and passing a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian is illegal.

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.

When a sidewalk is provided, a pedestrian must
  1. walk on the sidewalk
  2. walk facing traffic on the shoulder instead
  3. walk on the road if it is less crowded
  4. walk in a bike lane if one is present

Answer: walk on the sidewalk

Where a sidewalk is provided, pedestrians are required to use it.

Handbook p. 93 ↗
Where there is no sidewalk, a pedestrian should walk
  1. on the shoulder, with traffic at their back
  2. on the shoulder, facing oncoming traffic
  3. in the travel lane closest to the center line
  4. on either shoulder, whichever is wider

Answer: on the shoulder, facing oncoming traffic

Without a sidewalk, pedestrians should walk on the shoulder facing oncoming traffic, as far from the road as possible.

Handbook p. 93 ↗
As a driver, sounding your horn at a pedestrian who is crossing
  1. is not a substitute for yielding the right-of-way
  2. fully satisfies your legal duty to yield
  3. is required by law before entering a crosswalk
  4. removes your responsibility if a collision occurs

Answer: is not a substitute for yielding the right-of-way

Tapping your horn to alert a pedestrian is not considered a substitute for actually yielding the right-of-way.

Handbook p. 92 ↗
Pedestrians have the right-of-way when crossing within a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Pedestrians have the right-of-way when crossing within a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

Handbook p. 93 ↗
It is legal for a pedestrian to stand on the highway to ask for a ride.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

Pedestrians must not stand on the highway to solicit a ride or conduct business.

Handbook p. 93 ↗
You may legally pass a vehicle that has stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

You must not pass a vehicle that has stopped to let a pedestrian cross the highway.

Handbook p. 93 ↗
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