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Florida driving lesson · Sharing the Road

Pedestrians

A 3-minute lesson from the Florida 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
53, 95, 96

Pedestrians have no protection, so it's your responsibility as a driver to do everything possible to avoid hitting one. That includes stopping at crosswalks, watching driveways, and taking extra care with people who can't see or move easily.

Know the rule

In a crosswalk or driveway, bicyclists, skateboarders and skaters count as pedestrians.

Handbook p. 95 ↗

Rules for motorists:

  • Stop and stay stopped for pedestrians crossing at any marked crossing or intersection
  • Entering or leaving an alley, driveway or private road, stop for pedestrians on the sidewalk
  • Never block the crosswalk at a red light; no part of your vehicle may hang over it
  • Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk for a pedestrian
  • Before turning right on red, stop and look both ways for pedestrians
Handbook p. 96 ↗

Know the rule

If you approach a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk from behind, assume a pedestrian may be crossing, even if you can't see one.

Handbook p. 96 ↗

Stop completely, yield and use extra caution for:

  • A visually impaired person with a white cane with a red tip, or with a service animal
  • Mobility-impaired people using a walker, crutch, orthopedic cane or wheelchair
  • Pedestrians with a guide dog or service animal
  • Children, or any confused or incapacitated pedestrian
Handbook p. 96 ↗

Rules for pedestrians:

  • Don't walk on the roadway if a sidewalk is available
  • With no sidewalk, walk on the left shoulder, facing traffic
  • Cross at intersections or crosswalks (marked or unmarked)
  • Yield to vehicles when crossing anywhere other than a crosswalk
  • Yield to vehicles if the signal is red or shows DON'T WALK
Handbook p. 96 ↗

Pedestrian safety tips:

  • Never step out from between parked cars; use a crosswalk
  • Stop at the curb or road edge; look left, right, then left again
  • Wear bright, reflective, neon colors and carry a flashlight at night
  • Don't text while walking, and avoid headphones so you can hear traffic
Handbook p. 96 ↗

Know the rule

Always yield to pedestrians in a marked crosswalk.

Handbook p. 53 ↗

Put it into practice

You're in the right lane and the car in the left lane stops at a crosswalk, though you can't see why. Stop too. A pedestrian may be crossing out of your view, and passing a car stopped at a crosswalk 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 must a motorist stop and remain stopped for pedestrians?
  1. Only when a crossing guard is present
  2. When they cross at a marked crossing or intersection
  3. Only in school zones
  4. Only if the pedestrian is a child

Answer: When they cross at a marked crossing or intersection

You must stop and remain stopped for pedestrians crossing a street or driveway at any marked crossing or intersection.

Handbook p. 96 ↗
If you're approaching a vehicle from the rear that is stopped at a crosswalk, what should you assume?
  1. That the vehicle is parked illegally
  2. That it's safe to pass immediately
  3. A pedestrian may be crossing, even if unseen
  4. That the driver stalled and needs help

Answer: A pedestrian may be crossing, even if unseen

A driver approaching a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk must assume a pedestrian may be crossing, even when none can be seen at that moment.

Handbook p. 96 ↗
How should motorists treat a pedestrian carrying a white cane with a red tip?
  1. Speed past quickly to clear the area
  2. Honk to alert them of your presence
  3. Same as any other pedestrian, no special caution needed
  4. Come to a complete stop, yield, and use extra caution

Answer: Come to a complete stop, yield, and use extra caution

Come to a complete stop, yield the right-of-way, and use extra caution when approaching a visually impaired pedestrian with a white cane with a red tip.

Handbook p. 96 ↗
If there is no sidewalk, pedestrians walking along a roadway should walk:
  1. On the left shoulder, facing traffic
  2. Wherever there is the most space
  3. On the right shoulder, with traffic
  4. In the travel lane closest to the curb

Answer: On the left shoulder, facing traffic

When walking on a roadway without a sidewalk, pedestrians should always walk on the shoulder on the left side, facing traffic.

Handbook p. 96 ↗
When must pedestrians yield the right-of-way to vehicles?
  1. Only when a vehicle is turning right
  2. When crossing outside a crosswalk
  3. Only on state highways
  4. Never, pedestrians always have the right-of-way

Answer: When crossing outside a crosswalk

Pedestrians must yield the right-of-way to vehicles if crossing a roadway at any point other than within a crosswalk.

Handbook p. 96 ↗
Skateboarders and skaters in a crosswalk or driveway are treated by law as:
  1. Vehicles
  2. Bicycles
  3. Pedestrians
  4. Not covered by any traffic law

Answer: Pedestrians

When in a crosswalk or driveway, bicyclists, skateboarders, and skaters are considered pedestrians.

Handbook p. 95 ↗
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