Roadwise States Illinois Driving lessons Pedestrians and children Illinois driving lesson · Sharing the Road
Pedestrians and children A 3-minute lesson from the Illinois 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 43, 44 Drivers and pedestrians share responsibility for safety, but a driver should always be ready to yield. Know where pedestrians are supposed to walk, and slow down wherever children may be.
Know the rule
Both drivers and pedestrians are responsible for traffic safety. A driver should always be prepared to yield and should not drive unnecessarily close to pedestrians.
Handbook p. 43 ↗ Where pedestrians should walk: Use a pedestrian tunnel or crossing bridge when one is available Don't walk on the roadway unless there's no sidewalk or shoulder next to it If you must walk on the road, stay as far from the edge as possible and face oncoming traffic With no sidewalk but a shoulder, walk on the shoulder as far from the roadway as possible Don't walk on a highway under the influence of alcohol or other drugs Handbook p. 43 ↗ Joggers and walkers should: Use jogging paths when provided Choose wide roads with good shoulders on public roads Face oncoming traffic, and look and listen for cars At night or in poor visibility, stay in well-lit areas and wear reflective clothing Handbook p. 43 ↗ Other pedestrian rules: Always obey railroad and bridge gates and other barriers Standing on the roadway to ask for a ride (hitchhiking) is illegal Don't stand on or next to a highway to ask drivers for money or business Handbook p. 43 ↗ Know the rule
Pedestrians 18 or older may skate on public roads with a posted speed limit of 45 mph or less, from sunrise to sunset, as long as they don't impede traffic.
Handbook p. 43 ↗ 45 mph Highest posted limit on a road where adults (18+) may skate, sunrise to sunset
Handbook p. 43 ↗ To protect children, drivers and parents should: Watch for signs marking school zones, bus stops, playgrounds, parks and schools Be ready to slow down in residential and school areas and wherever children are likely Be extremely watchful backing in or out of a driveway when children are near Teach children pedestrian rights and responsibilities early Assign play areas and keep children from playing in or near streets and driveways Handbook p. 44 ↗ Put it into practice
You're backing out of your driveway and hear kids playing nearby. Back out slowly, check all around the car, and be ready to stop.
A useful reminder Pedestrians walking on a road should face oncoming traffic, just like joggers.
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 walk if there is no sidewalk but there is a shoulder? On the shoulder, close to the travel lane On the shoulder, facing the same direction as traffic In the travel lane, facing traffic On the shoulder, as far from the roadway as possible Answer: On the shoulder, as far from the roadway as possible
Pedestrians should use the shoulder, staying as far from the road as possible.
Handbook p. 43 ↗ In two-way traffic with no sidewalk or shoulder, which direction should pedestrians walk? With their back to traffic Facing oncoming traffic In the same direction as traffic flow It doesn't matter which direction Answer: Facing oncoming traffic
Pedestrians should face oncoming traffic so they can see approaching vehicles.
Handbook p. 43 ↗ Standing on the roadway to hitchhike is illegal in Illinois. True False Answer: True
Hitchhiking by standing on the roadway is specifically prohibited.
Handbook p. 43 ↗ How should drivers behave around pedestrians in general? Yield only where a crosswalk sign is posted Keep normal speed unless they step into the road Yield only when they have a WALK signal Be ready to yield; never crowd them Answer: Be ready to yield; never crowd them
Drivers should always be ready to yield and avoid driving too close to pedestrians.
Handbook p. 43 ↗ Pedestrians ages 18 and older may skate on public roadways under what condition? Posted limit 45 mph or less, sunrise to sunset Never; roadway skating is illegal Any road, but only in daylight Only on roads with bike lanes Answer: Posted limit 45 mph or less, sunrise to sunset
Skating is allowed for adults under these specific speed-limit and daytime conditions.
Handbook p. 43 ↗ What should joggers and walkers do at night or in poor visibility? Avoid using jogging paths Walk with traffic instead of facing it Wear dark clothing to avoid headlight glare Stay in well-lit areas and wear reflective clothing Answer: Stay in well-lit areas and wear reflective clothing
Well-lit areas and reflective clothing improve visibility for joggers at night.
Handbook p. 43 ↗ Previous lesson No-parking zones and other road laws Next lesson Motorcycles and autocycles About the source Roadwise’s Illinois course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 43, 44. 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
For current application requirements, fees, appointments, and the format that applies to your age or license type, check Illinois’s SOS. Roadwise provides study material and does not issue permits or licenses.