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Maryland driving lesson · Sharing the Road

Pedestrians & crosswalks

A 2-minute lesson from the Maryland course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

Read time
2 minutes
Course unit
Sharing the Road
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
17, 37

Pedestrians have no protection, so the law puts the burden on drivers. Most intersections have a crosswalk even with no paint, and pedestrians who are deaf, blind or mobility impaired may need extra time.

Know the rule

Pedestrians have the right-of-way at street crossings but must obey traffic control signals.

Handbook p. 37 ↗

Know the rule

When there is no traffic signal, you must stop for pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

Handbook p. 37 ↗

Crosswalk

Where pedestrians can cross a road and drivers must stop to let them cross. Some are marked on the pavement; others are not.

Handbook p. 37 ↗

Know the rule

Most intersections have a crosswalk even if it is not marked.

Handbook p. 37 ↗

Basic crosswalk rules:

  • When there is a traffic signal, drivers and pedestrians must obey it
  • You may not pass any vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk
  • Yield to pedestrians when turning on a green signal
  • Yield to pedestrians when turning on red (where permitted) after stopping
Handbook p. 37 ↗

Know the rule

Be especially alert for pedestrians who are deaf, blind or mobility impaired. They may have trouble seeing or hearing traffic and may need extra time to cross.

Handbook p. 37 ↗
Pedestrian crossing
Pedestrian crossing sign

Know the rule

When turning on a red signal, yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and all other traffic.

Handbook p. 17 ↗

Put it into practice

The car in the lane next to you has stopped at an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. You can't see why. Stop too: you may not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. A pedestrian may be crossing in front of it.

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 there is no traffic signal, what must you do for pedestrians in a crosswalk?
  1. Only stop if the crosswalk is marked
  2. Only slow down, no full stop needed
  3. Only stop for pedestrians already halfway across
  4. Stop for them, marked or unmarked

Answer: Stop for them, marked or unmarked

When there is no traffic signal, you must stop for pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

Handbook p. 37 ↗
Who must you yield to when turning on a green signal?
  1. Pedestrians
  2. Only oncoming vehicles
  3. No one, since you have a green light
  4. Only bicyclists, not walkers

Answer: Pedestrians

You must yield to pedestrians when turning on a green signal.

Handbook p. 37 ↗
What must you do if you approach a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk?
  1. You may pass carefully on the left
  2. You may not pass it
  3. You may pass if there's no pedestrian visible
  4. You may pass if it's in another lane

Answer: You may not pass it

You may not pass any vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk, since it may be yielding to a pedestrian.

Handbook p. 37 ↗
Who does the handbook say drivers should be especially alert for at crossings?
  1. Only pedestrians wearing bright clothing
  2. Only pedestrians using a marked crosswalk
  3. Deaf, blind, or mobility-impaired people
  4. Only pedestrians walking in groups

Answer: Deaf, blind, or mobility-impaired people

Drivers should be especially alert for pedestrians who are deaf, blind, or mobility impaired and may need extra time.

Handbook p. 37 ↗
A crosswalk exists at an intersection only where it is marked on the pavement.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

False. Some crosswalks are marked and others are not; the handbook says most intersections have a crosswalk even if it is not marked.

Handbook p. 37 ↗
What must you do when turning on red after coming to a complete stop, regarding pedestrians?
  1. Proceed since red means pedestrians must wait
  2. Only yield if pedestrians are already in the crosswalk
  3. Yield to pedestrians before completing the turn
  4. Yield only to vehicles, not pedestrians

Answer: Yield to pedestrians before completing the turn

After stopping on red, you must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians before completing a turn.

Handbook p. 37 ↗
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