Roadwise States Minnesota Driving lessons Pedestrians and crosswalks Minnesota driving lesson · Sharing the Road
Pedestrians and crosswalks A 3-minute lesson from the Minnesota 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 50, 63 Pedestrians have no protection in a crash. You must yield at every crosswalk, painted or not, and pedestrians have duties of their own.
Drivers must: Yield to pedestrians crossing at intersections and crosswalks Watch for pedestrians near parked cars, in poor visibility and where children are Stop for a pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk until they pass your lane Watch for blind pedestrians with a white or metallic cane or guide dog Never honk or rev the engine near a blind pedestrian Handbook p. 50 ↗ Know the rule
It's illegal to pass a vehicle that has stopped for a pedestrian. If a car ahead stops, look for pedestrians in the crosswalk and be ready to stop.
Handbook p. 50 ↗ Marked crosswalk A crossing with solid white lines on the road, sometimes with signs or flashing lights.
Handbook p. 50 ↗ Unmarked crosswalk Where a road meets a sidewalk with no lines painted on the road. Pedestrians have the same right-of-way there.
Handbook p. 50 ↗ Know the rule
When stopping at a marked or unmarked crosswalk, don't block it with your vehicle.
Handbook p. 50 ↗ Pedestrians should: Obey traffic signals and wait a few feet back from the road for WALK Yield to vehicles already in the intersection when WALK comes on Make eye contact and be sure drivers yield before crossing Use sidewalks when available and in good condition Where there's no crosswalk, yield to all vehicles If walking on the road, stay on the left side, facing oncoming traffic At night: light-colored, reflective clothing or a flashlight Handbook p. 50 ↗ Know the rule
Pedestrians have the right-of-way in intersections and crosswalks, but sun glare and other factors can keep drivers from seeing them in time — pedestrians should be ready to avoid drivers who don't see them.
Handbook p. 50 ↗ Pedestrian crossing warning signs Put it into practice
The car in the lane beside you stops at an intersection with no signal. Don't drive past it — a pedestrian may be crossing in front of it. Stop and wait until they've passed your lane.
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.
If a pedestrian is in a marked or unmarked crosswalk, what must you do? Slow down but continue if there's room Yield only once they reach the center line Stop and wait until they have passed your lane Stop only if they are directly in front of your bumper Answer: Stop and wait until they have passed your lane
You must stop and wait until a pedestrian in a crosswalk has passed your lane.
Handbook p. 50 ↗ Is it legal to pass a vehicle that has stopped for a pedestrian? Yes, if you check your mirrors first Yes, on a multi-lane road only Yes, if the pedestrian has already started crossing No, that's illegal Answer: No, that's illegal
Passing a vehicle that has stopped for a pedestrian is illegal, since a pedestrian may be hidden from view.
Handbook p. 50 ↗ What is the penalty for a first violation of pedestrian right-of-way laws? A misdemeanor A felony A warning only, no penalty A gross misdemeanor Answer: A misdemeanor
A first violation of pedestrian right-of-way laws is a misdemeanor; a second within a year becomes a gross misdemeanor.
Handbook p. 50 ↗ What should you do when you see a blind pedestrian with a white cane or guide dog? Honk to let them know you're there Don't honk or rev your engine Flash your headlights to signal safety Roll down your window and call out Answer: Don't honk or rev your engine
Honking or revving can distract a blind pedestrian; drivers should avoid these actions near them.
Handbook p. 50 ↗ When crossing a road where there is no crosswalk, what must a pedestrian do? Vehicles must always yield to them instead Raise a hand so drivers must stop Wait for a traffic officer to direct them Yield to all vehicles on the road Answer: Yield to all vehicles on the road
Pedestrians crossing without a crosswalk must yield to all vehicles on the road.
Handbook p. 50 ↗ If a pedestrian must walk in the road because there's no sidewalk, which side should they walk on? The left side, facing oncoming traffic The right side, with the flow of traffic Either side, it makes no difference Whichever side has less traffic Answer: The left side, facing oncoming traffic
Pedestrians forced to walk on the road should stay on the left, facing oncoming traffic.
Handbook p. 50 ↗ Previous lesson Traffic stops and fleeing police Next lesson Bicycles and mopeds About the source Roadwise’s Minnesota course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 50, 63. 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
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