Agenda - Public Works Committee - 01/17/2012

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Minnesota Safety Council: MINNE S OTA CROSSWALK LAW Page 1 of 3 Search Please use the BACK button on your browser to return to the previous page. The Q nnes to Crosswalk Law: Key Elements Where traffic control signals are not in place or in operation, a driver must stop for a pedestrian crossing within a marked crosswalk or at an intersection with no marked crosswalk, A vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk can proceed once the pedestrian has completely crossed the lane in front of the stopped vehicle, s A pedestrian must not enter a crosswalk if a vehicle is approaching. There is no defined distance that a pedestrian must abide by before entering the crosswalk, but common sense should prevail. The law states: "No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is•so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield." When a vehicle is stopped at an intersection to allow pedestrians to cross the from the rear must not pass the roadway, drivers of other vehicles approaching other vehicle. It's unlawful for the driver of a motor vehicle to proceed through a group of school children crossing a street or highway, or past a member of a school safety patrol or adult crossing guard who is directing children across the roadway and who is holding an official signal in the stop position. Failure to obey the law is a misdemeanor. A second violation within one year is a gross misdemeanor. Cities can designate crosswalks for longer illumination of "Walk" "Don't Walk" concentration of pedestrians, signal lights. Intersections where there is a high n p , senior citizens, school children, etc., qualify for such designation. District councils, community clubs, or other organizations can petition their city councils to designate these crosswalks, Minnesota Statutes 1999, Chapter 169.21 169.21 Pedestrian. Subdivision 1, Obey traffic -control signals. Pedestrians shall be subject to traffic -control signals at intersections as heretofore declared in this chapter, but at all other places pedestrians shall be accorded the privileges and shall be subject to the restrictions stated in this section and section and 169.22, Subd. 2, Rights in absence of signal. (a) Where traffic -control signals are not in place or in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall stop to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or at an intersection with no marked crosswalk. The driver must remain stopped until the pedestrian has passed the lane in which the vehicle is stopped. No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield. This provision shall not apply under the http://www,minnesotasafetyeouncil.orglfactslfactsheet.cfm?FS=72 1/6/2012