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Crossing a roadway in a signalized crosswalk
(Section 316.075, F.S.,
and
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices)
Respective rights of way and duties of
pedestrians and drivers at signalized
locations depend on the signal indications
that are illuminated.
Red indication-
pedestrian: Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal (see below), pedestrians facing a steady red signal shall not enter the roadway.
driver: must stop before the stop line or, if none marked, the crosswalk or, if none marked, the intersection. (If a crosswalk is present) the driver must remain stopped before the crosswalk to allow a pedestrian, with a permitted signal, to cross a roadway when the pedestrian is in the crosswalk or steps into the crosswalk and is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.
driver on a one-way street who intends to turn left onto another one-way street: must stop on red, and may then make a left turn into the intersection on a one-way street (except where this is prohibited by a sign), but must yield to pedestrians and other traffic proceeding in accordance with the signal at the intersection.
Green indication-
pedestrian: A pedestrian facing a
green signal, except when the sole green
signal is an arrow signal, may proceed
across roadway in any marked or unmarked
crosswalk (i.e., in the direction controlled
by the signal face), unless directed otherwise
by a pedestrian control signal (see below).
driver: Vehicular traffic
facing a circular green signal may proceed
cautiously straight through or turn right or
left unless a sign at such place prohibits
either such turn, but shall yield the
right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within
the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk.
Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow
signal may cautiously enter the intersection
to make the movement indicated by such
arrow, but must yield to pedestrians
lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk.
Comment: Yielding may take the
form of stopping or slowing; safe yielding
requires stopping (and waiting) if the
crossing pedestrian is in the driver's lane,
in the lane into which the driver is
turning, or in an adjoining lane. A
pedestrian is considered to be lawfully
within a crosswalk if he started crossing in
it when it was legal to do so, and is
finishing crossing without undue delay.
A driver facing a green arrow signal
displayed by a properly operating signal
should not ordinarily encounter a pedestrian
in a parallel crosswalk. However, a
driver facing either type of green
indication may need to wait for a pedestrian
to finish crossing in the crosswalk
immediately before him.
Steady yellow indication-
pedestrian: A pedestrian facing a
steady yellow signal indication is thereby
advised that there is insufficient time to
cross the roadway before a red indication is
displayed, and no pedestrian shall then
start to cross the roadway.
driver: Vehicular traffic
facing a steady yellow signal indication is
thereby warned that the related green
movement is being terminated.
Comment: For a driver still
waiting in the intersection to make a
permitted left turn, the duty to yield to a
lawfully crossing pedestrian (described for
green indication above) still applies, since
the yellow signal interval functions as the
termination of the green movement.
Pedestrian control signals-
For pedestrians the directions of a
pedestrian control signal supersede those of
the associated traffic signal.
Pedestrian control signals may also be used
at mid-block locations. The meanings
of the symbolic signal indications (or of
the word messages still displayed on some
older pedestrian signal heads) are not
described in Florida Statutes. They
are described in the Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices.
steady WALKING PERSON (or "WALK")
indication: pedestrian facing the signal
indication is permitted to start to cross
the roadway in the direction of the signal
indication. Pedestrian shall yield the
right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the
intersection at the time that the WALKING
PERSON signal indication is first shown.
flashing UPRAISED HAND (or "DON'T WALK")
indication: pedestrian shall not
start to cross the roadway in the direction
of the signal indication, but any pedestrian
who has already started to cross on a steady
WALKING PERSON ("WALK") signal indication
shall proceed out of the traveled way.
steady UPRAISED HAND (or "DON'T WALK")
indication: pedestrian shall not
enter the roadway in the direction of the
signal indication.
Comment: At some locations a
slower walker (who entered the crosswalk
during the WALKING PERSON indication) may
not have reached the far side of the roadway
when the steady UPRAISED HAND indication is
first displayed. However, some
crossing time still remains. Per the
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices,
the pedestrian clearance time is
comprised of three intervals: the pedestrian
change interval (during which a flashing
UPRAISED HAND indication is displayed), the
yellow change interval (when the steady
UPRAISED HAND is displayed and the traffic
signal for the parallel vehicular movement
displays a yellow indication), and any read
clearance ("all red") interval. The
pedestrian clearance time should be
sufficient to allow a pedestrian crossing in
the crosswalk who left the curb or shoulder
during the WALKING PERSON indication to
travel at a walking speed of 1.2 m (4 ft)
per second to at least the far side of the
traveled way or to a median of sufficient
width for a pedestrian to wait.
Many pedestrian signal heads now incorporate
countdown pedestrian signals.
These signals count the seconds remaining n
the pedestrian change interval (flashing
UPRAISED HAND displayed). At the end
of this interval, the countdown signal
briefly displays zero and the steady
UPRAISED HAND indication is displayed.
As explained above, some time still remains
in the pedestrian clearance time.
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Crossings by visually or mobility impaired
pedestrians
(Sections 316.1301 and 316.1303, F.S.)
When a pedestrian is trying to cross a
public street or highway, guided by a dog
guide or carrying in a raised or extended
position a white cane or walking stick, an
approaching driver is obliged to bring his
vehicle to a full stop before arriving at
such intersection or place of crossing and,
before proceeding, shall take such
precautions as may be necessary to avoid
injuring such pedestrian.
Only a blind person may carry a white cane
or walking stick in a raised or extended
position on a public street or highway.
If a mobility-impaired person (using a guide
dog or service animal, a walker, a crutch,
an orthopedic cane, or a wheelchair), is in
the process of crossing a roadway at an
intersection, a driver approaching the
intersection must stop before arriving at
the intersection and take reasonable
precautions to avoid injuring such a
pedestrian.
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Other duties of drivers
Stopping at sidewalk before entering
roadway
(Section 316.125, F.S.)
The driver of a vehicle emerging from an
alley, building, private road or driveway
within a business or residence district
shall stop the vehicle immediately prior to
driving onto a sidewalk or onto the sidewalk
area extending across the alley, building
entrance, road or driveway, or in the event
there is no sidewalk area, shall stop at the
point nearest the street to be entered where
the driver has a view of approaching traffic
thereon and shall yield to all vehicles and
pedestrians which are so close thereto as to
constitute an immediate hazard.
Driving on a sidewalk
(Section 316.1995, F.S.)
No person shall drive any vehicle other than
by human power upon a bicycle path,
sidewalk, or sidewalk area, except upon a
permanent or duly authorized temporary
driveway.
This section does not apply to motorized
wheelchairs.
Not to stop, stand, or park a vehicle on
a sidewalk or crosswalk
(Section 316.1945(1)(a)2,4, F.S.)
Except when necessary to avoid conflict with
other traffic, or in compliance with law or
the directions of a police officer or
official traffic control device, no person
shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle on a
sidewalk or on a crosswalk.
Not to stand or park a vehicle within 20
feet of an intersection crosswalk
(Section 316.1945(1)(b)3, F.S.)
Except when necessary to avoid conflict with
other traffic, or in compliance with law or
the directions of a police officer or
official traffic control device, no person
shall stand or park a vehicle, whether
occupied or not, except momentarily to pick
up or discharge a passenger or passengers,
within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an
intersection.
Driver duty to exercise care
(Section 316.130(15), F.S.)
Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, every
driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian or any
person propelling a human-powered vehicle and give warning when necessary and exercise
proper precaution upon observing any child or any obviously confused or incapacitated
person.
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Driving speeds
(Sections 316.183, 316.185, F.S.)
No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed
greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the
actual and potential hazards then existing. In every event, speed shall be controlled as
may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, or vehicle on or entering the highway
in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.
The driver of every vehicle shall drive at an appropriately
reduced speed when approaching and going around a curve; approaching a hill crest;
traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway; and when any special hazard exists with
respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions.
The fact that a driver is traveling at less
than the speed limit does not relieve him of
the duty to reduce speed in such
conditions. A driver must reduce speed
as necessary to avoid colliding with any
person legally present on the street.
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Miscellaneous prohibited pedestrian actions
(Section 316.130(16) and (17), F.S.)
No pedestrian shall enter or remain upon any
bridge or bridge approach, beyond the bridge
signal, gate, or barrier after a bridge
operation signal indication has been given.
No pedestrian shall pass through, around,
over, or under any crossing gate or barrier
at a railroad grade crossing or bridge while
such gate or barrier is closed or is being
opened or closed.
No pedestrian may jump or dive from a
publicly owned bridge.
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