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This
is a summary
of Florida's traffic laws that pertain to pedestrian travel. For the
actual wording, the state traffic code
should be consulted and can be accessed
via this link. Although drivers are required to exercise care to avoid pedestrians
(see next page), pedestrians are also
subject to traffic laws.
Definitions
(Section
316.003(6), (28), and (47), F.S.)
CROSSWALK: (a) That part of a roadway at an
intersection included within the connections
of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on
opposite sides of the highway, measured from
the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from
the edges of the traversable roadway, or (b)
Any portion of a roadway at an intersection
or elsewhere distinctly indicated for
pedestrian crossing by lines or other
markings on the surface.
PEDESTRIAN: Any person afoot.
Comment: Pedestrians are
understood to include: "a person afoot, in a
wheelchair, on skates, or on a skateboard"
(definition of "pedestrian" in the
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices).
SIDEWALK: That portion of a street between
the curbline, or the lateral line, of a
roadway and the adjacent property lines,
intended for use by pedestrians.
Comment: The lateral line of
the roadway is the edge of the roadway. A street's public
right-of-way reservation typically includes
width for sidewalks and utilities.
Unpaved sidewalks (beaten paths or other
firm surfaces) may be practical for some
pedestrian use, but generally do not meet
technical provisions for "accessible
[pedestrian] routes" or "accessible trails"
as described in federal accessibility
standards and guidelines.
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Duties of pedestrians and nearby
drivers
Pedestrian use of streets and highways
(Sections 316.130(3), (4), and (18);
316.2065(12), F.S.)
Where sidewalks are provided, no pedestrian shall, unless required by
other circumstances, walk along and
upon the portion of a roadway paved for vehicular traffic.
Where sidewalks are not provided, a pedestrian walking along and upon a
highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the
shoulder on the left side of the roadway in relation to the pedestrian's
direction of travel, facing traffic which may approach from the opposite
direction.
No person upon roller skates, or riding in or by means of any coaster,
toy vehicle, or similar device, may go upon any roadway except while
crossing a street on a crosswalk; and, when so crossing, such person
shall be granted all rights and shall be subject to all of the duties
applicable to pedestrians.
Comment: Sidewalks in the legal sense (see definition above)
exist on most streets in settled areas, but are not necessarily paved.
Encroaching vegetation, cracks and upheaval caused by tree roots,
illegally parked vehicles and other circumstances can make even paved
sidewalks impractical to use at points and inaccessible for those with
mobility impairments. Where sidewalk areas have been left unpaved,
natural vegetation or landscaping, wet or muddy conditions, nearby
ditches, and hazards hidden in grass or under plant litter (wasp nests,
sharp objects, tripping hazards, etc.) can similarly make pedestrian use
impractical.
When such circumstances occur on a road without curbs, pedestrians
traveling along the road should use the left shoulder, the graded area
adjacent to the traveled way on the left side. Where such
circumstances occur on a street with curbs, there is no shoulder per se,
but the customary rule for pedestrians to travel on the left side of the
roadway, so as to face any traffic approaching in the adjacent lane, is
still applicable when practicable. A driver and a pedestrian who
face each other are generally more aware of each other and crash risk is
therefore reduced for pedestrians who travel on the left. (Note:
because of their much greater speeds and other differences in operating
characteristics, cyclists do not enhance their safety by following this
rule. On the contrary, it increases a cyclist's crash risk.
Roadway cyclists are required to travel on the right.)
No pedestrian shall walk upon a limited access facility (freeway or
interstate highway) or a ramp connecting a limited access facility to
any other street or highway.
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Standing in the roadway
(Section 316.130, F.S.)
No person shall stand in the portion of a roadway paved for
vehicular traffic for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment, or business from the
occupant of any vehicle.
No person shall stand on or in proximity to a street or highway for
the purpose of soliciting the watching or guarding of any vehicle while parked or about to
be parked on a street or highway.
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Crossing
a roadway mid-block, not in a crosswalk
(Section 316.130(7), (10), (11) and (12), F.S.)
A pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than a (marked or
unmarked) intersection crosswalk or a marked mid-block crosswalk shall
yield to all vehicles on the roadway.
A pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or
overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the
right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
Comment: Since, at mid-block locations without crosswalks, a
crossing pedestrian's duty to yield is already established by the
provision paraphrased above this one, the only effect of this provision
is at intersection crossings where a pedestrian tunnel or overpass has
been provided.
A pedestrian may not cross between adjacent signalized
intersections.
Comment: Adjacent signalized intersections are generally found
in central business districts, less commonly in suburban areas.
Except in a marked crosswalk, a crossing pedestrian must cross
at right angles to the edge of the roadway, or by the shortest route to
the opposite side.
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Crossing a roadway in an unsignalized crosswalk (marked or
unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, or crosswalk marked mid-block)
(Section 316.130(7), (8), (9) and (14), F.S.)
The driver of a vehicle at any crosswalk where a sign so indicates shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian 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.
When traffic control signals are not in place or in operation and no sign indicates otherwise, the driver of a vehicle shall yield, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian 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.
No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and
walk or run into the path or a vehicle which is so close that it is
impossible for the driver to yield.
Comment: A pedestrian who sets foot in a (marked or unmarked)
crosswalk where traffic signals are not in place, or are in place but
not operating, obliges an approaching driver to yield the right of way, so long as it is
feasible for the driver to do so. The driver's duty to yield
applies regardless of whether the crossing location is controlled by any
signs (Stop or Yield). Yielding may take the form of slowing or
stopping; 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.
When a vehicle is stopped at a crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross
the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear
shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.
Comment: When
one driver stops to let a pedestrian cross, the stopped vehicles may
screen the pedestrian from the view of an approaching driver, and also
screen the approaching vehicle from the pedestrian's view. The law
therefore requires a driver approaching a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk
from the rear to assume that a pedestrian may be crossing, even when
none can be seen at the moment. A violation of this rule can cause
serious injury because the overtaking driver is traveling at speed.
To reduce this risk, seasoned pedestrians pause to scan the next traffic
lane before advancing beyond the outside edge of any "screen".
A pedestrian may not cross an intersection diagonally except where and
when crossing is authorized by official traffic control devices.
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