Texas Legal 101: What you need to know about pedestrian laws

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Pedestrians during most times have the right of way. They can go on their merry ways as long as they follow specific ordinances and the law. But unfortunately, that is not always the case. Pedestrians take the wrong routes. Drivers who violate regulations also add up. There are circumstances where the law must step in so that order follows. Things are about to get legal, so we might as well get started.

Texas Right Of Way Laws

Most of the states implement several laws to protect pedestrians from vehicular incidents and other related scenarios. The state of Texas is not an exception and has its own set of laws. The pedestrian laws in Texas might not be the same as those of other states.

• Every driver has to yield to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks.
• A pedestrian may cross the street. Once they do, a vehicle must stop to give way.
• A pedestrian can cross a specific area, such as the front side of an alley, driveway, or a private setting. A driver must yield if a person walking on foot treks along with these locations.
• A driver must yield to a pedestrian when pulling out or getting into a driveway or an alley.
• Drivers cannot pass or overtake a vehicle that has stopped for someone who is crossing the street.
• Drivers should also reduce their vehicle speed when near crosswalks.

However, pedestrians do not have the right of way at all times. There are ordinances in the state that people must follow where this is the case.

• Pedestrians should follow traffic signs and controls.
• An individual must yield the right of way should they cross any location except marked and unmarked crosswalks.

Texas laws require pedestrians and drivers alike to take precautions. Doing so will keep the traffic running smoothly, and it will also prevent accidents that lead to damages and injuries.

Unmarked And Marked Crosswalks

Anyone can spot a crosswalk with marks on it. Painted white lines and other indicators are impossible to miss. These areas are what we call marked crosswalks. While many can identify a marked crosswalk, some people have a hard time identifying an unmarked one. Unmarked crossways are paths that do not have indicators, such as painted lines and stripes. It is true that identifying one can be a bit tricky. But the thing is that an unmarked crosswalk is simply an extension of the side that crosses a street or two.

What Happens If There Is No Sidewalk To Cross?

There are some options a pedestrian can take if this happens to be the case.

• A person crossing must use any available sidewalks.
• If there are no sidewalks, a pedestrian should walk to the left. Walking to the left side of the street will keep the flow of traffic moving. Plus, you don’t violate any other regulations or ordinances by doing so.
• People can also make use of a biking lane if there are no sidewalks present in an area.