Source: https://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20120724122923346&mode=print
Timestamp: 2019-08-25 19:49:52
Document Index: 693020184

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 21', '§ 21', '§ 21', '§ 21', '§ 21', '§ 21', '§ 21']

Baltimore Spokes: Surprising Aspects of Pedestrian Laws
Surprising Aspects of Pedestrian Laws
Tuesday, July 24 2012 @ 12:29 PM UTC
Surprising Aspects of Florida Maryland Pedestrian Laws
By Mighk Wilson, Smart Growth Planner for MetroPlan Orlando [edited to reference Maryland laws.]
How well do you know Florida’s Maryland's pedestrian-related traffic laws? If you’re like many folks you have some misconceptions. Here are some little-known truths about pedestrian law. See how well you understand them.
Jaywalking is not a legal term. It is not found in Florida Maryland statutes and has no legal meaning. Jaywalking is a derogatory slang term coined in the early 1920s by automotive interests (only about 10 to 20 percent of street users at the time) during propaganda campaigns to get traffic laws changed in their favor. Their strategy was to put the blame on pedestrians who continued to walk the streets in the way they had for centuries – crossing wherever and whenever they wished – before the automobile became popular. A “jay” was someone from the country who didn’t understand “big city” ways. So a “jaywalker” was someone the city folks could poke fun at for being ignorant. This is well-documented in the book Fighting Traffic by Peter Norton.
§ 21-101.(w) Sidewalk. -- "Sidewalk" means that part of a highway:
(1) That is intended for use by pedestrians; and
(2) That is between:
- (i) The lateral curb lines or, in the absence of curbs, the lateral boundary lines of a roadway; and
- (ii) The adjacent property lines.
Some people misunderstand the purpose and meaning of a crosswalk, believing it is the only place pedestrians are permitted to cross the street. That is not the case. A crosswalk is where drivers are expected to yield (if possible) to pedestrians. Pedestrians may cross elsewhere, but outside a crosswalk, they are required to yield to vehicular traffic.
§ 21-502. Pedestrians' right-of-way in crosswalks
(a) In general. --
- (2) The driver of a vehicle shall come to a stop when a pedestrian crossing the roadway in a crosswalk is:
-- (i) On the half of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling; or
-- (ii) Approaching from an adjacent lane on the other half of the roadway.
(b) Duty of pedestrian. -- A pedestrian may not 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.
(c) Passing of vehicle stopped for pedestrian prohibited. -- If, at a marked crosswalk or at an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, a vehicle is stopped to let a pedestrian cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear may not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.
All sides of the intersection are crosswalks — marked or not, regardless of whether the sidewalk is paved or not.
§ 21-101.(i) Crosswalk. -- "Crosswalk" means that part of a roadway that is:
(1) Within the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of sidewalks at any place where 2 or more roadways of any type meet or join, measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the roadway;
(2) Within the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of a bicycle way where a bicycle way and a roadway of any type meet or join, measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the roadway; or
(3) Distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings.
[B' Spokes: While this is true, Maryland law gets complicated because drivers are required not to hit pedestrians.]
§ 21-504. Drivers to exercise due care
(a) In general. -- Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian.
(b) Duty to warn pedestrians. -- Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the driver of a vehicle shall, if necessary, warn any pedestrian by sounding the horn of the vehicle.
(c) Duty to exercise precaution on observing child or certain other individuals. -- Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the driver of a vehicle shall exercise proper precaution on observing any child or any obviously confused or incapacitated individual.
§ 21-502.(c) Passing of vehicle stopped for pedestrian prohibited. -- If, at a marked crosswalk or at an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, a vehicle is stopped to let a pedestrian cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear may not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.
§ 21-503. Crossing at other than crosswalks
(a) In general. -- If a pedestrian crosses a roadway at any point other than in a marked crosswalk or in an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, the pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching on the roadway.
(b) Where special pedestrian crossing provided. -- If a pedestrian crosses a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing is provided, the pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching on the roadway.
(c) Between adjacent intersections. -- Between adjacent intersections at which a traffic control signal is in operation, a pedestrian may cross a roadway only in a marked crosswalk.
(d) Crossing intersection diagonally. -- A pedestrian may not cross a roadway intersection diagonally unless authorized by a traffic control device for crossing movements. If authorized to cross diagonally, a pedestrian may cross only in accordance with the traffic control device.
§ 21-203. Pedestrian control signals
(a) In general. -- Where special pedestrian control signals showing the words "walk", "dont walk", or "wait" or the symbols of "walking person" or "upraised hand" are in place, the signals have the indications provided in this section.
(b) Walk. -- A pedestrian facing a "walk" or "walking person" signal may cross the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the driver of any vehicle. At an intersection where an exclusive all-pedestrian interval is provided, a pedestrian may cross the roadway in any direction within the intersection.
(c) Dont walk. -- A pedestrian may not start to cross the roadway in the direction of a "dont walk" or "upraised hand" signal.
(d) Wait signal -- Beginning crossing prohibited. -- A pedestrian may not start to cross the roadway in the direction of a "wait signal".
(e) Wait signal -- Partially completed crossing. -- If a pedestrian has partly completed crossing on a "walk" or "walking person" signal, the pedestrian shall proceed without delay to a sidewalk or safety island while the "dont walk", "wait", or "upraised hand" signal is showing.
Source page: http://iyield4peds.org/2012/06/surprising-aspects-of-florida-pedestrian-laws/
https://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20120724122923346