Pedestrians do have rights on the roadway. Drivers also have rights when it comes to using the roadway around pedestrians. To be sure, there are areas where pedestrians are going to always have the right of way.
In the state of Illinois, pedestrians have to abide by all traffic laws and traffic control devices. However, there are areas specifically set aside for pedestrian safety where individuals will have the right of way over vehicles.
At a designated crosswalk that has working signals, pedestrians will have the right of way when they have a “walk” light that indicates they can cross. Drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks. Additionally, drivers are not allowed to pass other vehicles already stopped at a marked pedestrian crosswalk.
At crosswalks where there are no signals in place or not in operation, drivers of vehicles are required to stop and yield the right of way to pedestrians wishing to cross. However, no pedestrian is allowed to leave a curb or other place with safety and walk or run into the path of a moving vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.
Whenever there are stop signs or signals in place at an intersection, drivers are required to yield the right of way to pedestrians in accordance with typical traffic laws.