Question

Difficulty: MediumPedestrians and Crosswalk Safety

A driver has no legal obligation to slow down or yield to a pedestrian crossing a street outside of a marked or unmarked crosswalk, because pedestrians only possess right-of-way protection at intersections.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False. Drivers are required to exercise due care at all times to prevent hitting pedestrians, regardless of whether the pedestrian is crossing at an intersection crosswalk or mid-block.
The correct answer is False because driver duty of care overrides right-of-way technicalities; motor vehicle operators must always take reasonable precautions to avoid hitting pedestrians anywhere on the roadway.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the distinction between right-of-way rules and driver duty of care.
Pedestrians crossing mid-block without a crosswalk must yield right-of-way to oncoming traffic, but this rule does not eliminate a driver's legal responsibility.
State vehicle codes explicitly require drivers to remain observant and take all necessary actions, such as slowing down or stopping, to avoid striking any pedestrian in the road.

Key Concept

Driver Duty of Care vs. Pedestrian Right-of-Way
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