Crosswalk Responsibilities

A message from Bridgewater Police Service

The Bridgewater Police Service will be doing directed enforcement on crosswalks during the months of March and April 2016, with the emphasis on educating motorists and pedestrians on their responsibility when approaching and using a crosswalk.

An interesting point to note is that a driver can also be a pedestrian at some point in time and a pedestrian can also be a driver at some point in time; yet both will complain about one another at a crosswalk not yielding the right-of-way.

In section125 (6) of the Motor Vehicle Act, the Act indicates a driver and a pedestrian both need to exercise due care at a crosswalk.

When using a crosswalk, there are a few things pedestrians need to do:

1. Make eye contact with the driver before stepping into the crosswalk

2. Use the crosswalk beacon when one is available

3. Stop at the curb and face the crosswalk allowing the driver time to recognize that you are getting ready to use the crosswalk if no beacon is available.

4. Extend your arm out in front of you so the driver can see that you are intending to cross

5. Never run out into a crosswalk.

The main focus at a crosswalk is safety, and both drivers and pedestrians need to work together to accomplish this.

Below are the sections in the motor vehicle act that hold pedestrians accountable for their action at a crosswalk:

Section 125Pedestrian and vehicle rights of way

125 (1) Where pedestrian movements are not controlled by traffic signals,

(a) the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way to a Pedestrian lawfully within a crosswalk or stopped facing a crosswalk; Carries a fine is $697.50 for the first offence and four (4) points on your driver’s license

or

(b) where the traffic on a highway is divided into separate roadways by a median, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian lawfully within a crosswalk or stopped facing the crosswalk on the roadway on which the vehicle is travelling.

Carries a fine is $697.50 for the first offence and four (4) points on your driver’s license

(2) Where a vehicle has stopped at a crosswalk to yield to a Pedestrian pursuant to subsection (1), it is an offence for the driver of any other Vehicle approaching from the rear to overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.

Carries a fine is 406.45 for the first offence and four (4) points on your driver’s license

(3) A pedestrian shall not leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so closely approaching that it is impractical for the driver of the vehicle to stop.

Carries a fine is 406.45 for the first offence and NO points on your driver’s license

(4) Where a pedestrian is crossing a roadway at a crosswalk that has a pedestrian-activated beacon, the pedestrian shall not leave a curb or other place of safety unless the pedestrian-activated beacon has been activated.

Carries a fine is 406.45 for the first offence and NO points on your driver’s license

(5) A pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a crosswalk shall yield the right of way to vehicles upon the roadway.

Carries fine is 406.45 for the first offence and NO points on your driver’s license

(6) This Section does not relieve a pedestrian or a driver of a Vehicle from the duty to exercise due care. 2007, c. 45, s. 9.