Health & Fitness
Law of the Month for May - Yield to Pedestrians
Officers will be out this month working a Pedestrian Safety Grant and specifically targeting these violations.
On average, 50 pedestrians are struck and killed by vehicles each year and more than 1,300 are injured. To help prevent these needless deaths and injuries, Wisconsin law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians:
- When a pedestrian is crossing an intersection or crosswalk on a walk signal or on a green light if there’s no walk signal.
- When a pedestrian is crossing the road within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection where there are no traffic lights or control signals.
- When a vehicle is crossing a sidewalk or entering an alley or driveway.
In addition, drivers may not pass any vehicle that has stopped for pedestrians at an intersection or crosswalk.
Officers will be out this month working a Pedestrian Safety Grant and specifically targeting these violations. The citation for Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian will cost you more than $200 and four demerit points.
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To avoid hitting pedestrians, drivers must slow down and pay attention, so they can safely yield the right of way. Drivers should be particularly alert in areas where children often cross roads, such as near schools, parks, playgrounds and residential neighborhoods.
Pedestrians also need to be cautious. Texting while driving is illegal but texting while walking can also be dangerous. When using their cell phones and other electronic devices, pedestrians should not become so distracted that they fail to pay attention to the traffic around them.
