Must drivers stop at zebra crossings / crosswalks in Michigan?
Assuming there are no traffic lights, stop signs, yield signs, or any other signs, and that there is simply a zebra crossing / crosswalk painted on the road.
Are drivers legally required to stop to allow pedestrians to cross?
I understand that the answer to this question may vary across jurisdictions, but is there perhaps a general rule in the US? It seems that at least in Michigan, drivers seem to pay little attention to these crosswalks, which makes me wonder what purpose they serve.
Best Answer
In the US, crosswalks are regulated in state laws and most states have some sort of regulation that motorized vehicles must yield for pedestrians being within a crosswalk. This is of course quite odd, since in most situations, the pedestrian must move into the road and potentially put himself in danger, to get the right of way on his side.
Michigan is one exception, having absolutely no legal regulations regarding non-signalized crosswalks.
You can find much more information and background details in "Right of Way in the Crosswalk – Legislative Solutions to Making the Cars Stop Without Entering the Killing Zone" written by Ray Thomas, Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Attorney.
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Do you legally have to stop at a zebra crossing?
Zebra crossings. Wait until traffic has stopped from both directions or the road is clear before crossing. Remember that traffic does not have to stop until someone has moved onto the crossing.Is not stopping at a zebra crossing a major?
Failing to stop at a Zebra CrossingFailing to stop and give way at a Zebra Crossing is a traffic violation and could lead to penalty points on your licence (provisional included) and a fine.Do pedestrians have the right-of-way at a crosswalk Michigan?
In Michigan, vehicles must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within a crosswalk that are in the same half of the roadway as the vehicle or when a pedestrian is approaching closely enough from the opposite side of the roadway to be in danger.When approaching a zebra crossing you must give way to?
The change also appears in the revised Rule 170. Rule H2 also advises drivers on pedestrian priority at zebra crossings. Rule 195 goes into more detail and tells us that drivers: MUST give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a crossing.Car Stops Over the Crosswalk, Pedestrian Takes Action, In Russia, he'd already be run over 2
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