Pedestrians can’t just walk into traffic

I appreciate and agree with the letter from Richard Giering of Libertyville regarding crosswalk rights of way. While a motorist is required to give way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, pedestrians must yield right of way to motorists if they have not entered the crosswalk.

Sec. 11-1002 (a) of the Illinois Vehicle Code states “the driver of a vehicle shall stop and yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling ...”

The following section states, “No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a moving vehicle which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.”

Pedestrians may not simply walk out into traffic and expect vehicles to stop. They must wait for an appropriate time to cross, just like a car crossing from a minor street. It’s only when a vehicle comes upon a pedestrian already in the crosswalk that they must yield the right of way.

Ken Lindhorn

Bloomingdale