# Is walking while a Don't Walk sign flashes against the law?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-walking-while-a-dont-walk-sign-flashes-against-the-law/466198>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 2, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-walking-while-a-dont-walk-sign-flashes-against-the-law/466198 "2008-10-02T17:11:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-walking-while-a-dont-walk-sign-flashes-against-the-law/466198/21 "2008-10-06T01:37:18Z")

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> [@CC](#):
>
> From this I take it that a flashing walk sign is an advisory message (my bolding in **Polycarp’s** post). It is not illegal to be in the crosswalk at that time. It is not illegal to cross while the sign is flashing. Thank you.

It’s not merely advisory. It has a real legal authority which can result in your getting a ticket - and that would be for people who left the footpath after it has started flashing\*. Essentially, it has a very similar meaning to a yellow light for cars - do not enter the intersection unless it is too late for you not to. I suppose it could also be advisory in the sense of “oh shit, I’m walking too slowly, I’d better hurry up”, but I know I don’t pay attention to that light after I’ve stepped off the footpath, and I suspect most other able-bodied folk don’t either.

\*In Sydney, there used to be small enamel signs explicitly stating this:

“WALK - you may cross the road  
Flashing DON’T WALK - you may not start crossing the road, but may complete your crossing if already doing so.  
Solid DON’T WALK - you may not cross the road.”

These signs seem to have disappeared, but they were everywhere when I was a kid.

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**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-walking-while-a-dont-walk-sign-flashes-against-the-law/466198/22 "2008-10-06T01:48:53Z")

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It means you can finish crossing if you’ve already started, but you shouldn’t leave the curb:

[What does the flashing DON’T WALK signal mean?](http://www.walkinginfo.org/faqs/answer.cfm?id=16)

[Illegal to start crossing once “don’t walk” sign starts flashing](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008089948_bumper04m.html)

[“WALK…OR DON’T WALK? THOSE SIGNS ARE SO CONFUSING!”](http://www.rochesterhills.org/city_services/uploads/Walk_or_Don_t_Walk_1_.pdf) (pdf)

[WHAT DO THE INDICATIONS MEAN?](http://www.azdot.gov/Highways/Traffic/Pedsig.asp#four)

> [@](#):
>
> A pedestrian who does not obey the signal lights could get a traffic ticket from a police officer or get hit by a car.

[http://www.dot.state.co.us/Traffic\_Manuals\_Guidelines/Informational\_Brochures/Pedestrian\_Signals\_Brochure.pdf](http://www.dot.state.co.us/Traffic_Manuals_Guidelines/Informational_Brochures/Pedestrian_Signals_Brochure.pdf)

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