# Ohio's bizarre crosswalk law **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2026, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459 "2026-08-20T20:33:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/21 "2026-08-21T00:33:14Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Just throw a life-sized doll into the road, and wait for people to stop to see if it’s okay, and cross then. This guy gets it ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/22 "2026-08-21T00:36:09Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I think this is pretty standard language, where you have to be “within the crosswalk” to trigger the pedestrian is now crossing rule. > [@ricepad](#): > > California law leaves room for interpretation, but a literal reading suggests that a pedestrian waiting on the curb is NOT in the crosswalk and does not have the right of way. Once that pedestrian steps off the curb, however, motor vehicles are required to yield the right of way to the pedestrian. California law does say, however, that pedestrians must exercise ordinary care. California Vehicle Code Section 21950 RIP: “…No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard…” > [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](#): > > yes, and I’m a little confused why the OP is confused by this language. If you are standing on the edge of the street, not showing any inclination that you actually are intending to step into the street, then I’m not sure why a car would need to yield to you. As soon as you take one step into the crosswalk however, you have the right of way. Yep, that is how it is done. In a slow residential zone, nice drivers will stop for people clearly waiting to cross, but on a busy street that could cause confusion on the part of other drivers. And maybe they arent waiting to cross? We do have Walk/Dont Walk lights. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/23 "2026-08-21T01:05:59Z")
Massachusetts requires you have a tape measure (for pedestrian) or optical measuring device (if driver)🙂 > When traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be so to yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk marked in accordance with standards established by the department of highways if the pedestrian is on that half of the traveled part of the way on which the vehicle is traveling or if the pedestrian approaches from the opposite half of the traveled part of the way to within 10 feet of that half of the traveled part of the way on which said vehicle is traveling. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/24 "2026-08-21T02:10:46Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > I’m not sure what sort of area you live in, but I live in a city and you will often see people just hanging out on the sidewalk, near the corner who have no intention of crossing. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Yep, that is how it is done. In a slow residential zone, nice drivers will stop for people clearly waiting to cross, but on a busy street that could cause confusion on the part of other drivers. And maybe they arent waiting to cross? We do have Walk/Dont Walk lights. If it’s a busy intersection in a city, or a busy street anywhere, there are going to be Walk/Don’t Walk signals, which the law is pretty clear about – they negate a driver’s responsibility to stop for pedestrians. Maybe I’m the weird one, but I’ve lived in DC and other cities as well as suburbs, and I’ve never had much of a problem distinguishing between people waiting to cross the street and people just going about their business on a sidewalk. I keep an eye on people near the roadway, and if they’re at a crosswalk and it looks like they’re intending to cross, and there’s no pedestrian signals, I stop. I don’t wait until they step in the roadway, because that seems insane. And I don’t blow past because that’s not how I was taught. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/25 "2026-08-21T04:21:02Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > If it’s a busy intersection in a city, or a busy street anywhere, there are going to be Walk/Don’t Walk signals, which the law is pretty clear about – they negate a driver’s responsibility to stop for pedestrians. Huh? If it says walk, the driver must stop. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/26 "2026-08-21T05:03:44Z")
In my city, every street corner is deemed a cross walk whether marked or not and the motorist must yield to every pedestrian in _ **or waiting to enter** _ the cross walk. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/27 "2026-08-21T12:14:41Z")
You’re right, I wasn’t clear. Drivers are not expected to stop when a pedestrian sign says “Walk,” they’re expected to stop for the red light that’s associated/timed with it. That’s per the code I cited above – if there’s a traffic signal present, that controls the driver’s actions, not the presence of a pedestrian. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/28 "2026-08-21T12:15:32Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Maybe I’m the weird one, but I’ve lived in DC and other cities as well as suburbs, and I’ve never had much of a problem distinguishing between people waiting to cross the street and people just going about their business on a sidewalk. I can too. But it appeared from > [@steronz](#): > > Evidently standing at the curb waiting for cars to stop is not “within the crosswalk,” so cars are not required to stop. that you think cars should stop for anyone standing at the curb whether they look like they are crossing or not. You can’t enforce a law that says “you must stop if there is someone standing on the corner who looks like they intend to cross” . It has to be either “you must stop for anyone standing on the corner” or “you must stop once they have entered the crosswalk”. If you must stop if someone is standing there intending to cross, in practice it’s going to require people to stop for anyone standing there. And I have no idea why you think that only stopping when someone has literally put a foot into the street is insane - usuing that phrasing sounds like you are talking about someone who is standing a foot or two off the curb, which is _not_ what I’m talking about. ---
**Author:** ![moes\_lotion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@moes\_lotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moes_lotion)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/29 "2026-08-21T15:26:25Z")
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned this innovative pedestrian crosswalk solution yet: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ0HBd\_u-Fs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ0HBd_u-Fs) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/30 "2026-08-21T15:50:08Z")
Somersaults optional: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/MtCZktorqCY/maxresdefault.jpg "A Big Turtle in a Trench Coat | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Live Movie") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtCZktorqCY) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/31 "2026-08-21T16:01:44Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > In Oregon the pedestrian has the right-of-way once they step into the crosswalk, which can also be interpreted to standing there waiting on the curb. All intersections are crosswalks even unmarked ones. In Portland, it was almost a religion. Almost everybody stopped for pedestrians. I had to retrain myself after moving to MSP, where it seems like most drivers feel it’s entirely optional. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/32 "2026-08-21T18:00:40Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Evidently standing at the curb waiting for cars to stop is not “within the crosswalk,” so cars are not required to stop. I assume this is true even if the crosswalk has blinky lights that you can engage, since those aren’t technically “traffic control devices.” Your interpretation of Ohio law may well be correct, but if so it creates a ridiculous and unsafe situation. It shouldn’t be necessary to dangerously intrude into the street to “prove” that you’re intending to cross – it’s generally pretty damn obvious, and here in Ontario cars will always stop when there are one or more people at a crosswalk facing the street and obviously intending to cross. Kids were – and perhaps still are – taught that in the absence of crosswalk blinking lights they should hold out an arm to indicate that they’re about to cross. But I rarely see this done because it’s really not necessary, especially when almost all crosswalks are now equipped with signal lights. Speaking of those blinking lights, they would be useless if drivers were not required to stop for them. Again, in Ontario, stopping for flashing amber pedestrian crossover lights is mandatory until the entire roadway is clear, and failing to do so is a serious offense. Many of those crosswalks are near schools and parks and used daily by small children. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2026, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/33 "2026-08-21T19:15:32Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Personally I find that standing next to the crosswalk and throwing a bunch of [these](https://www.ebay.com/itm/407003579157?chn=ps&var=677211707688&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1O6_CmNWBRKSd-gtAqcW7LQ4&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-173151-913341-5&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=677211707688_407003579157&targetid=2321110923501&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9217347&poi=&campaignid=21399214465&mkgroupid=173029507868&rlsatarget=pla-2321110923501&abcId=9447223&merchantid=5086381708&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21399214465&gbraid=0AAAAAD_QDh_46tpegEVgBL_CuoUDegk0r&gclid=CjwKCAjwy5rUBhB5EiwAIoAtCl0nPyOA2nSRxUdqolLx7mG2AEI7aLlNCzmK9wnN2395PNJ2QIt__RoCt_MQAvD_BwE) into the roadway gives me a pretty decent window to cross after a few cars have passed through. I love the seller’s description: _Whether used on cars, trucks, the tire puncture car tire effectively and discreetly, perfect for vehicle. No installation required—simply place them where needed to block access or your. A must-have for any where tire are needed for real._ ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/34 "2026-08-22T11:39:38Z")
After living in Japan forever, I was approaching a parking lot in the Anaheim Convention Center while attending a trade show, and a guy stepped off the curb on the other side of the road. I was already in my turn, and until he used a jetpack, there was no way that he could have made it in time. The cop was pretty cool about it and just warned me that laws in California are different. He said that they get a lot of out-of-state or country drivers and to come to a complete stop if someone is in the crosswalk, even on the other side of the road. In Japan or expecially Taiwan, you are likely to get rear ended if you stop in a situation like that, but I presume California drivers are more careful. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/35 "2026-08-22T14:35:47Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > In Japan or expecially Taiwan, you are likely to get rear ended if you stop in a situation like that, but I presume California drivers are more careful. Using “careful” in the same sentence with “California drivers” is hilarious. Thanks for the laugh, since I woke up in a bit of a mood. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/36 "2026-08-22T14:43:43Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > In Japan or expecially Taiwan, you are likely to get rear ended if you stop in a situation like that, but I presume California drivers are more careful. Like @Seanette, I was amused at characterizing California drivers as ‘careful’. Then I remembered the first time I went to Japan, and my mom wondered if the taxi drivers were all former kamikaze pilots who didn’t get a chance to take their final flights! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/37 "2026-08-22T14:50:59Z")
I am mystified by the OP’s outrage. Until and unless somebody on a sidewalk / curb makes it blindingly obvious they intend to cross the street there is, and should be, no obligation for passing cars to come to a halt and risk creating a chain reaction rear-end collision. The entire point of jaywalking laws is to prevent wayward scofflaw pedestrians from triggering chain reaction pile-ups midblock. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/38 "2026-08-22T15:30:47Z")
Maybe it would help if we had a visual. [Does this work?](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YShFjOgEorjnNyO_zVAmAcAjeT6LJ8kD/view?usp=sharing) Let’s say this is not an intersection, but a crosswalk across a 4 lane road. You’re driving from left to right in this image, coming towards the camera, and you see someone standing on the reddish “truncated domes” right at the edge of the street, but not technically in the crosswalk. Do you stop? If you do stop, do you consider that an obligation? Or are you being “nice”? Should the law require people to stop? I assumed all these years that the law _did_ require people to stop for the person standing literally inches from the roadway at a clearly marked crosswalk with blinking lights, but evidently it does not. Am I wrong to be surprised about this? Frankly I’m surprised that anyone looking at this situation thinks it requires “mind reading” or anything other than paying attention and respecting the safety of pedestrians. eta: Also worth calling out, the entire point of jaywalking laws [is not for motorist safety.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaywalking) > The arrival of the automobile in the opening decades of the 20th century led to increasingly deadly conflicts in the street, and the public was generally unsympathetic to motorists or to early attempts to legislate pedestrian behavior. In response, the US automobile industry and associated organizations undertook public campaigns to frame pedestrians, newly impugned as jay-walkers, as a problematic element in the new automotive age. eta2: Also worth pointing out that many of these laws explicitly remove an obligation for drivers to yield if they can’t stop in time. Nobody should be slamming on their brakes and causing a pileup in _any_ situation. Stopping for a red light, a stop sign, a disabled vehicle, a pedestrian… there’s nothing unusual about this. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/39 "2026-08-22T16:04:08Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Maybe it would help if we had a visual. [Does this work?](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YShFjOgEorjnNyO_zVAmAcAjeT6LJ8kD/view?usp=sharing) Nope. I’m being told that I have to request access to view it. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2026, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohios-bizarre-crosswalk-law/1032459/40 "2026-08-22T16:05:49Z")
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