North Carolina: bolding is mine in all, just to highlight some particularly relevant or interesting stufff
with controls:
without controls:
20-174 lists a bunch of things pedestrians shouldn’t do, but then states:
This part regards turning right on red:
General right of way:
Of course, even if he doesn’t have the right of way, you aren’t allowed to hit him.
Tris
This reminds me of the time I was crossing a complicated five or six way intersection in Boston. I couldn’t name it, but it was shortly after crossing the Charles from Charlestown to downtown. I patiently waited (a couple minutes) for a pedestrian light and immediately started to cross—and was nearly totaled by a girl on a bicycle. She stopped and started cursing me (very large vocabulary too). I sure wish there had been a cop to ticket her.
Absolutely. My pet peeve is this statement…
[QUOTE=supergoose]
I understand that if a pedestrian is actually crossing the street in a crosswalk (or anywhere else, for that matter) I have to stop for them (duh).
[/QUOTE]
… and…
[QUOTE=Dennis3240]
My understanding is in most states if a pedestrian is standing at a marked crosswalk that in and of itself shows intent to cross. You legally are required to stop and allow them to walk across.
[/QUOTE]
… which are NOT true if the crossing signal are indicating Don’t Walk (in a non-flashing mode;)). Pedestrians also do not have the right of way if they are crossing in a non-crosswalk area (jaywalking), at least in Wisconsin.
[QUOTE=Wisconsin Statutes]
346.23: Crossing controlled intersection or crosswalk.
(1) At an intersection or crosswalk where traffic is controlled by traffic control signals or by a traffic officer, the
operator of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian, or to a person who is riding a bicycle or electric
personal assistive mobility device in a manner which is consistent with the safe use of the crosswalk by pedestrians,
who has started to cross the highway on a green or “Walk” signal and in all other cases pedestrians, bicyclists, and
riders of electric personal assistive mobility devices shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully proceeding
directly ahead on a green signal. No operator of a vehicle proceeding ahead on a green signal may begin a turn at a
controlled intersection or crosswalk when a pedestrian, bicyclist, or rider of an electric personal assistive mobility
device crossing in the crosswalk on a green or “Walk” signal would be endangered or interfered with in any way. The
rules stated in this subsection are modified at intersections or crosswalks on divided highways or highways provided
with safety zones in the manner and to the extent stated in sub. (2).
(2) At intersections or crosswalks on divided highways or highways provided with safety zones where traffic is
controlled by traffic control signals or by a traffic officer, the operator of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a
pedestrian, bicyclist, or rider of an electric personal assistive mobility device who has started to cross the roadway
either from the near curb or shoulder or from the center dividing strip or a safety zone with the green or “Walk” signal
in the favor of the pedestrian, bicyclist, or rider of an electric personal assistive mobility device.
346.24: Crossing at uncontrolled intersection or crosswalk.
(1) At an intersection or crosswalk where traffic is not controlled by traffic control signals or by a traffic officer, the
operator of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian, or to a person riding a bicycle or electric personal
assistive mobility device in a manner which is consistent with the safe use of the crosswalk by pedestrians, who is
crossing the highway within a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(2) No pedestrian, bicyclist, or rider of an electric personal assistive mobility device shall suddenly leave a curb or
other place of safety and walk, run, or ride into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is difficult for the
operator of the vehicle to yield.
(3) Whenever any vehicle is stopped at an intersection or crosswalk to permit a pedestrian, bicyclist, or rider of an
electric personal assistive mobility device to cross the roadway, the operator of any other vehicle approaching from
the rear shall not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.
346.25: Crossing at place other than crosswalk
Every pedestrian, bicyclist, or rider of an electric personal assistive mobility device crossing a roadway at any point
other than within a marked or unmarked crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
[/QUOTE]
If the pedestrian signals don’t match up with the traffic signal you should contact someone as that would be a fairly dangerous situation. In my, oh 25 years of driving, I have never seen that happen.
True, and I would always do my best to not hit them but if the unfortunate should happen and I did hit a pedestrian the right of way rules are used to determine who’s at fault.
If I am following the rules of the road and a pedestrian darts out in the middle of the block from behind something that prevents me from seeing them and stopping in time it is the pedesrians fault. Not magically mine.
What on earth does Wal-Mart have to do with this topic??
If that “something” is another vehicle that has stopped at a pedestrian crossing, then you are in the wrong. So your statement is not completely true.
Presumably with their insidious practice of putting marked pedestrian crossings in their parking lots.
True, and I should have put “in the middle of the block where there is not a pedestrian crossing.” so allow me to restate.
If I am following the rules of the road and a pedestrian darts out in the middle of the block, where there is no pedestrian crossing, from behind something that prevents me from seeing them and stopping in time it is the pedesrians fault. Not magically mine.
Better?
Much better 
A small town I drive through daily recently placed a mid block crosswalk. A local ne’er-do-well has been hanging out on the sidewalk where the crosswalk is located. I’ve never seen him cross, but he gives drivers fits.
That would be up to a judge, jury, or insurance company to decide.
Note that “crossings” is not “crosswalks”. Here, it’s a striped area that covers 2/3 of the length of the store’s frontage along with signs that indicate that motorists must yield to pedestrians in the crossing area. As a result, people come moping out of the store at 1/2 of a snail’s pace with overloaded grocery carts and don’t even bother to look to see if anything’s coming because the cars have to stop anyway.
Ok, let’s see if I can make everyone happy with this one. (I doubt it but I’ll try.)
If I am following the rules of the road and a pedestrian darts out in the middle of the block, where there is no pedestrian crossing, from behind something that prevents me from seeing them and stopping in time it is not automatically my fault.
Well if you have an automatic transmission. If it’s a standard, that would be a sticking point.
Likewise at the local Safeway supermarkets. In those cases I think the markings are a good idea, but I agree that the practice has had an unfortunate carryover effect into other areas, like the place I work: my city’s convention center. The convention center’s parking lot is across a street. The problem with this is that event attendees — particularly those from out of town — don’t seem to realize that this is a city street with a 25MPH speed limit they’re crossing. It’s not just part of the parking lot like they would see at Wal-Mart or Safeway. And so I constantly see people leaving the building, stepping off the curb, and walking straight across the street (or even better, strolling four-abreast down the middle of the street) without bothering to look for oncoming cars. I’m astonished that nobody has been hit yet.
They follow it in L.A. too. There are a lot of crosswalks on the west side and drivers are really good about stopping for people waiting on the sidewalk to cross.
Traffic is horrible in L.A., but in general drivers here are better than any place else I’ve lived. They stop for pedestrians, don’t block intersections, alternate left and right at merges, yield right-of-way properly at 4-way stops, and generally know their shit. I chalk it up to two things – you don’t want to fuck with LAPD, and you don’t want to do ANYTHING that will impede the orderly creep of traffic and bring the wrath of your fellow Angelenos down upon you.