Laws regarding when drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians vary from state to state and are usually located in a state’s statutes—often in the motor vehicle code, traffic code, or transportation code, for example. Cities and towns (municipalities) may also have local laws (ordinances) that govern when and where pedestrians or drivers have the right of way.

Although laws vary from state to state, in most states:

• Drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.

• Drivers must yield to a pedestrian crossing on a sidewalk in front of an alley, building, driveway, or private road.

• Drivers must yield to a pedestrian crossing the street and approaching the driver’s half of the roadway.

And in most states:

• Pedestrians must yield the right of way to motor vehicles if the pedestrian is crossing anywhere other than a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

• When there are traffic lights present, pedestrians may only cross when there is a flashing walk signal (often showing the seconds remaining in the walk period).

In Georgia, the laws regarding the right of way for pedestrians are outlined in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.). According to O.C.G.A. § 40-6-91, drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians at both marked and unmarked crosswalks. This means that when a pedestrian is within a crosswalk or steps into a crosswalk on the driver's side of the roadway, the driver is required to stop and allow the pedestrian to cross safely. Additionally, drivers must yield to pedestrians when they are crossing a sidewalk that extends across an alley, driveway, or building entrance. Pedestrians, on the other hand, must yield the right of way to vehicles when crossing the road at any point that is not within a marked or unmarked crosswalk, as per O.C.G.A. § 40-6-92. Furthermore, when traffic control signals are in place, pedestrians are only permitted to cross in accordance with the signal, and they must obey any pedestrian control signals, such as 'Walk' or 'Don't Walk' indicators.