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 Michigan, the laws regarding the right of way for pedestrians are outlined in the Michigan Vehicle Code. Drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians at both marked and unmarked crosswalks. This includes yielding to pedestrians when turning on a green light or making any other legal turn at an intersection. Additionally, drivers are required to yield to pedestrians when exiting an alley, building, driveway, or private road. Pedestrians have the right of way when they are on the same half of the roadway as the vehicle or when approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway that they are in danger. Conversely, pedestrians must yield the right of way to vehicles when crossing a road at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. When traffic control signals are in place, pedestrians must obey the pedestrian signals and only cross during the designated walking period indicated by a walk signal.