Pedestrians and crosswalks

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable people on the road, and the law gives them strong protection at crossings. The rule to internalise is simple: when someone is crossing where they are allowed to, you wait — every time, all the way across.

Crossovers and school crossings

At a pedestrian crossover — marked with signs, lights and painted lines — you must stop and yield the entire width of the crossing. You do not creep across behind the person; you wait until they have completely crossed and stepped onto the far curb before you go. The same applies where a crossing guard is directing a school crossing: stop when the guard signals, and stay stopped until they have left the road.

• Yield the whole crossing
  At a crossover, wait until the pedestrian has reached the other side.
• Turning across a crosswalk
  When you turn, give way to pedestrians crossing the road you are entering.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk
  It may be yielding to someone you cannot see — passing it is illegal and dangerous.
• A white cane or guide dog
  Always stop and yield to a pedestrian who is blind, deaf, or has low vision.

Stay alert for people on foot

Watch for pedestrians at every intersection, near schools and parks, and after dark or in bad weather when they are hard to see. If a light changes while someone is still in the intersection, they keep the right of way until they finish crossing — let them.