1. i am also unclear about the law. if i’m driving and i have a green light, can a pedestrian just step into the crosswalk against a red light and i must slam the brakes suddenly? this happened to me once as an individual just ran into the street without looking while i had a green.
   is this law only for crosswalks by intersections with no traffic lights?

2. There seems to be a problem when i stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Cars behind me start going around me because apparently i am going to just stop for no reason at all.

3. The intent of the law is as follows:

   If you see a pedestrian already in the crosswalk, you are not to swerve around him. You are to stop to allow him to continue across the road. This was changed from Yield to Stop because drivers were either “Yielding” by driving around the pedestrian, or miscalculating their decrease in speed and hitting the pedestrian.

   The law is not intended to give pedestrians a free pass to simply step out in front of a car and expect it to stop. That is why pedestrians can be ticketed for violating traffic rules. Cops are instructed to ticket drivers who see a pedestrian already in the crosswalk and drive past them. Cops are to understand that if a pedestrian steps out in front of a moving car and the driver does not have sufficient time to stop, they should not be ticketed for continuing around.

4. by a green traffic signal you need not stop for them

5. that’s right, goerge. just go right over him. that’ll teach ’em!

6. This law makes no sense. Probably something Corzine dreamt of. A car should not have to stop just because a pedestrian is in a cross walk. The pedestrian should wait until traffic clears. If he needs help with crossing, he should do so at the nearest traffic light.

7. Someone crossed right in front of me in the middle of River Ave, in the middle of traffic, not at a crosswalk! I almost ran him over!

8. NO ONE FOLLOWS THIS LAW PROPERLLY I CROSS CLIFTON ON 3RD OR 5TH STREET AND I NEED TO WAIT SO LONG BECUSE CARS SEE ME & KEEP DRIVING , I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE POLICE GIVING TICKETS TO PEOPLE WHO DRIVE RIGHT PAST THE PEOPLE & PEOPLE DO COME BEFORE CARS

9. the only ones that enforce this law are the pedestrians! what a crazy law… hope n/o gets hurt!!

10. The law specifically addresses most of the issues mentioned above.
    If the light is green for cars, the law states:
    “except at crosswalks when the movement of traffic is being regulated by police officers or traffic control signals, or where otherwise prohibited by municipal, county, or State regulation, and except where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided”

    May the pedestrian jump out suddenly on the road:
    “but no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield. Nothing contained herein shall relieve a pedestrian from using due care for his safety.”

    May a car pass a car that stopped for a pedestrian?, say to make a right turn:
    “Whenever any vehicle is stopped to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.”

    In addition the law states:
    “Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.”

11. What a dumb law. Stop signs, Yield signs and other signals (let alone red lights) are designed and positioned to be seen from a distance. If there is insufficient stopping distance from when they are visible, warning signs (“Stop Ahead”) signs are put up.

    And you’re telling me that I have to stop for a pedestrian who prances into a crosswalk in a 35 or 45 mph zone?

12. This law, like most laws, was made by politicians who don’t think. Though it may make sense on small roads, on 2 line highways like Madison Avenue, it makes no sense. Imagine a car stopping in Lane 1, a car in Lane 2 cannot see the pedestrian. nor can the pedestrian see the car, and …. bang….
    Also, though the law warns pedestrians to be careful, it places all the blame on the driver…

13. In response to Anonymous #10, the law addresses most issues, but that doesn’t mean it makes sense.

    #12 is 100% right. This law was made by politicians who do not see the whole picture & the ramifications it has.

    Traffic lights & stop signs are specifically there to allow pedestrians to cross.

    When you make a law that is subject to people’s judgment (i.e. “a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield”), chaos rules. If the driver has to slam on his brakes to stop, it is “possible” to stop, but it doesn’t make sense that he should. & if he does slam on his brakes, the poor guy behind him has no clue that he will be slamming on his brakes will slam into the front guy who in turn can run over the pedestrian.

    & although the law states that the 2nd car should not overtake the first car when he is stopped to allow a pedestrian to pass, a lot of times the 2nd car does not have the view to see why the 1st car is stopped, which can cause an accident or injury to occur.

    We need laws that make sense. Not bureaucratic laws that sound good on paper.

    P.S. #10 looks like an officer to me. Only understands what the law says, but has a hard time seeing the fallacies of the law.

14. There is one on county line road in the 14th street area that is very close a traffic light. The law should not allow a crosswalk to be within a close distance of a safe crossing Point.

    Drivers should get advance notice of at least 15 seconds from when the pedestrian approaches the intersection. If the pedestrian fails to wait for cars to be able to stop safely he should be fined.

    However…..It is important for people to have a safe crossing point on a road such as busy county route during rush hour with intersection to walk to. I sometime wait ten minute until someone gives me the courtesy to cross whlle using the bike path that crosses Allaire road which has a blinking signal at the crosswalk.

15. So, #8 do I have to stop for every person I see standing on a corner, looking as though he wants to cross? If that is the case, forget about traffic moving anywhere.

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