Nevada Crosswalks
Attorney
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Sometimes an understanding of the law can help to prevent an automobile or motorcycle accident. Ever wonder about the law that pertains to vehicles approaching crosswalks? In Nevada, there are both statutes and ordinances that apply.
For instance, Nevada state law provides the following:
NRS 484.325 Right-of-way in crosswalk; obedience to signals and other devices for control of traffic. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 484.327, 484.328 and 484.356:
1. When official traffic-control devices are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be so to yield, to a pedestrian crossing the highway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the highway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the highway as to be in danger.
2. A pedestrian shall not 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.
3. Whenever a vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle until the driver has determined that the vehicle being overtaken was not stopped for the purpose of permitting a pedestrian to cross the highway.
4. Whenever signals exhibiting the words “Walk†or “Don’t Walk†are in place, such signals indicate as follows:
(a) While the “Walk†indication is illuminated, pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the highway in the direction of the signal and must be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles.
(b) While the “Don’t Walk†indication is illuminated, either steady or flashing, a pedestrian shall not start to cross the highway in the direction of the signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed his crossing during the “Walk†indication shall proceed to a sidewalk, or to a safety zone if one is provided.
(c) Whenever the word “Wait†still appears in a signal, the indication has the same meaning as assigned in this section to the “Don’t Walk†indication.
(d) Whenever a signal system provides a signal phase for the stopping of all vehicular traffic and the exclusive movement of pedestrians, and “Walk†and “Don’t Walk†indications control pedestrian movement, pedestrians may cross in any direction between corners of the intersection offering the shortest route within the boundaries of the intersection when the “Walk†indication is exhibited, and when signals and other official traffic-control devices direct pedestrian movement in the manner provided in this section and in NRS 484.283.
The Las Vegas Municipal Code adds the following:
11.30.020 Right-of-way--Darting before vehicles.
When traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite one-half of the roadway as to be in danger, 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. A pedestrians’s right-of-way in a crosswalk is modified under the condition and as stated in Section 11.30.060.
11.30.030 Passing vehicle stopped at crosswalk.
Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection 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.
11.30.040 Right half of crosswalks.
Pedestrians shall move, whenever practicable, upon the right one-half of crosswalks.
11.30.050 Route of crossing roadway.
No pedestrian shall cross a roadway at any place other than by a route at right angles to the curb or by the shortest route to the opposite curb except in a crosswalk.
11.30.060 Crossing outside crosswalk.
(A) Every pedestrian crossing 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.
(B) Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
(C) The foregoing rules in this Section shall have no application under the conditions stated in Section 11.30.070 when pedestrians are prohibited from crossing at certain designated places.
11.30.070 Crosswalk use required when.
(A) Between adjacent intersections at which traffic-control signals are in operation, pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a crosswalk.
(B) No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than in a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk in a central traffic district or in any business district.
Similarly, the Reno Municipal Code states:
Sec. 6.06.350. Right-of-way in crosswalks.
(a) Except as provided in section 6.06.365, when official traffic-control devices are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be so to yield, to a pedestrian crossing the highway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the highway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the highway as to be in danger.
(b) 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.
(c) Whenever a vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle until such driver has determined that the vehicle being overtaken was not stopped for the purpose of permitting a pedestrian to cross the highway.
(d) Whenever signals exhibiting the words "Walk" or "Don't walk" are in place, such signals shall indicate as follows:
(1) While the "Walk" indication is illuminated, pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the highway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles.
(2) While the "Don't walk" indication is illuminated, either steady or flashing, a pedestrian shall not start to cross the highway in the direction of the signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed his crossing during the "Walk" indication shall proceed to a sidewalk, or to a safety zone if one is provided.
(3) Whenever the word "Wait" still appears in a signal, such indication has the same meaning as assigned in this section to the "Don't walk" indication.
(4) Whenever a signal systems provides a signal phase for the stopping of all vehicular traffic and the exclusive movement of pedestrians, and "Walk" and "Don't walk" indications control such pedestrian movement, pedestrians may cross in any direction between corners of the intersection offering the shortest route within the boundaries of the intersection when the "Walk" indication is exhibited, and when signals and other official traffic control devices direct pedestrian movement in such manner as provided in this section and in section 6.06.075.
Sec. 6.06.355. Use of right half of crosswalks.
Pedestrians shall move, whenever practicable, upon the right-half of crosswalks.