Crosswalk Safety

The streets and sidewalks around the Salisbury University campus are often busy with motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Crosswalks have been constructed in the area, and are intended to provide safety zones for pedestrians. Pedestrian’s utilizing crosswalks should push the crossing activation button where provided, and obey all crossing signals.

It is imperative that pedestrians and motorists understand what their respective responsibilities are under Maryland traffic law:

• Maryland law specifically states that pedestrians have the right-of-way at controlled intersections and in marked crosswalks.
• The motorist is required to bring their vehicle to a complete stop when a pedestrian is crossing in the crosswalk of the roadway and remain stopped until the pedestrian has cleared the lane (half of the roadway) in which the vehicle is traveling.
• Pedestrians have a specific duty to exercise care, caution, and good judgment for their protection.
• Pedestrians should not leave a curb or other place of safety unless there is adequate distance for a motorist to stop and yield.
• The pedestrian must give the motorist the right-of-way at all areas other than marked crosswalks and controlled intersections.
• Remember the basic rule: stop, look & listen.

Pedestrians on the roadway

• Where a sidewalk is provided, a pedestrian may not walk along the roadway.
• Where a sidewalk is not provided, a pedestrian may only walk on the left side of the roadway as near as practicable to the edge of the roadway, facing approaching traffic.

Bicycles on the roadway

• Traffic laws apply to bicycles.
• Persons operating a bicycle on the roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable and safe.
• Bicyclists do not have the right-of-way in marked crosswalks.

Regardless of who has the right-of-way, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists are responsible for using reasonable care and diligence to avoid injuring anyone who, although carelessly, may be in the other's right-of-way.