Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrian safety remains a priority of the City of Highland Park. Drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians are all responsible for traffic safety. In Illinois in 2016, there were a total of 4,913 reported crashes involving pedestrians. 4,648 of these crashes resulted in pedestrian injuries and 150 resulted in pedestrian fatalities. Drivers should always be prepared to yield the right-of-way and should not drive unnecessarily close to pedestrians. Listed below are a few important reminders regarding pedestrian safety related laws and best practices.

Drivers

In Illinois, a driver or bicyclist must come to a complete stop (and yield):

• When a pedestrian is in a marked crosswalk
• On school days, when children are in close proximity to a school zone crosswalk

A driver or bicyclist must yield to a pedestrian:

• When a pedestrian is in an unmarked crosswalk on the driver's side of the roadway and there are no traffic control signals
• When making a turn at any intersection
• When making a lawful turn on a red light after coming to a complete stop at the white painted Stop Bar on the pavement
• After coming to a complete stop at a stop sign at the white painted Stop Bar on the pavement, or if none, at the stop sign or for a flashing red signal at an intersection
• When a pedestrian enters a crosswalk before the traffic light changed
• When a pedestrian is walking with a green light, to a walking person symbol or a walk signal
• When a pedestrian is leaving or entering a street or highway from an alley, building, private road or driveway

Pedestrians

• Pedestrians should use sidewalks and crosswalks when crossing the street
• Pedestrians must yield the right of way to drivers by obeying traffic signals, observing walk lights and using crosswalks
• When pedestrians are crossing the road at any place other than a marked or unmarked crosswalk, pedestrians must give the right-of-way to drivers. This includes between closely-spaced intersections where traffic signals are in operation
• Pedestrians must not walk in the road unless there is no sidewalk or shoulder next to it. Under these conditions, pedestrians should always walk as close to the outside edge of the road as possible
• Pedestrians must always obey railroad gates, and/or warning lights/bells

 Crosswalk Safety Reminders

Pedestrians:
• Always cross at marked crosswalks
• Obey any pedestrian signals and look left-right-left
• If a vehicle approaches, make eye contact with the driver
• Look before walking past stopped vehicles
• Watch out for bicyclists

Drivers:
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and at intersections
• Be prepared to stop
• Be alert for bicyclists and skateboarders
• Come to a complete stop
• Wait until pedestrians have crossed at least one lane past the lane you are in before resuming travel
• Never pass another vehicle that is stopped or is slowing down at a crosswalk

For more information, please see the Illinois Rules of the Road.