Pedestrian injuries often occur when people try to cross mid-block instead of from the corner of a street. Not observing traffic signs and signals is also another common cause for pedestrian injuries.
We rather have you safe than injured by a moving vehicle. So please take time to go through this page and learn the in's and out's to safely crossing a road.
How to Safely Cross a Road
Obey Signals
- Follow all signs and signals
- Start walking only when "WALK" or the pedestrian icon is displayed.
- If the red hand is flashing, you may continue to cross. But if you haven't started crossing, wait for the next green light.
- Do not start walking when a "Don't Walk" or the red hand symbol is displayed on the Pedestrian Control Device.
Cross at Corners
The safest place to cross is at a corner of a street, with or without a crosswalk. Crossing mid-block where drivers are not expecting to see you is the most common cause of pedestrian injury.
Right of Way
Pedestrians do not automatically have the right of way, even when there is a crosswalk. Pedestrians must give cars enough time to stop before entering the street.
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Start walking | Finish walking, but don't start crossing | Do not Cross |
Penalty for Disobeying a Pedestrian Crossing Signal
$10 + $48 in court costs = $58
Safety Reminders for Pedestrians
- Stop and look both ways before entering a street, even from a drive way or parking lot.
- Make eye contact and make sure the driver sees you before crossing in front of a car.
- Pay attention to your surroundings. Avoid using your cell phone while walking. You can easily trip or run into unseen obstacles. If you need to use your cell phone while walking, stop in a safe location to use it. Never walk and text
- Walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
Nebraska State Statute Governing Pedestrians 60-6, 153
- Except at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided, when traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk who is in the lane in which the driver is proceeding or is in the lane immediately adjacent thereto by bringing his or her vehicle to a complete stop.
- 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 stop.
- 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.
- At or adjacent to the intersection of two highways at which a path designated for bicycles and pedestrians is controlled by a traffic control signal, a pedestrian who lawfully enters a highway where the path crosses the highway shall have the right-of-way within the crossing with respect to vehicles and bicycles.
- The Department of Roads and local authorities in their respective jurisdictions may, after an engineering and traffic investigation, designate unmarked crosswalk locations where pedestrian crossing is prohibited or where pedestrians shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles. Such restrictions shall be effective only when traffic control devices indicating such restrictions are in place.