What is the crosswalk law in New Jersey?
A driver must yield to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except at crosswalks when the movement of traffic is being regulated by police officers or traffic control signals, or where prohibited by municipal, county or state regulation. Where traffic at intersections is controlled by a traffic control signal or by traffic or police officers, pedestrians shall not cross a roadway against the “stop” signal unless otherwise specifically directed to go by a traffic or police officer, or official traffic control device. A pedestrian crossing or starting across the intersection on a “go” signal shall have the right of way over all vehicles, including those making turns, until he has reached the opposite curb or place of safety, and no operator of a vehicle shall fail to yield the right of way to him.
It is important to note that:
- Nothing within the crosswalk laws relieves a pedestrian from using due care for his safety.
- A driver should never be relieved from the duty to exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian upon the roadway.
- 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.
- 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.
The fine for the violation of NJSA 39:3-36, Failure to Yield to Pedestrian at Crosswalk, is $230.00. Violation resulting in serious bodily injury to a pedestrian cannot be paid through Violations Bureau.