Pedestrians Have Rules, Too

In Florida, drivers and pedestrians don't always go together like peas and carrots (do carrots have the potential to smash peas?), but we all have the shared interest of maintaining a safe roadway. A driver has the legal responsibility to watch out for pedestrians and make sure to give them the right-of-way when appropriate, but pedestrians have some responsibilities, too.

As soon as you park your car and step outside, you become a pedestrian. So keep the following Florida rules in mind - they're the law:

• If there is a sidewalk available then use it. This is the law unless circumstance is such that it is impractical or impossible.
• Walk on the left side of the road unless the situation doesn't allow you to walk safely on that side.
• Do not walk, roller skate, or ride a toy vehicle on the roadway except while crossing a street in a crosswalk. When crossing, you have the right-of-way, but you still need to be careful.

There are some Florida laws for pedestrians that you may have never heard before:

• No pedestrians are allowed to walk on limited access facilities (freeways and interstate highways included).
• No person shall stand in the portion of a roadway paved for vehicular traffic for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment, or business from the occupant of any vehicle.

Many agree that the most challenging part of the pedestrian experience is crossing the street. Make sure to follow the signal if there is one, but also take care to make sure that the cars are stopping. Your safety is at risk in this situation. Make eye contact with the drivers of the nearby cars before walking in their paths. The law outlines three types of crossing:

1. Crossing a roadway in a signalized crosswalk
2. Crossing a roadway in an unsignalized crosswalk
3. Crossing a roadway mid-block - not in a crosswalk

As always, safety comes first. Always be aware of your surroundings. If a pedestrian does not follow the rules, they make themselves vulnerable to dangerous situations.