What You Should Know as You Approach a Missouri Crosswalk

You pass by Kansas City, Missouri, crosswalks every single day. You may find that you tense up a little behind the wheel as you approach a crosswalk. You are concerned about what to do. Should you always come to a complete stop when you approach a crosswalk? Do you always yield to pedestrians? Can pedestrians enter the crosswalk without accounting for oncoming traffic? 

Missouri Crosswalk Laws  

Missouri pedestrian laws provide specific answers about the responsibilities of pedestrians and drivers at crosswalks in Kansas City and around the state. Specifically, Missouri requires: 

• Drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks when there is not a functioning traffic control signal at the crosswalk.
• Pedestrians not to leave the curb or other place of safety if it is impossible for the driver to stop safely.
• Drivers not to pass other vehicles that have stopped at crosswalks. 

Additionally, it is important for both pedestrians and drivers to use common sense. You may be in a hurry to get somewhere, but you still do not want to cause physical pain or death to someone else in order to get somewhere a few seconds early. 

Kansas City Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Answer Your Questions 

Going back to the questions posed at the beginning of this article, the answers are as follows: 

• You do not need to come to a complete stop before every crosswalk, but you do need to stop if there is a pedestrian in the crosswalk.
• You should always yield to pedestrians—even if you have the right of way. The potential injuries are not worth failing to yield.
• Pedestrians should account for oncoming traffic before entering a crosswalk. 

Have You Been Injured In A Kansas City Area Car Accident?

If you've been injured in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Kansas City office directly at 816.471.5111 to schedule your free consultation.