Is it legal to walk here? What drivers should know about pedestrian crosswalks in Brevard
Take a drive along Highway A1A in Brevard and you should notice various walkways in an effort to safely get pedestrians across the street.
Some have white striped lines, some have flashing lights, some have flags. Whichever way they are, motorists need to take notice.
Pedestrian walkways are located throughout the county, but are especially visible beachside because of the amount of foot traffic headed to enjoy the sand and surf. In Brevard, 291 people were involved in pedestrian-related crashes last year, according to the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization.
Here are some rules you need to know when passing across a crosswalk.
What is the law regarding pedestrian crosswalks in Brevard?
There is a Florida statute that states “The driver of a vehicle at any crosswalk where signage so indicates shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross.”
It is illegal to pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. It also is illegal to turn on a green light if a pedestrian is in the crosswalk.
What kind of crosswalks are there in Brevard?
Most people consider a crosswalk to be a painted path at an intersection. However, Florida statute defines a crosswalk as any intersection in the roadway, painted stripes or not.
Marked crosswalks – A portion of the road outlined by painted markings, a different texture of concrete or pavers.
Unmarked crosswalks – Implied, invisible crosswalks that legally exist at any corner.
Uncontrolled crosswalks – These do not explicitly force cars to stop, although they may have a safety feature like a yield to pedestrian sign.
Controlled crosswalk – These have a traffic signal or stop sign.
Indialantic has new crosswalk at busy intersection
The beachside community of Indialantic recently got a new kind of crosswalk, a pedestrian hybrid beacon (PHB).
Located at 5th Avenue and Palm Avenue, the PHB is an overhead traffic device that remains inactive until a pedestrian activates the beacon by pushing a button the signal pole. Once activated, the PHB signals drivers to slow down by flashing yellow and then turning sold yellow.
The beacon will turn solid red, which indicates to motorists to stop and allow pedestrians to safely cross the street. The beacon will then flash red, and that’s when drivers can proceed if there are no pedestrians. PHB crosswalks are shown to reduce pedestrian crashes by 55% and overall crashes by 29%, according to the Indialantic Police Department.
Spitzer is a trending reporter. She can be reached at MSpitzer@floridatoday.com
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Pedestrian crosswalks in Brevard, Florida: What are the rules?
