Pedestrians in crosswalks — District of Columbia Permit Test

In the District, all pedestrians have the right-of-way at street crossings in towns and cities, except where traffic officers or traffic control devices control traffic.

In a city people cross at every corner, so drivers are the ones expected to stop unless a signal or officer is sorting out who goes.

All pedestrians have the right of way at street crossings in town and cities, except where traffic officers or traffic control devices control traffic.

In the District, pedestrians in a crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked, have the right-of-way.

Many corners have no painted lines, and a person crossing there is just as exposed as one inside white stripes.

Pedestrians in a crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked, have the right-of-way except when they enter the crosswalk on a red light or against the direction of a traffic officer.

A pedestrian in a crosswalk does not have the right-of-way when they entered it on a red light or against the direction of a traffic officer.

A walker who steps out against the light is crossing where drivers have just been told to go, so the law expects the walker to wait.

Pedestrians in a crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked, have the right-of-way except when they enter the crosswalk on a red light or against the direction of a traffic officer.

At city street crossings, when do pedestrians lose the general right-of-way?

Where officers or signals control traffic. In a city people cross at every corner, so drivers are the ones expected to stop unless a signal or officer is sorting out who goes. DC Driver Manual, p.61: “All pedestrians have the right of way at street crossings in town and cities, except where traffic officers or traffic control devices control traffic.”