Driving Safely Around Pedestrians
Long Island auto insurance rates may only be as affordable as drivers make them. How does your driving record look? There are few things that look worse on your driving record than hitting a pedestrian. Many accidents involving pedestrians are caused by a lack of understanding of who has the right-of-way. New York State has very clear laws on this subject.
• When there is a crosswalk but no signal, the right-of-way belongs to the pedestrian, which means you have to stop when one is waiting to cross the street.
• With a crosswalk and signal, the pedestrian must wait for the “walk” signal to cross the street – but this doesn’t mean you have the right to run over them if they disobey the signal!
• At all intersections and crosswalks, drivers must yield to pedestrians with seeing-eye dogs or white-tipped canes.
• With sidewalks, pedestrians always have the right-of-way, which means drivers who are pulling out of driveways or parking lots must wait until the coast is clear.
Even when jaywalking is involved, your driving record and Long Island auto insurance rates could be negatively affected when you hit a pedestrian. This is why it is vital to always stay focused on the road and avoid all distractions while behind the wheel.
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