To the Editor:

In response to Marcia Ranieri’s letter printed in The Altamont Enterprise on Oct. 9, regarding crosswalks, she did not mention if cars were not stopping while she was in the crosswalk.

I'd like to reference a letter I sent last December to remind pedestrians that they also have a right with regards to the law of crosswalks.  While drivers of vehicles do have to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, pedestrians also have the responsibility of not suddenly leaving a curb or other place of safety to walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impractical for the driver to yield.

The law is meant to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, not having them enter into crosswalks while traffic is approaching without a reasonable amount of time to cross before the vehicle reaches the crosswalk.  Pedestrians should also not expect vehicles to stop to allow them to cross.

Adult pedestrians who do not follow the law in this way could be teaching children that they have every right to go into a crosswalk and the vehicle approaching will be sure to stop for them. 

The traffic in Altamont can be heavy but it isn't nonstop.  There are plenty of gaps in the traffic for pedestrians to cross legally and safely.

Here is the state law on pedestrians’ right of way in crosswalks:

“(a) When traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk on the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, except that any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overpass has been provided shall yield the right of way to all vehicles.

 “(b) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impractical for the driver to yield.

“(c) Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.”

Mare Donohue
Berne