Jaywalking
Jaywalking refers to the act of crossing streets at locations not designated as marked crosswalks, often disregarding traffic signals. This behavior poses risks not only to the individuals who jaywalk but also to motorists and other pedestrians, potentially creating hazardous situations on increasingly congested urban streets. As cities implement various measures to guide pedestrian movement, such as marked crosswalks, pedestrian overpasses, and sound signals for the visually impaired, many people still choose to cross streets on their own terms. Legal consequences for jaywalking can vary widely; in the U.S., fines typically range from $40 to $250, while in places like Singapore, first-time offenders may face fines up to $500. Despite safety regulations, jaywalking remains prevalent, leading to legal rulings that often place the responsibility for accidents on jaywalkers rather than drivers. This behavior highlights a complex interaction between pedestrian freedoms and urban safety regulations, reflecting diverse perspectives on mobility in city environments.
On this Page
Jaywalking
SIGNIFICANCE: By crossing thoroughfares at unmarked locations and at unexpected moments, jaywalkers endanger their own lives and can create traffic hazards and liability issues that affect others.
As US city streets grow ever more congested with vehicles, pedestrians become increasingly restricted in where they are permitted to cross streets. The marked crosswalks established at most intersections and other places allow pedestrians to cross streets as safely as possible, particularly when they are combined with lighted traffic signals designed to stop vehicular traffic. However, the forced channeling of pedestrians into marked crossing zones has given rise to the phenomenon of jaywalkers—people who cross streets without regard for marked crossing zones and lighted signals. They cross where and when they wish, often with only casual regard for their own safety.
Crossing streets, especially in busy urban areas, involves more than merely stepping off curbs and walking. Most municipalities designate crosswalks for pedestrians to cross streets. Many are marked, especially at corners and mid-block locations, but some are unmarked. Many marked zones are in special locations, such as school crosswalks and busy shopping areas. Given the full range of pedestrian crossing zones, crossing the street has become a very regulated business.
Many people prefer to choose when and where to cross streets, and different municipalities have developed innovative ways to limit their movements. Hong Kong, for example, has erected fences along the edges of sidewalks that have openings only at crosswalks. Streets in the busiest parts of downtown Las Vegas have pedestrian overpasses to separate people from vehicles. The overpasses permit pedestrians to walk freely, but only over roads, not through them.
Many cities have created four-way crossings in their busy downtown areas. In these places, when traffic lights turn red, all vehicular traffic, in all directions, stops, and pedestrians can cross any direction, even diagonally. Some municipalities have installed sound signals and ramped curbs so that visually impaired individuals or individuals in wheelchairs or walkers may safely cross streets in marked zones.
Despite all these innovations designed for safety, many people continue to jaywalk. When police officers give tickets to offenders, the fines typically range from $40 to $250 for each offense. Moreover, in some municipalities, convicted jaywalkers are required to attend “walking schools” to learn how to cross streets safely. In the East Asian nation of Singapore, jaywalkers can be fined as much as US$500 for a first-time offense, and receive higher fines and possible jail time for subsequent offenses.
Most jaywalking offenses are settled with payments of fines. However, when jaywalkers are involved in accidents that result in court cases, the courts consistently rule that fault lies with them, not the drivers of vehicles. Jaywalkers are almost always held responsible for their own injuries and also any damage they cause to the vehicles involved in their accidents.
Bibliography
Evans, Leonard. Traffic Safety. Bloomfield, Mich.: Science Serving Society, 2004.
Holt, Daniel J., ed. Pedestrian Safety. Warrendale, Pa.: Society of Automotive Engineers, 2004.
Lewis, Aidan. "Jaywalking: How the Car Industry Outlawed Crossing the Road." BBC News, 12 Feb. 2014, www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26073797. Accessed 5 July 2024.
Moritz, Natalie. "Jaywalking." Find Law, 24 Oct. 2023, www.findlaw.com/traffic/traffic-tickets/jaywalking.html. Accessed 5 July 2024.
United States. Dept. of Transportation. The Effects of Innovative Pedestrian Signs at Unsignalized Locations: A Tale of Three Treatments. McLean: Federal Highway Administration, Aug. 2000. PDF file.
Vanderbilt, Tom. "The Crisis in American Walking." Slate, 10 Apr. 2012, www.slate.com/articles/life/walking/2012/04/why‗don‗t‗americans‗walk‗more‗the‗crisis‗of‗pedestrianism‗.html. Accessed 5 July 2024.