Current through Register 1518, March 29, 2024
(1)
Pedestrians Crossing Ways or Roadways. Pedestrians
shall obey the directions of police officers directing traffic and whenever
there is an officer directing traffic, a traffic control signal or a marked
crosswalk within 300 feet of a pedestrian, no such pedestrian shall cross a way
or roadway except within the limits of a marked crosswalk and as hereinafter
provided in
700 CMR
9.00.
(2)
Pedestrian Actuation.
(a) At a traffic control signal location
where pedestrian indications are provided but which are shown only upon
actuation by means of a pedestrian push button, no pedestrian shall cross a
roadway unless or until the pedestrian control signal push button has been
actuated and then cross only on the proper pedestrian signal indication. At
traffic control signal locations where no pedestrian indication is provided,
pedestrians shall cross only on the green indication. If necessary, the green
indication shall be actuated by the pedestrian by means of a push
button.
(b) At a traffic control
signal location, pedestrians shall yield the right of way to vehicles of a
funeral or other procession or authorized emergency vehicle while in
performance of emergency duties regardless of the signal indication given, and
they shall not attempt to cross the roadway until such vehicles or procession
has passed at which time pedestrians shall then cross the roadway only as
provided in
700 CMR
9.00.
(3)
Pedestrian Obedience to
Traffic Control Signals. Traffic control signal indications and
legends shall have the pedestrian commands ascribed to them in 700 CMR 9.09(3)
and no other meanings, and every pedestrian shall comply therewith, except when
otherwise directed by an officer.
Where pedestrian signals are present, they shall have the
following meaning:
(a)
Steady Walking Person symbol or Steady "WALK".
Whenever the steady Walking Person symbol or the steady word "WALK" is
illuminated, a Pedestrian facing such indication may proceed across the roadway
and in the direction of such signal only.
(b)
Flashing Upraised Hand symbol
or Flashing "DON'T WALK". Whenever the Upraised Hand symbol is
intermittently illuminated (flashing) or words "DON'T WALK" are intermittently
illuminated (flashing), a Pedestrian already crossing the Roadway may continue
to cross in the direction of the signal to the sidewalk, edge of roadway or to
the pedestrian refuge of a traffic island. A Pedestrian that has not started to
cross shall not start.
(c)
Steady Upraised Hand symbol or Steady "DON'T WALK".
Whenever the Upraised Hand symbol is steady illuminated or words "DON'T WALK"
steady illuminated, a Pedestrian already crossing the Roadway may continue to
cross in the direction of the signal to the sidewalk, edge of roadway or to the
pedestrian refuge of a traffic island; a Pedestrian that has not started to
cross shall not start.
Where pedestrian signals are not present, or present and dark
or inoperative, pedestrian crossings shall be controlled the following vehicle
signals:
(d)
Steady Circular Green. A Pedestrian may proceed across
the Roadway within any marked crosswalk in the direction of the steady circular
green.
(e)
Steady
Circular Yellow. A Pedestrian already crossing the Roadway may
continue to cross in the direction of the signal to the sidewalk, edge of
roadway or to the pedestrian refuge of a traffic island. A Pedestrian that has
not started to cross shall not start.
(f)
Steady Circular
Red. A Pedestrian already crossing the Roadway may continue to
cross in the direction of the signal to the sidewalk, edge of roadway or to the
pedestrian refuge of a traffic island. A Pedestrian that has not started to
cross shall not start.
(g)
Flashing Circular Yellow. A Pedestrian may proceed
with due care across the Roadway within any marked crosswalk in the direction
of the flashing circular yellow.
(h)
Flashing Circular
Red. A Pedestrian may proceed with due care across the Roadway
within any marked crosswalk in the direction of the flashing circular
red.
(4)
Pedestrian Crossings and Use of Roadways.
(a) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a
sidewalk or safety island and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is
so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield the right of
way.
(b) Pedestrians shall at all
times attempt to cross a roadway using the right half of crosswalks.
(c) Where sidewalks are provided, it shall be
unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway whenever
the sidewalk is open to pedestrian use.
(d) Where sidewalks are not provided, any
pedestrian walking along and upon an undivided highway shall, when practicable,
walk only on the left side of the roadway on its unfinished shoulder facing
traffic which may approach from the opposite direction. On any divided highway
pedestrians not in violation of
700
CMR 9.08(2)(c) shall walk
only on the right side of the roadway on the unfinished shoulder.
(e) Persons alighting from the roadway side
of any vehicle parked at the curb or edge of roadway in urban areas within 300
feet of a marked crosswalk shall proceed immediately to the sidewalk or edge of
roadway adjacent to vehicle, and shall cross the roadway only as authorized by
700 CMR
9.00.
(f)
It shall be unlawful for any person to actuate a pedestrian control signal or
to enter a marked crosswalk unless a crossing of the roadway is
intended.
(5)
Crossing at Non-Signalized Locations. Every pedestrian
crossing a roadway in an urban area at any point other than within a marked
crosswalk shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway. At a
point where a pedestrian tunnel or overpass has been provided, pedestrians
shall cross the roadway only by the proper use of the tunnel or
overpass.
(6)
Pedestrians Soliciting Rides or Business. No person
shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment or
business from the operator or occupant of any vehicle without the written
permission of the board or officer having control of such roadway or
highway.
(7)
Obedience
of Bridge Signals. No pedestrian shall enter or remain upon any
bridge or approach thereto beyond the bridge signal, gate or barrier after a
bridge operation signal indication has been given.
(8)
Exemptions. The
provisions of 700 CMR 9.09 governing the use of State highways by pedestrians
shall not apply to pedestrians actually engaged in work upon a roadway closed
to travel or under construction or repair, to municipal, state, federal or
public service corporation employees while in the performance of their duties,
to officers engaged in the performance of their public duties or to pedestrians
acting in an emergency when such emergency necessitates departure from any part
of 700 CMR
9.00.
If any section, sub-section, sentence, clause or phrase of
700 CMR
9.00 is for any reason unconstitutional, such decision
shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of
700 CMR
9.00. The Department hereby declare that it would have
passed
700 CMR
9.00 and each section, sub-section, sentence, clause
or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections,
sub-sections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared
unconstitutional.
