Current through Register 1531, September 27, 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
720 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
720 CMR
9.00.
(3)
Pedestrian Obedience to
Traffic Control Signals. Traffic control signal color indications
and legends shall have the pedestrian commands ascribed to them in 720 CMR
9.09(3) and no other meanings, and every pedestrian shall comply therewith,
except when otherwise directed by an officer.
(a)
The Walking Person symbol or
the Word "Walk". Whenever the Walking Person symbol or the single
word "walk" is illuminated, pedestrians facing such indication may proceed
across the roadway and in the direction of such signal only. The walking person
symbol or "WALK" indication means that there may or may not be possible
conflict of pedestrians with turning vehicles.
(b)
Red Alone or "Don't
Walk". Whenever the words "Don't Walk" or the Up-raised Hand
symbol are illuminated in a traffic control signal where pedestrian indications
are provided, pedestrians approaching or facing such indication shall wait on
the sidewalk, edge of roadway or in the pedestrian refuge area of a traffic
island and shall not enter upon or cross aroadway until the proper indication
is illuminated in the traffic control signal, but any pedestrian who has
partially completed his crossing on the walk indication shall proceed or return
to the nearest sidewalk or safety island on the yellow indication, the red
indication, the Up-raised Hand symbol or when the words "Don't Walk" are
illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes.
(c)
Green Alone. At
traffic control signal locations where no pedestrian indication is given or
provided, pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within
any marked crosswalk in the direction of the green indication.
(d)
Yellow Alone, Red Alone,
Flashing Up-raised Hand symbol or Flashing "Don't Walk".
Pedestrians approaching or facing a yellow, red or flashing "Don't Walk"
illuminated indication shall not start to cross a roadway.
(e)
Flashing Red or
Yellow. At any traffic control signal location where a flashing
red, or flashing yellow indication is being given facing a crosswalk,
pedestrians shall actuate, where provided, the pedestrian signal indication and
cross the roadway only on the Up-raised Hand symbol or "Walk" indication when
such indication is in operation. If no pedestrian signal is provided,
pedestrians shall cross within crosswalks with due care.
(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
720 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
720 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 720 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
720 CMR
9.00.
Effect of
720 CMR
9.00. The provisions of
720 CMR
9.00 for driving so far as they are the same in effect
as those of any existing rules and regulations heretofore made by the
Commissioners of the Department shall be construed as a continuation there of,
but all other existing rules and regulations for driving are hereby expressly
repealed. This repeal shall not, however, affect any punishment or penalty
imposed or any complaint or prosecution pending at the time of passage hereof
for any offense committed under any of the said rules and regulations hereby
repealed.
If any section, sub-section, sentence, clause or phrase of
720 CMR
9.00 is for any reason unconstitutional, such decision
shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of
720 CMR
9.00. The Commissioners of the Department hereby
declare that they would have passed
720 CMR
9.00 and each section, sub-section, sentence, clause
or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that anyone or more sections,
sub-sections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared
unconstitutional.
REGULATORY AUTHORITY
720 C MR 9.00: M.G.L. c. 85, §§ 2 and 2E.
