Pedestrian Safety

Published on February 07, 2025

Pedestrian Safety Series

This series is designated as a how to guide when it comes to navigating crosswalks in Carthage. Maybe the most important information we can give is the North Carolina State Law regarding crosswalks. North Carolina State Law with regards to crosswalks without signals states that "At intersections without traffic signals, pedestrians have the right of way if they are in marked crosswalks or in unmarked crosswalks formed by imaginary lines extending from the sidewalks across the streets.

• At mid-block crosswalks with no traffic signal, drivers must yield the way to pedestrians in the crosswalk. (N.C. General Statute 20-173)".
• Caution must be used by both parties when utilizing a crosswalk,
• Drivers must yield, pay attention when backing up, make sure the path is clear before turning and pay attention at night.
• Walkers must look for cars in all directions, obey pedestrian traffic signals, walk in well-lit areas at night (substitutes could be wearing reflective clothing or carrying a flashlight), watch for cars backing up, cross the street where you have best view of traffic, at bus stops walk behind the bus, use sidewalks (if no sidewalks, walk facing into traffic as far away as you can).

Hopefully this helps clear up any confusion regarding crosswalks in the area. For more information on the state law, contact the Carthage Police Department or learn more at:

https://www.ncdot.gov/watchforme/default.aspx and https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/safety/traffic-safety/pedestrian-safety-improvements/Documents/nc-crosswalks.pdf