Sean C. Morgan
The Oregon Legislature changed the way right-of-way works at crosswalks last year.
The new law took effect at the beginning of the year.
At uncontrolled intersections it requires that motorists stop at intersections where a pedestrian is approaching a lane adjacent to the driver. The driver must stop and remain stopped until the pedestrian exits the opposite lane adjacent to the driver.
The law requires them to stop and remain stopped for students who are about to have or have proceeded across a road from either direction under the direction a traffic control member.
Drivers must also remain stopped for a blind or blind and deaf pedestrian carrying a cane or with a guide dog until the pedestrian completely crosses the intersection.
The old law allowed drivers to proceed once a pedestrian cleared their half of the roadway, resulting “in situations where pedestrians have been clipped by vehicles,” Oregon Department of Transportation Safety Division Administrator Troy Costales said. “The legislature was wanting to give the pedestrians an escape route.”
For example, a person crossing a road may need to jump back to avoid being hit by an oncoming car, Costales said. Under the old law, a driver may have already started forward, and the pedestrian could be in danger by going backward.
On a two-lane road, such as Long Street, the new law will require drivers to remain stopped until a pedestrian completely leaves the roadway.
On a four-lane road, such as Main Street, a driver must wait until the pedestrian clears the adjacent lane. A driver in the left west bound lane could proceed only after the pedestrian reaches the southernmost lane of Main Street. A driver in the right westbound lane could proceed after the pedestrian reaches half way across the road.