Two solid white lines painted across a traffic lane show the boundaries of a crosswalk. As a driver, you should know that:
- Motor vehicles have the right-of-way over pedestrians in crosswalks.
- When pedestrians are in crosswalks, they should be given the right-of-way. ✓
- No one has the right-of-way in a crosswalk.
- Pedestrians are responsible to stay out of the way of all traffic.
Answer: B. When pedestrians are in crosswalks, they should be given the right-of-way.
Drivers should give pedestrians in a crosswalk the right-of-way.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says white crosswalk lines are painted across a road to show where pedestrians cross. In the right-of-way chapter, it says drivers must give the right-of-way to pedestrians at an uncontrolled intersection, when the pedestrian has a WALK signal, or on a green light when there is no pedestrian signal. It also says that if the light changes after the pedestrian has entered the crosswalk, drivers still give the pedestrian the right-of-way. That rule supports yielding to people who are crossing.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Motor vehicles have the right-of-way over pedestrians in crosswalks. — The handbook says drivers must give the right-of-way to pedestrians, so vehicles do not have priority over people in a crosswalk.
- C. No one has the right-of-way in a crosswalk. — The handbook assigns drivers a duty to yield to pedestrians in crosswalk situations, so it does not say that no one has the right-of-way.
- D. Pedestrians are responsible to stay out of the way of all traffic. — The handbook tells drivers to watch for pedestrians and give them the right-of-way, not that pedestrians must stay out of the way of all traffic.
Remember it
When you see white crosswalk lines, think feet first: be ready to yield to anyone crossing.
Official handbook: Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7), Chapter 4: Right-of-Way , p. 23