Rhode Island's Pedestrian Laws

Below is a summary of Rhode Island’s pedestrian laws:

 

• All pedestrians must follow traffic control signals.

• If there is no traffic signal but there is a crosswalk, then the pedestrian does have the right of way. The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slow down or stop if need be to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway within the crosswalk. However, no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle so that it is impossible for the driver to yield.

• When a pedestrian is crossing outside of the crosswalk, cars have the right of way. Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway. In all situations, drivers must exercise “due care” to avoid colliding with pedestrians and bicyclists.

• When there is a sidewalk available, pedestrians may not walk in the road except to cross.

• In areas with no sidewalks, any person walking, jogging, or running shall, when practicable, walk, jog or run only on the left side of the roadway or facing traffic.

• Under no circumstances shall anyone walk, run, or jog on any interstate highway.

• Any person jogging or running during the time from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, shall, wear reflective material, which is visible by low beam headlamps from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500').

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It is important to note that violations of these laws are subject to fines. 

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