Crossing The Road
MCL 257.613 — the walk signal carries the right of way, and the ordinary light governs where there is none
Walk carries the right of way. Where special pedestrian signals are installed, a pedestrian facing a walk signal may proceed across the highway in the direction of the signal and is given the right of way by the drivers of all vehicles. On don't walk, steady or flashing, a pedestrian does not start to cross, and one who is partway across on the walk interval proceeds to a sidewalk or safety island.
| The light, with no walk signal | What the section says |
|---|---|
| The light, with no walk signalGreen | What the section saysThe pedestrian may proceed across within a marked or unmarked crosswalk |
| The light, with no walk signalSteady yellow | What the section saysThere is not enough time to cross, and a pedestrian starting then yields to all vehicles |
| The light, with no walk signalSteady red, or red with an arrow | What the section saysThe pedestrian does not enter the highway unless it can be done safely and without interfering with vehicle traffic |
Turning traffic yields to the crosswalk. Traffic going on a green signal, including vehicles turning right or left, yields the right of way to pedestrians and bicyclists lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk. So does traffic turning on red after stopping, and traffic moving on a green arrow.
A wheelchair or walker. A driver approaching a person using a wheelchair or a device to aid walking, at a crosswalk or any other pedestrian crossing, takes the necessary precautions to avoid an accident or injury to that person. Breaking that duty is a misdemeanor, where the signal rules themselves are civil infractions.
Walking along the road. Where sidewalks are provided, a pedestrian does not walk on the main traveled portion of the highway. Where there are none, pedestrians walk, when practicable, on the left side of the highway facing the traffic that passes nearest. Pedestrians are not permitted on a limited access highway. Each of these, like the signal rules for pedestrians, is a civil infraction.
These sections speak to crossings at a signal and to walking along a highway. A crosswalk with no signal, and local ordinances on crossing, are not covered here. Who was at fault in a particular collision, and what a particular ticket means, are questions for a licensed Michigan attorney.
Sources for this section (4)
- MCL 257.613 — Applicability of regular traffic control signals to pedestrians; special pedestrian control signals; violation as civil infraction
- MCL 257.612 — Traffic control signals; indications; stopping; turn on red
- MCL 257.655 — Pedestrians on highways; violation as civil infraction
- MCL 257.679a — Limited access highway; pedestrians and certain vehicles prohibited; bicycles permitted on paths; violation as civil infraction
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Michigan attorney.