• Pedestrians have the right of way at marked and unmarked crossings, meaning cars must yield to pedestrians.
• State law requires pedestrians to use marked crosswalks when they are provided, and it is unlawful to cross a street outside a marked crosswalk if the pedestrian is between two signalized intersections.
• When NOT at an intersection or marked crosswalk, pedestrians must yield the right of way to all vehicles.
• At crosswalks with pedestrian signals, state law requires that pedestrians obey the “Walk” and “Don’t Walk” signs in the same way a driver must obey Red or Green lights.
• State law requires pedestrians walking along the road to use sidewalks when available.
• When sidewalks are not available, pedestrians are to walk to the far left edge of the road facing traffic. Walking in this direction gives pedestrians the best view of traffic.

Be Safe

• Always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from the roadway as you can.
• Look for cars in all directions – including those turning – before crossing the street. Never assume a driver sees you or will stop. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing to make sure they see you.
• Use crosswalks whenever possible. Cross the street where you have the best view of traffic. Don’t cross mid-block or diagonally. If there’s no crosswalk nearby, cross in a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Look left, right, and left again.
• No crosswalk? Yield to traffic. Pedestrians walking outside of crosswalks must yield to all other traffic.
• Be careful crossing multiple lanes of traffic. Make sure each lane of traffic is clear before you cross. At bus stops, cross behind the bus or at the nearest crosswalk.
• Obey all pedestrian traffic signals. Be predictable to drivers and follow the rules of the road.

Be Visible

• Enhance your visibility at night. Walk in well-lit areas, carry a flashlight or wear something reflective, such as stickers or armbands, to be more visible.
• Stand clear of parked cars, buses, hedges, and other obstacles before crossing the street.

Be Aware

• Avoid distraction. Texting or talking on cell phones or wearing earphones when crossing streets diminishes the ability of your two key senses – hearing and seeing – that are used to detect and avoid cars. So particularly when crossing streets, put down the phone and turn of the music for a few seconds.
• Watch for cars backing up in parking lots and driveways. Brake lights can mean that a car is about to back up.
• On a sharp corner with limited visibility (a blind curve) or a steep hill, it's safer to walk along the outer corner rather than to stay in the inner corner, even though this is opposite of the rule to face traffic when walking. In the inner corner, you won't be able to see upcoming traffic and it won't see you. Cross the road at a safe distance from the curve, walk along the outer curve, and cross back again at a safe distance. You should be extra careful during this segment, because drivers may not expect pedestrians on the right side of the road.
• Runners are pedestrians too. Like walkers, runners should run against traffic, cross at crosswalks whenever possible, and obey crosswalk signals. Wear bright, reflective clothes so drivers can see you.
  
  (Adapted from Bike Walk CT’s "Give Respect, Get Respect. Share the Road, Connecticut" www.bikewalkct.org)