S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    882
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 11, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL, COOK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of
   A. GLICK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN  ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to a pedestri-
   an's right of way
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Paragraph 2 of subdivision (a) of section 1111 of the vehi-
 cle  and  traffic law, as amended by chapter 269 of the laws of 1984, is
 amended to read as follows:
   2. Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady green arrow signal may
 cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by
 such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other  indications
 shown  at  the  same  time,  except that a U-Turn may be made by traffic
 facing a left green arrow signal unless a sign prohibits such U-Turn  or
 such  U-Turn is in violation of any other provision of law. Such traffic
 shall yield the right of way to other traffic lawfully within the inter-
 section [or an] AND PEDESTRIANS WITHIN A  MARKED  OR  UNMARKED  adjacent
 cross walk AT THE INTERSECTION at the time such signal is exhibited.
   § 2. Paragraph 3 of subdivision (a) of section 1111 of the vehicle and
 traffic  law,  as amended by chapter 356 of the laws of 1971, is amended
 to read as follows:
   3.  Unless  otherwise  directed  by  a  pedestrian-control  signal  as
 provided  in  section eleven hundred twelve OF THIS ARTICLE, pedestrians
 facing any steady green signal, except when the sole green signal  is  a
 turn arrow, SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND may proceed across the road-
 way within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
   §  3.  Paragraphs  2  and  3 of subdivision (b) of section 1111 of the
 vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 356 of the laws of  1971,
 are amended to read as follows:
   2.  Traffic,  except  pedestrians, facing a steady yellow arrow signal
 may cautiously enter the intersection  only  to  complete  the  movement
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00985-01-3
              

 A. 882                              2
 
 indicated  by  such arrow or make such other movement as is permitted by
 other indications shown at the  same  time;  however,  said  traffic  is
 thereby warned that the related green arrow movement is being terminated
 or  that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter. SUCH
 TRAFFIC SHALL YIELD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY TO PEDESTRIANS WITHIN A  MARKED  OR
 UNMARKED  CROSSWALK  AT  THE  INTERSECTION AND TO OTHER TRAFFIC LAWFULLY
 USING THE INTERSECTION.
   3.  Unless  otherwise  directed  by  a  pedestrian-control  signal  as
 provided  in  section eleven hundred twelve OF THIS ARTICLE, pedestrians
 facing any steady yellow signal are thereby advised that there is insuf-
 ficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is  shown  and
 no  pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway. REGARDLESS OF WHEN
 A PEDESTRIAN STARTS TO CROSS THE ROADWAY, ALL PEDESTRIANS SHALL BE GIVEN
 THE RIGHT-OF-WAY BY ALL OTHER TRAFFIC  WHEN  FACING  ANY  STEADY  YELLOW
 LIGHT.
   §  4. Subparagraph a of paragraph 2 of subdivision (d) of section 1111
 of the vehicle and traffic law, as separately amended  by  chapters  230
 and 420 of the laws of 1980, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  Traffic  facing  a steady circular red signal may cautiously enter
 the intersection to make a right turn  after  stopping  as  required  by
 paragraph  one of this subdivision, except that right turning traffic is
 not required to stop when a steady right green arrow signal is shown  at
 the  same time. Such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians
 within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at the  intersection  and  to  ALL
 other traffic lawfully using the intersection;
   §  5. Section 1112 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chap-
 ter 228 of the laws of 1987, is amended to read as follows:
   § 1112. Pedestrian-control signal  indications.  Whenever  pedestrians
 are controlled by pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words "WALK"
 or  "DON'T  WALK", or exhibiting symbols of a walking person or upraised
 hand, such signals shall indicate and apply to pedestrians as follows:
   (a) Steady WALK or walking person. Pedestrians facing such signal  may
 proceed  across  the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be
 given the right of way by ALL other traffic.
   (b) Flashing DON'T WALK or upraised hand. No pedestrian shall start to
 cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but  any  pedestrians
 who  have  partially  completed  their  crossing  on the WALK or walking
 person signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or  safety  island  while  the
 flashing  DON'T  WALK  or upraised hand signal is showing. REGARDLESS OF
 WHEN A PEDESTRIAN STARTS TO CROSS THE ROADWAY, ALL PEDESTRIANS SHALL  BE
 GIVEN  THE RIGHT-OF-WAY BY ALL OTHER TRAFFIC WHILE A FLASHING DON'T WALK
 OR UPRAISED HAND SIGNAL IS SHOWING.
   (c) Steady DON'T WALK or upraised hand. No pedestrians shall start  to
 cross  the  roadway in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrians
 who have partially completed their  crossing  on  the  WALK  OR  WALKING
 PERSON  or  flashing  DON'T  WALK OR FLASHING UPRAISED HAND signal shall
 proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the steady  DON'T  WALK  OR
 UPRAISED HAND signal is showing.
   §  6.  Subdivision (b) of section 1113 of the vehicle and traffic law,
 as amended by chapter 722 of the laws of 2006, is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   (b)  Flashing  yellow indications. Vehicular traffic facing a circular
 yellow signal or  yellow  arrow  with  rapid  intermittent  flashes  may
 proceed  through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.
 SUCH TRAFFIC SHALL YIELD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY TO PEDESTRIANS WITHIN A MARKED
 OR UNMARKED CROSSWALK AT THE INTERSECTION.
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   § 7. Subdivision (a) of section 1151 of the vehicle and  traffic  law,
 as  amended  by  chapter  159 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as
 follows:
   (a)  When traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation
 the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way,  slowing  down  or
 stopping  if  need  be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway
 within a crosswalk OR AT ANY UNMARKED CROSSWALK AT  AN  INTERSECTION  on
 the  roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, except that any pedes-
 trian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel  or  over-
 pass has been provided shall yield the right of way to all vehicles.
   §  8.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law.