Comment 111953

By kevlahan (registered) | Posted June 03, 2015 at 10:32:31 in reply to Comment 111951

That's an understandable confusion given the two terms "crossover" and "crosswalk":

  1. The definition of “pedestrian crossover” in subsection 1 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act is repealed and the following substituted: “pedestrian crossover” means any portion of a roadway distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by signs on the highway and lines or other markings on the surface of the roadway as prescribed by the regulations; (“passage pour piétons”)

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_d...

Note that the existing definition is repealed and the new definition means that a "pedestrian crossover" must be marked by signs and pavement markings. This might seem to mean a crosswalk must be marked with signs.

However, the Act still includes the definition of an unmarked crosswalk:

“crosswalk” means,

(a) that part of a highway at an intersection that is included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the roadway, or

(b) any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by signs or by lines or other markings on the surface; (“passage protégé pour piétons”)

http://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90h08

This is confusing, and the problem still remains that almost no one seems to understand that at a crosswalk (i.e. any intersection) drivers must yield to crossing pedestrians (i.e. must yield to pedestrians once they are on the roadway) and that pedestrians must wait until there is a gap large enough that motorists can safely yield.

It might be worth following up with the Ministry to confirm that the duties of motorists an pedestrians at unmarked crosswalks remain unchanged.

The use of both "crosswalk" and "crossover" is confusing, and the only difference I can find is that crossovers may be mid-block, while crosswalks are at intersections. Crossovers must also be marked by signs and painted lines.

The duties of drivers and pedestrians at crosswalks and crossovers appear to be the same: it seems that crossovers just make the crosswalks safer by making them more visible. The problem, again, is that most motorists think they have the right of way over crossing pedestrians at unmarked crosswalks!

Comment edited by kevlahan on 2015-06-03 10:46:02

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