Jaywalking facts for kids

Anti-jaywalking sign in Quezon City

Jaywalking is a term used to describe when a pedestrian crosses the street without regard to traffic rules. In common use, the term generally refers to someone crossing a major street outside of a designated crosswalk or intersection, in areas where this is illegal.

Safety

Jaywalking safety depends on many factors, including but not limited to the following:

• The pedestrian's level of diligence and attentiveness
• How far the pedestrian can see down the road
• How visible the pedestrian is
• The distance to the nearest point where additional unseen traffic may appear, typically intersections
• The number of lanes to cross
• The speed limit of the road
• Current condition of the road (wet, icy, etc.)
• The presence or absence of traffic
• The speed and volume of traffic (if present)
• The size of the break in traffic selected for crossing (if present)
• How common jaywalking is in the area

Images for kids

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  Sign prohibiting jaywalking in Singapore's Orchard Road

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  An anti-jaywalking poster created in 1937 as part of the United States WPA's Federal Art Project

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  Jaywalkers cross a congested street in Midtown Manhattan, 1973

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  Fences, like here in Beijing, deter jaywalkers from crossing the road.

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  Pedestrian prohibition in Luxembourg

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  Panneau d'interdiction d'accès aux piétons en France [fr] near the A406 motorway. Notice the fence, that motorists must cross to safety in case of breakdown.

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  Pedestrians in Barcelona jaywalking with red light

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  A pedestrian in Toronto walks across a street, several metres (yards) away from a pedestrian crosswalk