Passed Vehicle Stopped for Pedestrian

Pedestrians encompass the second largest group of motor vehicle deaths and injuries per year in the United States. The most common group of pedestrians involved in pedestrian-motor vehicle accidents are children and senior citizens. Motor vehicle-pedestrian accidents have a fatality rate of 85 percent if the speed of the vehicle is 40 MPH or higher while the fatality rate for a vehicle with speed of 20 MPH is five percent. Passing a vehicle that is stopped for a pedestrian is illegal in the United States and can come with serious consequences for both the driver of the vehicle and the pedestrian.

Fines and Penalties

Motorists that pass a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian face at least a $100 fine and sometimes up to 15 days in jail for their offense. If this occurs, the pedestrian can suffer severe if not life threatening injuries if they are hit by the passing vehicle. It is also illegal in most states for vehicles to stop with a portion of their car in the crosswalk because this will cause the pedestrian to cross the street in the midst of danger. It is recommended that when stopping at a crosswalk for a pedestrian, the vehicle should stop at least 30 feet prior to the crosswalk so the pedestrian is viewable to other vehicles.

Traffic Points and Impact on Driving Record / License

In the United States, it is punishable via points on a driver’s license if the driver of a motor vehicle passes another vehicle stopped for a pedestrian. There will be two points assessed to the motorist’s license if they are given a traffic ticket for this offense. The points will remain active on the driver’s driving record for a period of three years but cannot be removed until four years after the violation occurred. When points appear on a driver’s license, the driver’s insurance company can view the points and determine whether or not to raise the driver’s insurance rates because of the violation.

Hiring a Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been ticketed for passing a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian, contact an experienced traffic tickets attorney in your area for expert legal counsel regarding your situation immediately. The attorney will gather information about your previous driving record, the incident in question, and determining whether to take the fight to court. By using an attorney, you might be able to avoid points on your license, which can result in higher insurance rates and possibly a suspended license if you have accumulated too many points.