Pedestrians shall obey the direction of police
officers directing traffic, and whenever there is an officer directing
traffic, a traffic control signal or a marked crosswalk within 300
feet of a pedestrian, no such pedestrian shall cross a way or roadway
except within the limits of a marked crosswalk and as hereinafter
provided in this article. For the purpose of this article, a marked
crosswalk shall only be construed to be that area of a roadway reserved
for pedestrian crossing, located between two solid white reflectorized
twelve-inch pavement markings in rural areas or markings not less
than six inches wide in urban areas, said markings or lines being
no less than six feet apart.
A.
At a traffic control signal location where pedestrian
indications are provided but which are shown only upon actuation by
means of a pedestrian push button, no pedestrian shall cross a roadway
unless or until the pedestrian control signal push button has been
actuated and then shall cross only on the proper pedestrian signal
indication. At traffic control signal locations where no pedestrian
indication is provided, pedestrians shall cross only on the green
indication. If necessary, the green indication shall be actuated by
the pedestrian by means of a push button.
B.
At a traffic control signal location, pedestrians
shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles of a funeral or other procession
or authorized emergency vehicles while in performance of emergency
duties regardless of the signal indication given, and they shall not
attempt to cross the roadway until such vehicles or procession has
passed, at which time pedestrians shall then cross the roadway only
as provided in this article.
Traffic control signal color indications and
legends shall have the commands ascribed to them in this section,
and no other meanings, and every pedestrian shall comply therewith,
except when otherwise directed by an officer.
A.
Red and yellow or the word "walk." Whenever the red
and yellow lenses are illuminated together or the single word "walk"
is illuminated, pedestrians facing such indication may proceed across
the roadway and in the direction of such signal only.
B.
Red alone or the words "don't walk." Whenever the
words "don't walk" or any indication other than red and yellow shown
together are illuminated in a traffic control signal where pedestrian
indications are provided, pedestrians approaching or facing such indication
shall wait on the sidewalk, edge of roadway or in the pedestrian refuge
area of a traffic island and shall not enter upon or cross a roadway
until the proper indication is illuminated in the traffic control
signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed his crossing
on the walk indication shall proceed or return to the nearest sidewalk
or safety island on the yellow indication, the red indication or when
the words "don't walk" are illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes.
C.
Green alone. At traffic control signal locations where
no pedestrian indication is given or provided, pedestrians facing
the signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked crosswalk
in the direction of the green indication.
D.
Yellow alone, red alone or flashing "don't walk."
Pedestrians approaching or facing a yellow, red or flashing "don't
walk" illuminated indication shall not start to cross a roadway.
E.
Flashing red, yellow or green. At any traffic control
signal location where a flashing red, flashing yellow or flashing
green indication is being given facing a crosswalk, pedestrians shall
actuate, where provided, the pedestrian signal indication and cross
the roadway only on the red-yellow or walk indication when such indication
is in operation. If no pedestrian signal is provided, pedestrians
shall cross within crosswalks with due care.
A.
No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a sidewalk or safety
island and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close
that it is impossible for the driver to yield the right-of-way.
B.
Pedestrians shall at all times attempt to cross a
roadway using the right half of crosswalks.
C.
Where sidewalks are provided, it shall be unlawful
for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway whenever
the sidewalk is open to pedestrian use.
D.
Where sidewalks are not provided, any pedestrian walking
along and upon a highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the
left side of the roadway on its unfinished shoulder, facing traffic
which may approach from the opposite direction.
E.
Persons alighting from the roadway side of any vehicle
parked at the curb or edge of the roadway shall proceed immediately
to the sidewalk or edge of the roadway adjacent to the vehicle and
shall cross the roadway only as authorized by these regulations.
F.
It shall be unlawful for any person to actuate a pedestrian
control signal or to enter a marked crosswalk unless a crossing of
the roadway is intended.
Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point
other than within a marked crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way
to all vehicles upon the roadway. At a point where a pedestrian tunnel
or overpass has been provided, pedestrians shall cross the roadway
only by the proper use of the tunnel or overpass.
The provisions of this article shall in no way
abrogate the provisions of MGL c. 90, §§ 14 and 14A,
which provide Precautions for Safety of Other Travelers and for the
Protection of Blind Persons Crossing Ways. Furthermore, notwithstanding
the provisions of this article, every operator of a vehicle shall
exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon the
roadway and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary
and shall exercise proper precautions which may become necessary for
safe operation.
No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose
of soliciting a ride, employment or business from the operator or
occupant of any vehicle without the written permission of the board
or officer having control of such roadway or highway.
This article shall be enforced by all officers
of the City of Haverhill.
The provisions of this article governing the
use of ways by pedestrians shall not apply to pedestrians actually
engaged in work upon a roadway closed to travel or under construction
or repair; to municipal, state, federal or public service corporation
employees while in the performance of their duties; to officers engaged
in the performance of their public duties; or to pedestrians acting
in an emergency when such emergency necessitates departure from any
provisions of this article.
Any person who violates the provisions of this
article which deal with the proper use of ways by pedestrians shall
be punished as provided in MGL c. 90, § 18A.
