Pedestrians must follow some basic laws in the state of Pennsylvania when walking on public roadways or sidewalks. This is the second part of a three-part series on what pedestrians need to know to safely walk and run the streets of northeastern Pennsylvania. We’ll continue with a summary of the Pennsylvania laws pertinent to pedestrians. Note that hitchhiking is illegal in Pennsylvania:
75 Pa. Con. S.A. § 3545: Pedestrians soliciting 
rides or business.
In Pennsylvania, a person may not stand on a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment, business or contributions from the occupant of any vehicle.
75 Pa. Con. S.A. § 3546: Driving through or around safety zone.
Vehicles may never be driven through or within a safety zone, and may only drive to the side of a safety zone.
75 Pa. Con. S.A. § 3547: Right-of-way of pedestrians on sidewalks.
Pedestrians have the right of way when using a sidewalk that crosses a road, entrance to a building, or an alley or driveway.
75 Pa. Con. S.A. § 3548: Pedestrians to yield to emergency vehicles.
Upon the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle making use of audible and visual signals, a pedestrian must yield the right-of-way to the emergency vehicle. Drivers of emergency vehicles have a duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway and the duty to exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian.
75 Pa. Con. S.A. § 3549: Blind Pedestrians.
Vehicles must yield the right-of-way to a totally or partially blind pedestrian carrying a clearly visible white cane or accompanied by a guide dog. Vehicles must also take necessary precautions to avoid injuring or endangering the blind pedestrian and, if necessary, must stop the vehicle in order to prevent injury or danger.
75 Pa. Con. S.A. § 3550: Pedestrians under influence of alcohol or controlled substance.
A pedestrian under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance to a degree which renders the pedestrian a hazard may not walk or be upon a highway, but may walk or be upon a sidewalk.
75 Pa. Con. S.A. § 3551: Compliance with bridge and railroad warning signals.
A pedestrian may never enter or remain upon any bridge or approach to any bridge beyond the bridge signal, gate or barrier after a bridge operation signal indication has been activated. A pedestrian may not pass through, around, over or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad grade crossing or bridge while the gate or barrier is closed, or is being opened or closed.
Pedestrians are subject to various fines for the aforementioned infractions ranging from $5 to $150.
Not only must pedestrians know these laws, but perhaps, even more importantly, so must drivers. For five generations, whenever drivers have caused injuries by their mistakes, the attorneys at Powell Law have helped injured pedestrians recover. If you walk or run in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area and have suffered injuries as a pedestrian, contact Powell Law at (570) 961-0777. The consultation is FREE.
