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90_HB3449 625 ILCS 5/11-1002 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1002 625 ILCS 5/11-1003 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1003 625 ILCS 5/11-1004 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1004 Amends the "Rules of the Road" within the Vehicle Code. Makes changes concerning pedestrians' rights and duties. Provides that (1) a blind or visually impaired person who is carrying a cane that is white in color, or white tipped with red, or who is being guided by a guide dog in harness has the right-of-way in crossing any street or highway whether or not traffic on the street or highway is controlled by traffic signals and (2) the driver of every vehicle approaching the place where a person so carrying such a cane or being so guided is crossing the street or right-of-way shall bring the vehicle to a full stop and before proceeding shall take proper precautions as may be necessary to avoid injury to the blind person. Makes similar provision for a person with a physical impairment who is using a wheelchair, cane, crutch, walker, or other assistive device. Makes a driver's violation of provisions a Class A misdemeanor and subjects driver to 6-month suspension of driver's license. Makes driver liable in a civil action for pedestrian's injuries. LRB9009198DJcdA LRB9009198DJcdA 1 AN ACT to amend the Illinois Vehicle Code by changing 2 Sections 11-1002, 11-1003, and 11-1004. 3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 4 represented in the General Assembly: 5 Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by 6 changing Sections 11-1002, 11-1003, and 11-1004 as follows: 7 (625 ILCS 5/11-1002) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1002) 8 Sec. 11-1002. Pedestrians' right-of-way at crosswalks. 9 (a) When traffic control signals are not in place or not 10 in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the 11 right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so 12 yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a 13 crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway 14 upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian 15 is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the 16 roadway as to be in danger. 17 (b) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other 18 place of safety and walk or run into the path of a moving 19 vehicle which is so close as to constitute an immediate 20 hazard. 21 (c) Paragraph (a) shall not apply under the condition 22 stated in Section 11-1003 (b). 23 (d) Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked 24 crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to 25 permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any 26 other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake 27 and pass such stopped vehicle. 28 (e) Whenever stop signs or flashing red signals are in 29 place at an intersection or at a plainly marked crosswalk 30 between intersections, drivers shall yield right-of-way to 31 pedestrians as set forth in Section 11-904 of this Chapter. -2- LRB9009198DJcdA 1 (f) This Section is subject to Section 11-1004 in the 2 case of persons who are blind or visually impaired or who 3 have another physical impairment. 4 (Source: P.A. 79-857.) 5 (625 ILCS 5/11-1003) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1003) 6 Sec. 11-1003. Crossing at other than crosswalks. 7 (a) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point 8 other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked 9 crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to 10 all vehicles upon the roadway. 11 (b) Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a 12 pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been 13 provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon 14 the roadway. 15 (c) Between adjacent intersections at which 16 traffic-control signals are in operation pedestrians shall 17 not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk. 18 (d) No pedestrian shall cross a roadway intersection 19 diagonally unless authorized by official traffic-control 20 devices; and, when authorized to cross diagonally, 21 pedestrians shall cross only in accordance with the official 22 traffic-control devices pertaining to such crossing 23 movements. 24 (e) Pedestrians with disabilities may cross a roadway at 25 any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an 26 unmarked crosswalk where the intersection is physically 27 inaccessible to them but they shall yield the right-of-way to 28 all vehicles upon the roadway. 29 (f) This Section is subject to Section 11-1004 in the 30 case of persons who are blind or visually impaired or who 31 have another physical impairment. 32 (Source: P.A. 88-685, eff. 1-24-95.) -3- LRB9009198DJcdA 1 (625 ILCS 5/11-1004) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1004) 2 Sec. 11-1004. Pedestrian with disabilities; 3 right-of-way. 4 (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, a 5 blind or visually impaired person who is carrying in a raised 6 or extended position a cane that is white in color, or white 7 tipped with red, or who is being guided by a guide dog in 8 harness has the right-of-way in crossing any street or 9 highway whether or not traffic on the street or highway is 10 controlled by traffic signals. The driver of every vehicle 11 approaching the place where a person so carrying such a cane 12 or being so guided is crossing the street or right-of-way 13 shall bring the vehicle to a full stop and before proceeding 14 shall take proper precautions as may be necessary to avoid 15 injury to the blind or visually impaired person. The 16 provisions of this subsection do not apply to a blind or 17 visually impaired person who is not so carrying such a cane 18 or who is not guided by a guide dog in harness, in which case 19 the other provisions of this Code relating to pedestrians are 20 then applicable to the person. The failure of a blind or 21 visually impaired person to so use or carry such a cane or to 22 be guided by a guide dog in harness when walking on streets, 23 highways, or sidewalks, however, shall not be considered 24 evidence of contributory negligence. 25 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, a 26 person with a physical impairment who is using a wheelchair, 27 cane, crutch, walker, or other assistive device has the 28 right-of-way in crossing any street or highway within a 29 marked crosswalk whether or not traffic on the street or 30 highway is controlled by traffic signals. The driver of every 31 vehicle approaching the marked crosswalk where such a person 32 is crossing the street or right-of-way shall bring the 33 vehicle to a full stop and before proceeding shall take 34 proper precautions as may be necessary to avoid injury to the -4- LRB9009198DJcdA 1 person. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to a 2 person with a physical impairment who is not so using a 3 wheelchair, cane, crutch, walker, or other assistive device, 4 in which case the other provisions of this Code relating to 5 pedestrians are then applicable to the person. The failure of 6 a person with a physical impairment to so use a wheelchair, 7 cane, crutch, walker, or other assistive device when walking 8 on streets, highways, or sidewalks, however, shall not be 9 considered evidence of contributory negligence. 10 (c) A driver of a vehicle who violates subsection (a) or 11 (b) is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. In addition, the 12 driver's license of such a person shall be suspended for a 13 period of 6 months. 14 (d) A driver of a vehicle who violates subsection (a) or 15 (b) is liable in a civil action for any injuries suffered by 16 the blind or visually impaired person or person with a 17 physical impairment as a consequence of the driver's 18 violation. 19 (e) The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way 20 to any pedestrian with clearly visible disabilities other 21 than those specifically provided for in this Section. 22 (Source: P.A. 88-685, eff. 1-24-95.)