Connecticut is enacting important new laws to protect pedestrians. They will help improve communication between pedestrians and drivers, and make crossing the street safer for everyone.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) Office of Highway Safety is raising awareness about a new statewide pedestrian safety law that takes effect on October 1.

The Pedestrian Rules campaign, which launched in August, is educating residents about the new pedestrian safety laws. The new pedestrian safety laws expand the circumstances under which drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks that are not controlled by traffic signals or police officers.

CT DOT Joseph Giulietti says across the country, officials are seeing increased pedestrian fatalities and injuries.

“Nationally, we saw an unprecedented 55 percent increase in pedestrian deaths between 2009 and 2018,” Giuletti said. “And although we are seeing a small recent decrease, pedestrian fatalities recorded in 2018 and 2019 have not been this high since 1990.”

Currently, a driver must yield to a pedestrian, slowing or stopping as necessary, if the pedestrian has stepped off the curb or into the crosswalk.

Under the new law, a driver must slow or stop as necessary if the pedestrian (1) is within any portion of the crosswalk; (2) steps to the curb at a crosswalk’s entrance and indicates intent to cross by raising a hand or arm to oncoming traffic; or (3) indicates intent to cross by moving any body part or extension of a body part into the crosswalk entrance, including a wheelchair, cane, walking stick, crutch, bicycle, electric bicycle, stroller, carriage, cart, or leashed or harnessed dog.

“This new pedestrian safety law is an important step to keep everyone safe, and ultimately save lives,” added Giulietti.

As under existing law, drivers who fail to yield at a crosswalk when required are subject to a $500 fine.

Also taking effect October 1, the act of dooring will be illegal. This new law prohibits a person from causing physical contact between a vehicle door and moving traffic by (1) opening the door, if the moving traffic is traveling at a reasonable speed with due regard for the safety of people and property, or (2) leaving it open longer than needed to load or unload passengers.

To learn more about the new pedestrian laws, visit thepedestrianrules.com.