Crosswalk Safety Tips


Crosswalk Illustration

Our goal is to make it easy to walk from place to place throughout the City. We also want to make sure everyone is safe as they walk in Hudson.  Here are safety tips for crosswalks that will help make sure everyone has an enjoyable and safe time in our City.

Things to Remember When Crossing Our Streets

  • Never assume that crosswalks provide protection from all accidents.
  • Yield to drivers when crossing a road where there is no intersection or crosswalk.
  • Do not step into the path of a closely approaching vehicle that does not have sufficient time to yield for a pedestrian.
  • Stop at the curb and look left, right, and left again for traffic. Stopping at the curb signals drivers that you intend to cross.
  • Always obey traffic signals.
  • Make eye contact with drivers before crossing. Never assume drivers can see you or that they are paying attention.
  • Always cross the street in a marked crosswalk.
  • Don't walk and text or look at your phone while crossing.
Pedestrian Crossing Signals
Pedestrian crossing signals are designed to get you across busy streets safely. Some signals are not automatic and must be activated. Those signals have a "Push Button for Walk Signal" sign posted above a button. To activate, simply push the button and wait for the "walk sign."  Here is information about automated crossings.

Walk Signals are Steady White Lights


Both of these signs mean that you may walk.

   walksignal        walkingmansignal

However, first you should:

  • Look to the left, right, and left again.
  • Watch for turning cars.
  • When it is safe, leave the curb and cross the street.

Caution Signals are Flashing Red Lights

Both of these "DON'T WALK" signals, when they are flashing, mean to use caution.

      walk signal GIF           dont walk GIF Hand

This means:

  • If you are in the street, finish crossing the street.
  • If you have not started crossing the street, stay on the curb. (If the lights in these graphics aren't flashing, click on your browser's reload or refresh button to refresh the page.)

Stop or Don't Walk Signals are Steady Red Lights

These "DON'T WALK" signals, when the orange lights are steady, mean STOP.

      dontwalksignal           dont walk hand sign

They mean:

  • Stay on the curb.
  • If a button is provided, push the button and wait for the "WALK" signal

Countdown Crosswalks



Some crosswalks show the hand or walking man symbols but also include a countdown for the number of seconds remaining to complete the crossing. The timing varies based on the size of the intersection and the number of lanes of traffic that must be crossed.
 
crosswalk countdown

 This means: 

  • Enter the crosswalk when the "walking man" walk signal appears.  You can finish crossing when a signal with a "hand" and the countdown numbers.  If you haven't started crossing, don't cross when you do not see the "go" walking man signal..