Road-rule mix: Pedestrian protection

A car ahead stops at an intersection to let a pedestrian use an unmarked crosswalk. No marking says otherwise. May you overtake that car while the pedestrian crosses?

Correct answer: No. You must not overtake and pass a vehicle stopped there to permit a pedestrian to cross.

The no-passing rule covers marked crosswalks and unmarked crosswalks at intersections. The statute also presumes an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection unless markings indicate otherwise.

Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-18-4, Overtaking of vehicle stopped for pedestrian, subsections (a)-(b); official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗

A pedestrian starts crossing midblock outside any marked or unmarked crosswalk and fails to yield to your car. What duty still applies to you?

Correct answer: Exercise due care to avoid a collision even though the pedestrian should yield.

A pedestrian outside a marked crosswalk or an unmarked intersection crosswalk must yield, but the driver still has a separate duty of due care to avoid a collision. Right-of-way is not permission to strike someone.

Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-18-8, Due care by drivers; paired with §31-18-5, Crossing other than at crosswalks, operative paragraph; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗

You see a young child close to the roadway who may move into your path. Which response follows Rhode Island's due-care rule?

Correct answer: Take appropriate extra precautions and be prepared to avoid unexpected movement.

The statute specifically requires proper precaution when a driver observes a child or an obviously confused, intoxicated or incapacitated person. An audible warning, when necessary, does not eliminate the duty to avoid a collision.

Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-18-8, Due care by drivers, child and vulnerable-person precaution clause; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗

A pedestrian is attempting to cross the street while holding a white cane extended in front of them. What must an approaching driver do?

Correct answer: Come to a full stop before the crossing place and take necessary precautions before proceeding.

The rule requires a full stop before the intersection or crossing place for a pedestrian attempting to cross with a raised or extended white cane, including a white cane tipped with red. The driver must then take necessary precautions to avoid injury.

Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-18-14, Full stop for pedestrian with guide dog or white cane, operative paragraph; raised or extended cane condition; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗

A person you know is visually impaired is crossing the street without a cane or guide dog. Does the absence of those aids remove the person's ordinary legal rights as a pedestrian?

Correct answer: No. A visually impaired person keeps the legal rights and privileges of a pedestrian without those aids.

The law expressly preserves the pedestrian rights of people who are blind, visually impaired or deaf when they do not carry a cane or use a guide or signal dog. This is not a claim that the special cane-based stop rule has no conditions.

Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-18-15, Pedestrians who are blind or deaf not guided by dog or carrying white cane, first paragraph; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗

To enter a parking-garage driveway, your car must cross a public sidewalk where a pedestrian is walking. Who must yield at the sidewalk?

Correct answer: You must yield to the traffic proceeding along the sidewalk.

A driver crossing a sidewalk must yield to all traffic proceeding along and upon it. Signaling a turn does not give the car priority across that sidewalk.

Source: Rhode Island General Laws §31-18-18, Right-of-way on sidewalks, operative paragraph; official operative HTML text read October 1, 2026. ↗