08/20/25
8 min
Understanding Crosswalk Laws in Oregon: A Guide to Pedestrian Safety
Pedestrian accidents have become a serious concern in Oregon over the past several years. According to the city of Portland, 40% of traffic-related fatalities in the city were pedestrians. Compared to the size and power of modern motor vehicles, pedestrians are left quite vulnerable in the event of a collision. Fortunately, the existing crosswalk laws in Oregon reflect a strict commitment to pedestrian safety.
These laws set a clear standard for safer navigation of public roadways. However, the responsibility falls to Oregon motorists and pedestrians alike to understand and follow these regulations carefully. Not only that, but in the event that you are hit by a car on a crosswalk and injured, understanding the responsibilities of both drivers and pedestrians can be crucial to maximizing your recovery options.
The following blog will break down the basics of Oregon’s crosswalk laws, including the expectations for drivers and pedestrians. If you’ve been in a pedestrian accident in Oregon and need immediate assistance, make sure you file an Oregon crash report, contact an attorney as soon as possible, and reference an accident checklist for more detailed steps.
At first glance, the concept of crosswalks seems very straightforward. But Oregon’s crosswalk laws are multifaceted, to account for a variety of situations. That means even basic principles, like what Oregon law considers a crosswalk, may have more depth than you expect.
Case in point: in Oregon, a crosswalk doesn’t have to be marked on the roadway to still be legally recognized. According to Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 801.220, a crosswalk exists between walkways at all intersections, regardless of whether it is marked or not.
However, this only applies at intersections. Elsewhere in Oregon, crosswalks only exist when marked.
Whether marked or unmarked, Oregon drivers should be aware of crosswalks on the roadway. There are a few key regulations in Oregon for drivers approaching crosswalks.
First and most straightforwardly, it is critical to yield the right of way to pedestrians with the right-of-way. While there are also crosswalk laws in Oregon requiring pedestrians to act with caution, (described in the next section), they still generally have the right-of-way at a crosswalk unless traffic signals indicate otherwise.
Note that ORS 811.028 considers a pedestrian to be crossing the roadway in a crosswalk whenever any part or extension of them (hand, foot, cane, wheelchair, etc.) enters the roadway with intent to proceed. This means drivers should prepare to come to a full stop and remain stopped whenever:
Drivers must not proceed on the roadway until the above conditions are no longer met. Failing to stop for pedestrians is a Class B traffic violation, which could lead to a fine of $265 or more, and could contribute to the driver’s percentage of fault in the event of an accident.
Because crosswalks are the primary way for pedestrians to navigate busy roadways, it is important that these passages remain unblocked. According to ORS Section 811.290, stopping your vehicle on a marked crosswalk in such a way that it leaves insufficient room for pedestrians to cross is considered obstructing cross traffic, a Class D traffic violation. This leaves drivers susceptible to a fee of $115 or more, and creates a potentially dangerous situation for pedestrians, possibly even leading to liability in an accident.
Lastly, drivers are prohibited from passing a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk. Doing so could be incredibly dangerous, as the passing driver may not be able to see very well ahead of the stopped vehicle until it is too late. Passing a stopped vehicle at a crosswalk is considered a Class B traffic violation.
While many safeguards are set in place to minimize pedestrian accidents, it is still important for pedestrians to exercise caution as well. In certain circumstances, even if they are hit by a car on crosswalk, pedestrians can be held partially liable for accidents.
According to ORS 814.040, pedestrians must yield right-of-way to vehicles on the roadway if attempting to cross anywhere other than a crosswalk. It is always essential to look both ways before crossing the street, but in this case, you should not expect oncoming vehicles to stop for you.
If you attempt to cross the street outside of a crosswalk without yielding the right-of-way to oncoming vehicles, you can be cited and fined for a Class D traffic violation. Additionally, in the event of an accident, this action could significantly impact your percentage of fault.
In order to ensure your own safety and prevent potential liability for a crash, it is crucial to move in an orderly and predictable fashion on and near crosswalks. In Oregon, moving suddenly and without warning into the path of a vehicle and creating a hazard is a Class D traffic violation, crosswalk or not.
To avoid this, try to communicate your intent to cross with drivers in the road before entering the crosswalk. Making eye contact and/or stretching your hand out towards the road can be helpful universal indicators. Standing close to the curb and facing the crosswalk also helps signal to drivers that you are planning to cross.
Even at crosswalks, pedestrian right-of-way isn’t absolute. You must still be mindful of the flow of traffic, and abide by traffic signals as available. To stay safe and cross lawfully, follow these guidelines:
Who is at fault in a pedestrian accident? It might seem like the motorist who hit the pedestrian would automatically be held at fault, but it is not always this simple. In fact, multiple parties may be held partially at fault for a pedestrian accident, including the victim.
This matters because Oregon operates under modified comparative negligence, meaning compensation for personal injury can be reduced based on percentage of fault. Furthermore, you cannot recover any compensation at all if you are found more than 50% at fault.
This means that if you’ve been hit by a car in a crosswalk, negligence can have a serious impact on your recovery. Failing to abide by the crosswalk laws in Oregon could increase your percentage of fault, which limits your potential compensation.
Unfortunately, just following Oregon’s crosswalk laws isn’t enough to guarantee a fair outcome after a pedestrian accident. That’s why it’s important to join forces with a Portland pedestrian accident lawyer. Your lawyer can help gather key evidence and witness testimony to establish the facts of the case, making your case stronger and setting you up for the deserved compensation.
Yes, in Oregon, a crosswalk can exist even where there are no pavement markings. However, this is only true at intersections. Mid-block crosswalks (crosswalks which exist away from intersections) only exist when marked.
Pedestrians do not always have the right of way in Oregon. Whether or not they have the right of way depends on the situation. If the pedestrian is crossing the road at a crosswalk, and there is no signal telling them not to walk, then they typically have the right of way. However, even with the right of way, pedestrians and drivers alike must exercise appropriate caution to avoid endangering themselves and others on the road. Always look both ways before crossing, and clearly signal your intent to cross. Never move suddenly and without warning into the road as a pedestrian.
In Oregon, you do have to wait for a pedestrian to completely cross the street before proceeding if they are blind. Otherwise, you must wait for a pedestrian to clear your lane as well as the lane next to yours before proceeding, or if you are turning at an intersection, you must wait for the pedestrian to clear the lane you are turning into as well as six feet of the lane next to it.
By definition, jaywalking refers to unlawful crossing of the road. There is no single ‘jaywalking law’ in Oregon, but pedestrians can be cited for illegally crossing. For example, crossing outside of a crosswalk without yielding the right of way to oncoming vehicles is a Class D traffic violation in Oregon, for which you could be fined $115 or more.