Pedestrian vs. motorist law needs clarifying

Crosswalks and motorists' disrespect for pedestrians and pedestrians' disregard for motorists have been a hot topic the past few weeks. I have written extensively about crosswalks and tragic incidents and law enforcement stings, but the laws regarding what is required of motorists might not have been adequately explained.

Steve requests crosswalk clarification: I'm a little confused about the law pertaining to pedestrians in crosswalks. After newspaper and television articles about the crackdown in North Las Vegas on those who do not yield to pedestrians, I wonder exactly how the law reads. I live in Summerlin. There are several four-lane streets with either stoplights or four-way stop signs. The distance from one curb to the other must be about 50 yards. If I'm at an intersection and have stopped and a pedestrian steps off the curb into the crosswalk, must I wait until that person is completely on the other side of the street before proceeding? At that same intersection, I'm preparing to make a right turn. Must I wait until that person has completely crossed to the other side before making the right turn? Seems "right turn on red" is not necessarily a traffic mover in these instances.

If you are driving south on a four-lane street, as described by Steve, you are required to stop at the crosswalk until the pedestrian reaches the median. When the pedestrian is crossing the northbound lanes, drivers traveling south may proceed.

The "right turn on red" also is an excellent question and one that I haven't heard any law enforcement officer address. I checked in with North Las Vegas officer Chrissie Coon, who has been in the forefront of the pedestrian vs. motorist issue, and this is what she had to say: The same rule applies. You must wait for the pedestrian to reach the median before you proceed with your right-hand turn.

It might seem silly to see a pedestrian several feet away, but the problem is, if a vehicle in an adjacent lane doesn't see the person walking and continues through the intersection, the pedestrian's reaction might be to jump back, right into the lane of the motorist who thought it was safe to proceed.

Here's another aspect of the law that is vital: At midblock crosswalks, if vehicles in neighboring lanes have stopped and you continue, you could be nailed for failing to yield. Same goes for motorists who drive through a crosswalk after a pedestrian has stepped into the roadway.

Sorry, rambling answer, but an important issue.

Onward ...

Jerry has this: The Nevada Department of Transportation just finished paving U.S. Highway 95 north between the Kyle Canyon turnoff and Indian Springs. Now they have more paving north toward Mercury that is causing drops of asphalt to fall off the trucks hauling the asphalt. This is causing bumps to appear on this used-to-be nice smooth road. Is there anyway the trucking company can be made to clean up these drops of asphalt that have become bumps?

Yes, Jerry, there is a way, and the state transportation department has put in an order to have the contractor return to that stretch of road and remove the humps of asphalt. Look for a return to your smooth ride by early next year.

Anthony is a-trippin': Driving on Interstate 215 yesterday was a real trip! Just north of Charleston Boulevard heading south, the lines dividing the lanes are all over the place. There must be three or four sets of lines, and the cars don't know which lane they're in! What's up with that and when will it be fixed? It's extremely dangerous in my opinion.

A Summerlin resident named Bob asked this question back in October, and we were told by Clark County officials that crews planned to power-wash the old markings off the freeway within 30 days. Apparently, not all or none of the work has been done. Where there are reflectors, motorists are obviously advised to use those as lanes and ignore the old paint. Obviously there are not reflectors around Charleston, as Anthony pointed out.

The latest from the county is that the power-washing will occur between Lake Mead Boulevard and Summerlin Parkway in the next two weeks. If that is successful, crews will work their way toward Charleston mile by mile.

At least once a week, I receive an email from a reader asking this: What the heck is going on along Lone Mountain Road? Lanes have been closed for almost a year, and it appears that nobody is working. Is there an end in sight?

Residents who have been besieged by road construction for nearly a year now might have noticed during the past week that workers have returned to the scene. I know it's worse, with one lane in each direction open between Jones Boulevard and Torrey Pines Drive, but it will get better soon enough.

Perini Construction took over the $9  million storm drain project after Spirit Underground went bankrupt -- that's when residents saw the sudden stoppage of work. Perini is trying to expedite the work by closing down lanes during the day.

The latest from the city is that the work along that stretch should be finished by Dec. 19. The entire project should be completed by next summer.

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@
reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.