What KC students and parents need to know about pedestrian laws

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — KSHB 41 reporter Grant Stephens covers downtown Kansas City, Missouri. He also focuses on stories of consumer interest. Share your story idea with Grant.

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Back-to-school season means more kids are walking to class, and there are key pedestrian crossing laws in Missouri that Kansas City students and parents need to know.

Pedestrians have the right-of-way in marked crosswalks - and even in unmarked crosswalks at intersections. That means drivers are required to slow down or stop when someone is crossing in front of them.

But not everyone follows the rules.

Rachel, a Kansas City pedestrian who reached out after she was nearly hit while walking in a crosswalk, said drivers don't always yield.

Grant Stephens

"You have to be really careful because people will just speed through crosswalks," Rachel said.

Grant Stephens

There is also a part of the law that many people misunderstand: pedestrians do not automatically have the right-of-way everywhere. If someone crosses mid-block or outside a crosswalk, Missouri law requires the pedestrian to yield to traffic.

Another important rule - if one car stops for a pedestrian at a crosswalk, drivers behind that stopped car cannot pass it. That is illegal and extremely dangerous.

Rachel compared it to another law drivers routinely ignore.

"Kind of like the bus story – you're not supposed to pass the stopped bus and people still do it," Rachel said.

For students walking to school, the advice is straightforward: do not assume a driver sees you, even if you legally have the right-of-way. Make eye contact, stay off your phone while crossing, and use crosswalks whenever possible.

Rachel's message for drivers is simple.

"Slow down, look out for things," Rachel said.

Both drivers and pedestrians share responsibility on the road and following those rules can prevent serious crashes this school year.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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