Pedestrians

Kentucky law gives pedestrians the right of way in some places and requires them to yield in others. In every situation, a driver must use due care to avoid hitting a person on foot or in a wheelchair.

Crossing the road

Pedestrians must obey traffic signals, and a driver who has a green light or is turning on red must still yield to pedestrians lawfully in the crosswalk. Where there is no signal, or it is not working, a driver must slow down or stop for a pedestrian who is crossing the road the driver is on, or who is coming from the other half of the road and is close enough to be in danger. A driver may not pass a vehicle that has stopped at a marked or unmarked crosswalk to let someone cross. Pedestrians have duties too:

• Yield to all vehicles when crossing anywhere other than a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
• In a city, between neighboring intersections that both have working traffic signals, cross only in a marked crosswalk.
• Do not suddenly leave the curb and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is close enough to be an immediate hazard.
• Do not cross an intersection diagonally unless a traffic control device allows it.

Walking along a road

Where there is a usable sidewalk, walking in the roadway is unlawful. Where there is no sidewalk, walk on the shoulder, as far from the edge of the roadway as practicable. Where there is neither, walk as near as practicable to the outside edge of the road, and on a two-way road walk only on the left side. A law that took effect in July 2026 also bars sitting, standing or remaining in parts of a state-maintained right of way that are not designated for pedestrians, such as medians and ramps. It has exceptions for emergencies and for sidewalks, marked crosswalks and transit stops.

Drivers’ duty of care

Whatever the right of way rules say, every driver must use due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian, sound the horn when necessary, and take proper precaution on seeing a child or an obviously confused or incapacitated person on the road. Drivers must also yield to any pedestrian on a sidewalk.

White canes and assistance dogs

A driver must yield the right of way to any blind pedestrian who is carrying a clearly visible white cane or is accompanied by an assistance dog. Failing to yield is a traffic violation punishable by a fine. Most other violations of the pedestrian statute carry a fine of $20 to $100.