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Earlier editions: 2020-112018-11

DIVISION 11. RULES OF THE ROAD 21000-23336›CHAPTER 5. Pedestrians’ Rights and Duties 21949-21971

§ 21956

California Vehicle Code · 2026 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · California

(a) A pedestrian shall not walk upon a roadway outside of a business or residence district otherwise than close to the pedestrian’s left-hand edge of the roadway.

(b) A pedestrian may walk close to their right-hand edge of the roadway if a crosswalk or other means of safely crossing the roadway is not available or if existing traffic or other conditions would compromise the safety of a pedestrian attempting to cross the road.

(c) (1) A peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, shall not stop a pedestrian for a violation of this section unless a reasonably careful person would realize there is an immediate danger of a collision with a moving vehicle or other device moving exclusively by human power.

(2) This subdivision does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of using due care for their safety.

(3) This subdivision does not relieve a driver of a vehicle from the duty of exercising due care for the safety of any pedestrian within the roadway.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 957, Sec. 12. (AB 2147) Effective January 1, 2023.)

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