New law will require motorists to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks in Kansas City

Rep. Michael Brown was the sponsor of HB 89, designed to increase safety for pedestrians in crosswalks in Kansas City, Missouri.

HB 89 requires motorists to yield to pedestrians and bicyclists who are crossing in a crosswalk on any city or neighborhood street in Kansas City.

HB 89 passed both the House and the Senate during Missouri's 2009 legislative session and is now awaiting the governor's signature.

Rep. Brown said:

I am proud to pass HB 89 my pedestrian/bicycle safety bill for Kansas
City which will bring protection for tourists and others visiting in the
entertainment districts to include downtown/arena, West Port, Plaza,
City Market and soon 3-Trails area.

Although Missouri traffic code already requires motorists to yield to (ie, stop for) pedestrians crossing in a crosswalk, HB 89 steps up the requirements somewhat. The general traffic code only requires motorists to stop when a pedestrian is on or approaching their side of the road, whereas HB 89 requires autos to stop for any pedestrian in a crosswalk, regardless of the side. HB 89 also spells out that "yield" means "slowing to a stop".

The full text (of the relevant portion) of the bill is below--the parts added by this bill are in bold:

300.390. 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4 of this section, every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.

2. Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.

3. The foregoing rules in this section have no application under the conditions stated in section 300.395 when pedestrians are prohibited from crossing at certain designated places.

4. In any home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county, vehicles shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians and bicyclists crossing in an appropriate crosswalk on a city or neighborhood street. For purposes of this subsection, "yield" means slowing to a stop within forty feet of a pedestrian.

Missouri's crosswalk law (which now applies everywhere in Missouri except city & neighborhood streets in Kansas City) states:

300.375. 1. When traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.

2. No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.

3. Subsection 1 shall not apply under the conditions stated in subsection 2 of section 300.390.

4. Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.