Colorado Crosswalk Laws: When Pedestrians Have the Right-of-Way

Crosswalk rules seem simple until you ask two questions: Do pedestrians always have the right of way? And does a crosswalk have to be painted?

In Colorado, the answer to both is no.

Understanding the difference is increasingly important. Colorado recorded 127 pedestrian deaths in 2025, nearly double the number from 2015. Pedestrians now account for nearly one-fifth of all traffic fatalities in the state. (Colorado Department of Transportation)

First, a Crosswalk Does Not Need Painted Lines

This surprises a lot of people.

Under Colorado law, a crosswalk includes the portion of a roadway where sidewalk lines would naturally continue across an intersection. In other words, many intersections have legal crosswalks even without white stripes on the pavement. A separately marked crossing can also create a crosswalk away from an intersection. (Justia Law)

So a driver cannot assume, “There are no stripes, so I don’t have to yield.”

When Does a Pedestrian Have the Right-of-Way?

At a crosswalk without a working traffic signal, Colorado law requires drivers to yield when a pedestrian is on the driver’s half of the roadway or is approaching closely enough from the other half to be in danger. The driver must slow down or stop if necessary.

At a signalized intersection, pedestrians have to follow the pedestrian signal. A steady Walk signal gives them the right-of-way. Once the signal changes to flashing Don’t Walk, pedestrians should not begin crossing, but those who started during the Walk signal may finish crossing, and drivers must continue to yield.

But the Right-of-Way Is Not Absolute

Being in a crosswalk does not give someone permission to step directly in front of a vehicle that has no reasonable chance to stop. Colorado specifically prohibits pedestrians from suddenly leaving a curb or other place of safety and entering the path of a vehicle that is so close that it creates an immediate hazard.

Outside a crosswalk, the rules change again. A pedestrian crossing somewhere other than a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection generally must yield to vehicles already on the road.

Between two adjacent intersections controlled by traffic signals, pedestrians must use a marked crosswalk. Diagonal crossings are also prohibited unless traffic controls specifically allow them.

So no, pedestrians do not simply have the right-of-way wherever they decide to cross.

Drivers Still Have a Duty to Avoid a Crash

Here’s what drivers should remember: a pedestrian breaking a rule does not suddenly become fair game.

Colorado law separately requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians on the roadway. And if one vehicle has stopped at a marked or unmarked crosswalk to let someone cross, another driver approaching from behind cannot pass it.

That second rule is especially important. If a vehicle in the next lane suddenly stops near a crosswalk, you may not see the person directly in front of it.

Drivers turning through intersections should also deliberately check for people crossing before moving. A green light does not cancel a pedestrian’s Walk signal.

What If Both the Driver and Pedestrian Made a Mistake?

Pedestrian crashes are not always legally all-or-nothing.

A pedestrian might cross outside a crosswalk or enter the road when it was unsafe, while the driver might also have been speeding, distracted, or simply not paying attention.

Colorado uses comparative negligence in injury cases, which means fault can be divided between the people involved. A pedestrian’s share of responsibility can reduce available compensation and, if high enough, can prevent recovery altogether.

That is why the details of a pedestrian crash matter: where the person crossed, whether a crosswalk legally existed, what the signals showed, how fast the vehicle was traveling, and whether the driver had time to react.

CDOT reported that 68% of Colorado pedestrian fatalities in 2024 happened outside crosswalks. Cross where drivers expect to see you when you can. And drivers should expect to see pedestrians whether the paint is there or not. (Colorado Department of Transportation)

If you or someone you love has been hit by a vehicle while walking in Colorado, The O’Sullivan Law Firm is happy to help you understand what happened, who may be responsible, and what your options are. Call or text us for free legal advice.