Parking near crosswalks: how far back to park, and why daylighting matters

How far from a crosswalk to park, and how clear corners help everyone see

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For every driver11 min read

Pedestrian and bicycle safetyState traffic lawsRoad design and Safe SystemSharing the roadSchool travel safety

Why parking at the corner is a problem

Think about the last time you pulled out of a side street lined with parked cars. You probably crept forward to see past an SUV parked right at the corner. Now flip it around. A person waiting to cross at that same corner can’t see you either.

That is the core problem with parking close to a crosswalk. A parked car becomes a wall between the driver and the person on foot. The driver can’t see the walker until they step out. The walker can’t judge the traffic until they lean past the bumper.

Federal traffic guidance has said this for years. The 2009 edition of the MUTCD, the national manual for traffic signs and markings, placed stop or yield lines 20 to 50 feet before some crosswalks. It said parking “should be prohibited” in that space. Its reason was that stopped vehicles block drivers’ view of pedestrians, and pedestrians’ view of vehicles [8].

The risk falls hardest on children. They are shorter than most car hoods and harder to spot. They often move quickly, too. NHTSA describes a common crash type called a “dart out,” where a person walks or runs into the road away from a crossing point [9]. A row of parked cars sets the stage for it.

Two studies of child pedestrian injuries point the same way:

  • In Orange County, California, children on blocks with the most curbside parking had 9.6 times the injury risk of children on other blocks [3].
  • In Auckland, New Zealand, dense curbside parking raised a child’s injury risk about eightfold [10].

In 2024, 138 children under age 13 were killed while walking in the United States [11]. Overall, 7,080 pedestrians died that year, about one every 74 minutes [9].

Taller vehicles make it worse

Many of the cars parked near corners today are SUVs and pickups with high, flat fronts. That matters in two ways. A tall parked vehicle hides more of the sidewalk. A tall moving vehicle has a larger blind zone in front.

  • IIHS reports that vehicles with hood fronts more than 40 inches high were about 45% more likely to cause a pedestrian’s death in a crash [12].
  • Popular SUV models were redesigned several times between 1997 and 2023. Across those redesigns, the driver’s view of the area within 10 meters (about 33 feet) of the front shrank by as much as 58% [13].
  • A Boston study checked 21 city fleet vehicles. In 11 of them, a driver at the stop line could not adequately see a child standing in the crosswalk [14].

So the problem stacks up. A big vehicle parked at the corner hides the child. A big vehicle turning past it may miss the child even after they step out.

What daylighting means

“Daylighting” is the planner’s word for clearing the curb right before a crosswalk so people can see each other.

Guidance on how much space to clear is fairly consistent:

  • NACTO, a group of city transportation officials, recommends removing parking within 20 to 25 feet of the intersection [15].
  • The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recommends a parking setback of at least 20 feet before a crosswalk where speeds are 25 mph or less. It recommends 30 feet where speeds are 26 to 35 mph [16].
  • Where that much space can’t be cleared, FHWA suggests curb extensions, which push the sidewalk out to the edge of the parking lane [16].

Daylighting can be done three ways. Cities can post signs or paint the curb red. They can add hard features, such as posts, planters or bike racks, that physically keep cars out. Or they can build a curb extension, which turns the corner into sidewalk.

How far back you must park

Most states copied their parking distances from the same national model rules, first written in 1923 [2]. That’s why so many states land on 20 feet. The details still vary, including which crosswalks count and how far to stay from stop signs and fire hydrants.

Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation

StateFrom a crosswalkFrom a stop sign or signalFrom a hydrantLaw
California20 ft on the approach side of any marked or unmarked crosswalk (15 ft with a curb extension)Check state codeCheck state codeCVC 22500(n) [4]
Hawaii20 ft on each side of a crosswalk or intersection, with or without signsCheck state codeCheck state codeAct 171 (2025) [6]
New Jersey25 ft (10 ft with a curb extension)50 ft10 ft39:4 to 138 [1]
New York (outside NYC)20 ft from a crosswalk at an intersection30 ft15 ftVTL 1202 [17]
Texas20 ft from a crosswalk at an intersection30 ft15 ft545.302 [18]
Florida20 ft from a crosswalk at an intersection30 ft15 ft316.1945 [19]
Pennsylvania20 ft from a crosswalk at an intersection30 ft15 ft75 Pa.C.S. 3353 [20]
Washington20 ft from a crosswalk30 ft15 ftRCW 46.61.570 [21]
Oregon20 ft from a crosswalk at an intersection50 ft, if a parked car would block the view of the sign or signal10 ftORS 811.550 [22]
Ohio20 ft from a crosswalk at an intersection30 ft10 ftORC 4511.68 [23]
Illinois20 ft from a crosswalk at an intersection30 ft15 ft625 ILCS 5/11 to 1303 [24]

How long is 20 feet? Several California cities describe it as about the length of one standard parking space or one large car [5, 25]. If you can fit another car between your bumper and the crosswalk, you’re probably far enough back. In New Jersey, give yourself a little more room.

California’s newer rule

California was one of the few states without a general crosswalk parking rule until a 2023 law, AB 413, added one [2]. Under Vehicle Code 22500(n), drivers may not stop, stand or park within 20 feet of the approach side of any marked or unmarked crosswalk. The distance drops to 15 feet where there is a curb extension [4].

A few details trip people up:

  • The rule applies even when the curb isn’t painted red [5].
  • On a two way street, it covers the curb on the right as you approach the crosswalk. On a one way street, it covers both curbs [5].
  • Before January 1, 2025, officers could only give warnings unless the zone was marked. Since then, drivers can be ticketed [4].
  • A city can set a different distance, but only by ordinance. It must mark that distance with paint or a sign [4].

Hawaii’s newer rule

Hawaii passed Act 171 in 2025. Since January 1, 2026, drivers may not park within 20 feet of a crosswalk or intersection, on each side. The rule applies whether or not there are signs or curb markings [6]. The fine is up to $50. Each day a car stays counts as a separate offense. The money goes to the state’s Safe Routes to School fund [6].

New York City’s special case

New York City is exempt from the state’s 20 foot crosswalk rule [7]. Instead, a 2023 city law, Local Law 66, requires the city to daylight at least 100 intersections a year starting in 2025 [7]. A newer bill, Int 0511 to 2026, was introduced on January 29, 2026. It would ban standing or parking within 20 feet of crosswalks and require at least 1,000 daylighting barriers a year [26]. In January 2026, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would daylight corners using his own authority [27].

Does daylighting work?

It depends on how it’s done.

New York City’s transportation department studied the question and published its findings in January 2025 [7]. The results were mixed:

Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation

Type of daylightingWhat the city found
Hard features, such as posts or plantersAbout 0.14 fewer pedestrian injuries per intersection each year
Signs onlyNo measurable safety benefit
Curb extensionsAbout 0.5 fewer pedestrian injuries per intersection each year, though only 14 sites were studied
Daylit corners in a program focused on slowing turnsTurning speeds about 22% lower than at similar corners that were not daylit

The report also raised a concern. A wide open corner can encourage drivers to turn faster and take less care. The city recommended against a universal policy of daylighting with signs alone [7]. Safety advocates have pushed back on the study’s methods [27].

Hoboken, New Jersey, is often cited as the success story. The city installed 418 posts to daylight 31% of its intersections, alongside other street changes [28]. Injury crashes dropped 18% from 2022 to 2023. Serious injuries dropped 62% [28]. By January 2026, Hoboken had gone nine years without a traffic death [29]. Still, the city has not published a study isolating daylighting from its other changes [7].

There’s one more twist. Parked cars along a block tend to slow traffic. A Connecticut study looked at 250 street segments. Low speed streets with parking along the curb had the lowest rates of fatal and serious crashes [30]. The goal of daylighting is to clear the corners, where sight lines matter most, and leave the rest of the block alone.

How to park near a corner the right way

The riskiest space on many blocks is the last one before the corner. A few habits keep you out of it.

Stopping briefly to let someone out is a gray area. Texas allows a momentary stop to pick up or drop off a passenger [18]. California’s rule bans stopping and standing, as well as parking [4]. When in doubt, pull past the corner to a legal space.

Driving past cars parked near a crosswalk

Even if you park legally, other drivers won’t always. When you approach a crosswalk with cars parked right up to it, assume someone could be standing behind them.

  • Slow down on blocks lined with parked cars, especially near homes, schools and parks [3].
  • Watch the gaps between parked cars and the space under them for small feet.
  • Never pass a vehicle that has stopped at a crosswalk. NHTSA calls this a “multiple threat” crash. One driver stops for a walker. The next driver can’t see past that car and keeps going [9].
  • When you stop for someone crossing, stop well back from the crosswalk so drivers in other lanes can see the person too [9].
  • If you drive a tall SUV or pickup, assume a child could be hidden right in front of your hood [12, 14].

Intersections already carry a large share of the risk. FHWA estimates that intersections account for roughly 1 in 4 traffic deaths and about half of all traffic injuries [31].

Frequently asked questions

How far from a crosswalk can I park?

In most states, at least 20 feet. New Jersey requires 25 feet [1]. California requires 20 feet on the approach side, or 15 feet where there’s a curb extension [4]. Some states let local signs or paint set a different distance [17].

Does the rule apply to unmarked crosswalks?

Often, yes. California’s rule names “any marked or unmarked crosswalk” [4]. Texas law defines a crosswalk to include the unmarked area of an intersection between the sidewalk lines [18]. Many states use the same idea, so treat every intersection corner as a crosswalk.

What about a crosswalk in the middle of a block?

That depends on the wording of your state’s law. Many states say “crosswalk at an intersection,” including New York, Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania [17, 18, 19, 20]. California, Washington and Hawaii don’t limit the rule to intersections [4, 21, 6]. Whatever the law says, parking right next to a midblock crosswalk hides the people using it.

Is a red curb required for the rule to apply?

Not in California or Hawaii. California’s rule applies even without red paint. Hawaii’s applies regardless of signs or curb markings [5, 6].

Is daylighting proven to work?

Not across the board. New York City found a benefit from posts, planters and curb extensions, but no measurable benefit from signs alone [7]. Clearing sight lines helps most when something physical keeps cars out of the corner.

The bottom line

Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation

Parking right up to a crosswalk saves you a few steps. It can also hide a child from a turning driver, or hide that driver from the child. Most states set the limit at 20 feet, about one parking space. The reason is visibility.

Make it a habit to leave that space open, even where the curb isn’t painted. When you’re driving, treat every car parked tight to a corner as a curtain. Someone could step out from behind it, so slow down until you can see past it.

Sources and further reading

  1. 1New Jersey Statutes Annotated 39:4-138: Stopping or parking prohibited in certain places. FindLaw, current as of January 1, 2024. codes.findlaw.com/…/nj-st-sect-39-4-138
  2. 2California State Assembly Committee on Transportation. “AB 413 (Lee)” bill analysis, citing a California Research Bureau memo. Hearing date March 20, 2023. atrn.assembly.ca.gov/…/AB%20413%20%28Lee%29.pdf
  3. 3Agran PF, et al. “The role of the physical and traffic environment in child pedestrian injuries.” Pediatrics 1996;98(6 Pt 1):1096-1103. PMID 8951259. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8951259
  4. 4California Vehicle Code Section 22500 (2025 code), including subdivision (n) added by AB 413. law.justia.com/…/section-22500
  5. 5City of Malibu. “CA Assembly Bill 413.” Accessed October 2026. malibucity.org/1194/CA-Assembly-Bill-413
  6. 6Hawaii Session Laws 2025, Act 171 (SB 1195). Approved June 3, 2025. data.capitol.hawaii.gov/…/SLH2025_Act171.pdf
  7. 7New York City Department of Transportation, Office of Research, Implementation and Safety. “Daylighting and Street Safety: An Analysis.” January 2025. a860-gpp.nyc.gov/downloads/gh93h351j
  8. 8Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 2009 Edition, Chapter 3B.” Replaced by the 11th Edition in 2024. mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009/part3/part3b.htm
  9. 9National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “Pedestrian Safety.” Accessed October 2026. nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety
  10. 10Roberts I, et al. “Effect of environmental factors on risk of injury of child pedestrians by motor vehicles.” BMJ 1995;310:91-94. doi.org/10.1136/bmj.310.6972.91
  11. 11Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHS-HLDI). “Fatality Facts 2024: Pedestrians.” June 2026. iihs.org/…/pedestrians
  12. 12Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). “Pedestrians and bicyclists” topic page. Accessed October 2026. iihs.org/topics/pedestrians-and-bicyclists
  13. 13Epstein AK, et al. “Longitudinal Analysis of Forward Blind Zone Changes in Popular Vehicle Models (1997-2023).” SAE International Journal of Transportation Safety, 2025. Abstract. consensus.app/…/29f4df27ddba5bde81f7bd67d37…
  14. 14Brodeur A, et al. “Boston Blind Zone Safety Initiative.” Transportation Research Record, 2026. Abstract. consensus.app/…/6a6eef11431a5a1f928e38e5e1c…
  15. 15National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). Urban Street Design Guide, “Visibility/Sight Distance.” Last modified September 3, 2026. nacto.org/…/visibility-sight-distance
  16. 16Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). “STEP Guide for Improving Pedestrian Safety at Uncontrolled Crossing Locations” (FHWA-SA-17-072). Updated July 2018. highways.dot.gov/…/STEP_Guide_for_Improving_Pe…
  17. 17New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1202: Stopping, standing and parking prohibited in specified places. nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VAT/1202
  18. 18Texas Transportation Code Sections 545.302 (stopping, standing or parking prohibited in certain places) and 541.302 (definitions). texas.public.law/…/tex._transp._code_section_5…
  19. 19Florida Statutes Section 316.1945 (2025): Stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in specified places. flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/316.1945
  20. 20Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 75, Section 3353: Prohibitions in specified places. legis.state.pa.us/…/00.033.053.000..HTM
  21. 21Revised Code of Washington 46.61.570: Stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in specified places. app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx
  22. 22Oregon Revised Statutes 811.550: Places where stopping, standing and parking prohibited. oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_811.550
  23. 23Ohio Revised Code 4511.68: Parking prohibitions. Effective June 30, 2025. codes.ohio.gov/…/section-4511.68
  24. 24Illinois Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5/11-1303, as shown as existing law in Illinois HB 2589 (2019). legiscan.com/IL/text/HB2589/2019
  25. 25City of Pinole. “AB 413: California Daylighting Law.” August 16, 2024. pinole.gov
  26. 26New York City Council. “Int 0511-2026.” Introduced January 29, 2026 (via intro.nyc). intro.nyc/0511-2026
  27. 27Streetsblog NYC. “Mamdani: daylighting before death.” January 5, 2026. nyc.streetsblog.org/…/mamdani-daylighting-before-…
  28. 28City of Hoboken. “City of Hoboken Reaches New Vision Zero Milestone: Seven Consecutive Years Without a Traffic Death.” January 31, 2024. hobokennj.gov/…/city-of-hoboken-reaches-new…
  29. 29InsiderNJ. “Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla Celebrates Hoboken’s Nine Years With Zero Traffic Deaths.” January 29, 2026. insidernj.com/…/assemblyman-ravi-bhalla-cel…
  30. 30Marshall W, et al. “Reassessing On-Street Parking.” Transportation Research Record, 2008. Abstract. consensus.app/…/b84454d00d935021a68e7788825…
  31. 31Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). “About Intersection Safety.” Accessed October 2026. highways.dot.gov/…/about

This article reflects the safety priorities of pedestrian safety and street design education. It covers state parking distances near crosswalks, why parked cars hide people crossing and what daylighting does. It is general education, not legal advice. Laws and local rules change, so check your state’s vehicle code and posted signs. Reviewed October 2026.

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