Passing people walking on roads without sidewalks: how to give them room day and night
How to spot people walking on the shoulder and pass them safely after dark
The road with no sidewalk
Picture a two lane road on the edge of town at dusk. There’s a gravel shoulder, a ditch and no sidewalk. Someone is walking home from a bus stop or a late shift, wearing a dark jacket. You’re doing 50 mph with your low beams on.
That scene plays out across the country every night. Too often it ends badly. In 2024, 7,080 people were killed while walking in the United States [2]. The way those deaths happened says a lot about the roads involved:
- 62.2% happened where there was no sidewalk [1].
- 73% happened away from intersections [2].
- 76% happened in the dark [2].
- More than half happened on arterial roads, the busy routes that connect towns and neighborhoods [1].
Most pedestrian deaths happen in urban areas, but rural crashes are more likely to be fatal. Among rural pedestrian crashes, 15.1% ended in a death, compared with 9.2% in urban areas [1]. There is some good news. Early state numbers point to 6,732 pedestrian deaths in 2025, a third straight yearly drop, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. That’s still 5% above 2019 [1].
Who walks along these roads
It’s easy to assume that anyone walking on a busy road without a sidewalk is out for exercise. Many aren’t. They’re walking to a job, a bus stop or a store because they don’t have a car, or because their car broke down.
- People in low income communities are less likely to have walkways at all, according to FHWA [7].
- A national study of fatal pedestrian crash hot spots found that three quarters of them bordered low income neighborhoods [8].
- Nearly 300 people a year were killed while outside a disabled or stopped vehicle from 2016 to 2018 [9].
- More than 800 pedestrians a year die on freeways. Of those deaths, 18% involve a disabled vehicle [10].
- People using wheelchairs, who die as pedestrians at a rate 36% higher than the general population [11].
Add children walking to a school bus stop, people using wheelchairs where there’s no sidewalk and runners at dawn. The person on the shoulder could be anyone.
Why walking along the road is so dangerous
IIHS researchers looked at fatal crashes involving one vehicle and one pedestrian from 2014 to 2018. Away from intersections, 17.7% of the people killed were walking or running along the road [4]. Compared with crashes where someone was crossing, these crashes were more likely to involve:
- Speeding, with 85% higher odds [4].
- Pickup trucks, with 51% higher odds, and SUVs, with 25.3% higher odds [4].
- Dark roads without lights, with 31.9% higher odds [4].
- Rural roads. Urban roads had 56.8% lower odds than rural ones [4].
These crashes have a lot to do with roads that weren’t built for walking. FHWA lists walkways as a proven safety countermeasure. It reports that sidewalks cut crashes involving people walking along the road by 65% to 89%. Paved shoulders cut them by 71% [7]. Until those are built, drivers are the safety margin.
The night problem: your headlights may not reach far enough
Most drivers trust their headlights more than they should. IIHS has tested a wide range of vehicles and found that low beams light the road anywhere from 125 to 460 feet ahead. At 50 mph, that’s the difference between about 2 and 6 seconds to react [3].
AAA ran its own tests in 2015. It found that common halogen reflector low beams are not enough for speeds above 39 mph. Projector or HID low beams topped out at 45 mph, and LED low beams at 52 mph [12].
Compare that with how much road you need to stop. Highway designers use stopping sight distance, which includes time to react and time to brake. At 45 mph, it’s about 360 feet. At 55 mph, it’s about 495 feet [13].
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
If your low beams show 200 feet of road at 55 mph, you have about 2.5 seconds before you reach what they light up. That’s not enough to stop. It may barely be enough to steer around a person if the other lane is clear.
Dark clothing makes people nearly invisible
In a closed course study, drivers using low beams with oncoming glare recognized only 5% of pedestrians wearing black. When people wore reflective strips on their wrists, ankles, knees and elbows, drivers recognized every one of them in conditions without glare [14]. A later study compared outfits. Reflective markings on the arms and legs plus a vest were recognized from about 319 meters away. A vest alone was recognized at about 185 meters [15].
People on foot often think they’re easier to see than they are [16]. Drivers, for their part, don’t slow down enough at night to make up for how little they can see [17].
Age and eyesight matter
In one study, older drivers recognized pedestrians at night only about half as far away as younger drivers did [18]. Even mild blur or early cataracts cut that distance sharply [19]. If you drive at night, keep your glasses up to date and your windshield clean.
Use your high beams
High beams can more than double how far you can see. One test vehicle’s low beams revealed an obstacle about 202 feet ahead, compared with 533 feet on high beams [3]. Yet IIHS reports that most drivers don’t use them. In one study, only 18% of drivers who could have used high beams did [3]. Vehicles with good rated headlights had 23% fewer nighttime pedestrian crashes than those with poor rated headlights [3].
Turn on your high beams on dark roads with no traffic ahead. Dim them when another vehicle approaches. Florida, for example, requires dimming within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and within 300 feet of a vehicle you’re following [20].
Where people walk, and why it matters to you
Most states tell people to walk facing traffic when there’s no sidewalk. Texas, Florida and New York require walking on the left side of the road or shoulder, facing oncoming vehicles [21, 20, 22]. California asks people to walk close to the left edge outside business and residential districts, with an exception when there’s no safe place to cross [23].
There’s good reason for that rule. A study of rural roads in Finland found that walking facing traffic was linked to 77% fewer crashes than walking with traffic [24].
For drivers, that means two things:
- The person you’re approaching is often on your side of the road, walking toward you. They can see you coming. But your lights may blind them, so dim your high beams when you get close.
- Some people will be walking with their back to you. They may not know you’re there. Give them extra room, and don’t count on them to step aside.
Either way, the duty to take care stays with the driver. Texas requires drivers to use due care and to take proper precautions around children and anyone who seems confused or impaired [21]. New York and Florida also require due care [22, 20].
How to pass someone walking on the shoulder
Only a few states set a passing distance for people on foot.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
| State | What drivers must do |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | Pass a vulnerable user, including a pedestrian, at a reasonable and proper speed and at least 4 feet away. Use the next lane, crossing the center line if needed, when it’s safe. In effect since April 1, 2023 [5, 25, 26] |
| Washington | On roads with more than one lane in your direction, move fully into a left lane when safe. On a road with one lane each way, slow down and pass at 3 feet or more where practicable, or move fully into the oncoming lane when safe [6] |
| Texas, Florida and New York | No set distance, but drivers must use due care to avoid hitting people walking [21, 20, 22] |
| Virginia | The 3 foot passing rule covers bicycles and similar devices, not people walking [27] |
Even where your state sets no number, the safe choice is the same. Use this routine every time.
- Spot people early. Scan the shoulders as well as the lane. Watch for movement, reflective strips, a phone screen or a flashlight.
- Ease off the gas. Slow down as soon as you see someone, especially at night.
- Check the other lane. If it’s clear, move over well before you reach the person.
- Wait if a car is coming. Don’t squeeze between the walker and oncoming traffic. Slow down, stay behind and pass once the other car has gone by.
- Don’t pass other vehicles near people walking. You won’t have room to move away from the shoulder.
- Dim your high beams as you get close to someone walking toward you, then turn them back on once you’re past.
- Expect the unexpected. Someone could step around a puddle, a parked car or a mailbox.
Night driving checklist
If you're the one walking
Many drivers also walk these roads sometimes, after a breakdown or on an evening stroll. A few habits help drivers see you.
- Walk facing traffic, as far from the travel lane as you can [28].
- Wear reflective material on your wrists and ankles. Moving reflectors are easier for drivers to recognize than a vest alone [15, 29].
- Carry a flashlight or headlamp.
- Assume drivers can’t see you, because you’re harder to see than you think [16].
If your car breaks down, move it well off the road and turn on your hazard lights. Then stay well away from traffic while you wait for help.
Frequently asked questions
Which side of the road should people walk on?
Facing oncoming traffic, on the shoulder, when there’s no sidewalk. That’s the rule in Texas, Florida and New York. It’s also NHTSA’s advice [21, 20, 22, 28]. California allows the right edge when there’s no safe place to cross [23].
How much room should I give someone walking on the shoulder?
As much as you can. Massachusetts requires at least 4 feet. Washington requires a lane change or at least 3 feet where practicable [5, 6]. In other states, the law asks for due care, which in practice means slowing down and moving over [21, 22].
Can I cross the center line to pass a person walking?
Massachusetts and Washington allow it when it’s safe [5, 6]. In other states, check your DMV handbook. Never cross with oncoming traffic close by. Slow down and wait instead.
Why didn’t I see the person until the last second?
Low beams on many vehicles show only 125 to 460 feet of road [3]. Dark clothing can make a person nearly invisible at that range, especially with glare from oncoming lights [14].
Should I honk to warn someone walking on the shoulder?
Only when it helps safety. Texas law tells drivers to sound the horn when necessary to warn a person walking [21]. A light tap from a distance can let someone know you’re coming. A loud blast right beside them can startle them toward your lane. So moving over and slowing down is usually the better choice.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Roads without sidewalks are where most people walking are killed. Darkness and speed make the danger much worse. Your headlights may show less road than you think. A person in dark clothes can disappear until it’s too late to stop.
The fixes are simple. Slow down at night, use your high beams when you can, scan the shoulders and move over well before you reach someone walking. If a car is coming, wait. A few seconds behind someone on the shoulder is a small price for getting everyone home.
Related articles
- Pedestrian safety for drivers: how to spot, yield to and protect walkers
- Night driving safety: how to see hazards and stop in time after dark
- Rural road safety: why country roads are deadlier and how to drive them
- Work zone and move over safety: protect road crews, responders and you
- Pedestrian and cyclist detection braking: what it misses and why night is its hardest test
Sources and further reading
- 1Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). “Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2025 Preliminary Data.” July 2026. ghsa.org/…/Pedestrian%20Traffic%20Fata…
- 2National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “Pedestrians: 2024 Data” (DOT HS 813 818). June 2026. crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/813818
- 3Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). “Good IIHS headlight ratings linked to lower crash rates” (October 14, 2021) and Headlights topic page. iihs.org/topics/headlights
- 4Hu W, Cicchino JB. “The association between pedestrian crash types and passenger vehicle types.” Journal of Safety Research, July 2022. iihs.org/…/2249
- 5Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 90, Sections 1 and 14. malegislature.gov/…/Section14
- 6Revised Code of Washington 46.61.110: Overtaking a vehicle on the left. app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx
- 7Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Proven Safety Countermeasures: “Walkways” (FHWA-SA-21-047). highways.dot.gov/…/walkways
- 8Schneider RJ, et al. “United States fatal pedestrian crash hot spot locations and characteristics.” Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2021. Abstract. consensus.app/…/36c3332ef5295efb99188685f76…
- 9Spicer R, et al. “Frequency and cost of crashes, fatalities, and injuries involving disabled vehicles.” Accident Analysis and Prevention 152:105974, 2021. doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2021.105974
- 10Wang J, Cicchino JB. “Fatal pedestrian crashes on interstates and other freeways in the United States.” Journal of Safety Research 74:1-7, 2020. doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2020.04.009
- 11Kraemer JD, Benton CS. “Disparities in road crash mortality among pedestrians using wheelchairs in the USA.” BMJ Open 5(11):e008396, 2015. doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008396
- 12AAA Newsroom. “AAA Tests Shine High-Beam on Headlight Limitations.” May 13, 2015. newsroom.aaa.com/…/aaa-tests-shine-high-beam-h…
- 13Texas Department of Transportation. Roadway Design Manual, Section 4.11.1: Stopping Sight Distance. txdot.gov/…/4-11-1-stopping-sight-dista…
- 14Wood JM, Tyrrell RA, Carberry TP. “Limitations in drivers’ ability to recognize pedestrians at night.” Human Factors 47(3):644-653, 2005. doi.org/10.1518/001872005774859980
- 15Wood JM, Tyrrell RA, Lacherez P, Black AA. “Night-time pedestrian conspicuity: effects of clothing on drivers’ eye movements.” Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics 37(2):184-190, 2017. doi.org/10.1111/opo.12351
- 16Tyrrell RA, Wood JM, Carberry TP. “On-road measures of pedestrians’ estimates of their own nighttime conspicuity.” Journal of Safety Research 35(5):483-490, 2004. doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2004.06.004
- 17Owens DA, Wood JM, Owens JM. “Effects of age and illumination on night driving: a road test.” Human Factors 49(6):1115-1131, 2007. doi.org/10.1518/001872007X249974
- 18Wood JM, Lacherez P, Tyrrell RA. “Seeing pedestrians at night: effect of driver age and visual abilities.” Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics 34(4):452-458, 2014. doi.org/10.1111/opo.12139
- 19Wood JM, et al. “Even moderate visual impairments degrade drivers’ ability to see pedestrians at night.” Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 53(6):2586-2592, 2012. doi.org/10.1167/iovs.11-9083
- 20Florida Statutes Sections 316.130 (pedestrian obedience), 316.238 (headlamp dimming) and related sections (2025). flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/316.130
- 21Texas Transportation Code Sections 552.006 (use of sidewalk) and 552.008 (drivers to exercise due care). law.justia.com/…/transportation-code
- 22New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Sections 1156 (pedestrians on roadways) and 1146 (drivers to exercise due care). nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VAT/1156
- 23California Vehicle Code Section 21956: Pedestrian on roadway (2025 version, via Justia). law.justia.com/…/section-21956
- 24Luoma J, Peltola H. “Does facing traffic improve pedestrian safety?” Accident Analysis and Prevention 50:1207-1210, 2013. doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2012.09.023
- 25Massachusetts Acts of 2022, Chapter 358: An Act to Reduce Traffic Fatalities. Approved January 2, 2023. malegislature.gov/…/Chapter358
- 26Mass.gov. “New Vulnerable Road Users Laws” handout. Accessed October 2026. mass.gov/…/download
- 27Code of Virginia Section 46.2-839: Passing bicycles and other devices. law.lis.virginia.gov/…/section46.2-839
- 28National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “Pedestrian Safety.” Accessed October 2026. nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety
- 29National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Countermeasures That Work, Pedestrian Safety: Conspicuity Enhancement. nhtsa.gov/…/other-strategies-behavior-c…
This article reflects the safety priorities of pedestrian safety and night driving education. It covers why roads without sidewalks are so dangerous, how headlights and speed affect what you can see and how to pass people walking safely. It is general education, not legal advice. Check your state’s rules. Reviewed October 2026.
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