A pedestrian in a crosswalk has the right of way, and the crosswalk is bigger than its paint: legally, one exists across each leg of most intersections whether or not lines are marked. Drivers stop before the crosswalk, not in it, and wait until the person is clear of their path as state law defines it.
The companion rule catches the deadliest mistake: never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. It is stopped because someone is crossing in front of it, hidden from your lane, and the pass arrives at the person mid-step. Turning drivers add a scan: the crosswalk you sweep through on a turn is someone's right of way before it is your path.
The tested mistake is the blind pass of a stopped vehicle, and stopping on the painted lines instead of behind them. Both appear on state exams in nearly identical words because both keep causing the same crashes.
This situation appears in 6 questions across 6 of our state banks, on Driver License practice tests. Start with your state:
Why should you avoid passing a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk?
Why: Do not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk because that vehicle may be screening a pedestrian from view. Therefore, the supported response is "A pedestrian may be hidden in front of the stopped vehicle".
Every practice test explains its answers this way. Pick your state and take one free; no sign-up.
Choose your stateThe pedestrian. Drivers stop behind the crosswalk and remain stopped until the person is clear of their path as their state defines it.
Yes. At most intersections a legal crosswalk crosses each leg whether or not it is marked, and the yielding duty is the same. It is one of the most-missed facts on permit tests.
It is likely stopped for someone crossing in front of it, hidden from your view. The pass carries you into the crosswalk at speed precisely where they step out.
Behind the nearest line of it, or before the intersection edge where nothing is marked, far enough back that crossing pedestrians never thread between bumpers.
A scan of the crosswalk they are turning across and a full yield to anyone in it. A green light for your turn is also a walk signal for their crossing.