Pedestrians' Duties

Pedestrians must move along sidewalks, pedestrian paths or pedestrian and bicycle paths (on the side intended for pedestrians); where these are absent – along the road shoulder. If there is no sidewalk, pedestrian path, pedestrian and bicycle path or shoulder, or it is impossible to move along them, it is permitted to move in single file along the edge of the carriageway.

Pedestrians moving along the shoulder or along the edge of the carriageway, or moving along the shoulder on roller skates, skateboards or non-motorized scooters, must move against the direction of vehicle traffic.

Persons moving along the shoulder or along the edge of the carriageway in a wheelchair for persons with disabilities, walking alongside a motorcycle, moped, bicycle, motorized bicycle, electric micro-mobility vehicle, or pulling (pushing) a sled or cart, must move only in single file and only in the direction of vehicle traffic.

An organized group of pedestrians is permitted to walk on the carriageway in a column of no more than 4 rows as close as possible to the right edge of the carriageway and only in the direction of vehicle traffic. Accompanying persons wearing high-visibility vests with reflective elements must walk at the front and rear of the column on the left side. During the dark hours of the day or in poor visibility, an organized group of pedestrians is prohibited from walking on the carriageway.

An organized group of pedestrians consisting of children under 16 years of age, accompanied by no fewer than 2 accompanying persons, may only be led along the sidewalk, pedestrian path or pedestrian and bicycle path (the side intended for pedestrians); where these are absent – along the road shoulder as well, but only during the light hours of the day, in good visibility, in no more than 2 rows, against the direction of vehicle traffic (when this is safe). Accompanying persons must walk at the front and rear of the column and wear high-visibility vests with reflective elements. It is recommended that all children in the organized group walking along the road shoulder wear high-visibility vests with reflective elements.

Pedestrians moving along an unlit road shoulder or along the edge of the carriageway, or standing there during the dark hours of the day or in poor visibility, must carry a lit lamp visible to other road users, or wear a high-visibility vest with reflective elements, or have a reflector attached to their clothing in a place visible to other road users. A pulled (pushed) cart wider than 1 m must have reflectors: white at the front on the left side, and red at the rear.

Pedestrians must cross to the other side of the carriageway only at pedestrian crossings (including underground and overground crossings); where these are absent – at intersections along the line of sidewalks or road shoulders. Pedestrians must not cross beyond the limits of a pedestrian crossing. Where no pedestrian crossing or intersection is within the visibility zone, it is permitted to cross at a right angle to both sides at clearly visible locations, but only after making sure that crossing is safe. It is recommended that during the dark hours of the day or in poor visibility, pedestrians crossing to the other side of the carriageway carry a lit lamp visible to other road users, wear a high-visibility vest with reflective elements, or have a reflector attached to their clothing in a place visible to other road users.

In places where traffic is regulated, pedestrians must follow the traffic lights with a pedestrian symbol; where these are absent, they must follow the signals of vehicle traffic lights.

Pedestrians are permitted to step onto the carriageway only after they have evaluated the distance to approaching vehicles and their speed, and have made sure that doing so is safe. Pedestrians, before stepping onto the carriageway and when walking along it, must avoid any actions (using mobile communication devices, and the like) that would distract their attention from observing the surroundings and the traffic situation on the road and prevent them from making sure that crossing is safe.

Pedestrians must not linger or loiter on the carriageway. Those who have not managed to cross the carriageway must stand on a safety island or on a marked or imagined line separating traffic flows of opposite directions. Crossing the carriageway may be completed only after making sure that it is safe to continue.

When the yellow traffic light signal comes on, or when the controller raises their hand, pedestrians, depending on which carriageway they are on, must finish crossing it or stop on the safety island.

When an emergency vehicle with switched-on blue and red (or only blue) beacons and special audio signals is approaching, pedestrians must not start crossing the carriageway, and those who are on the carriageway must immediately leave it.

Pedestrians are prohibited from:

moving across the carriageway in places where there are vehicle or pedestrian barriers, and in built-up areas – where there is a central reservation (except at pedestrian crossings and intersections);
moving along a motorway or expressway;
moving along the central reservation or along the edge of the carriageway adjacent to it;
going out (moving out) from behind a stopped vehicle or other obstacle blocking the view, without making sure that there are no approaching vehicles;
moving along bicycle paths, except when it is necessary to cross to the other side of the bicycle path, or when there is no sidewalk or pedestrian path on the road and in such cases it will not obstruct cyclist traffic;
leaving the scene of a traffic accident, if the pedestrians are involved in it;
moving along bicycle lanes, except when it is necessary to cross to the other side of the bicycle lane and it will not obstruct cyclist traffic;
riding on roller skates, skateboards or non-motorized scooters on the carriageway, except in a residential zone;
moving along bicycle crossings.