These questions are based on the laws and regulations of
the Nova Scotia (Canada) Motor Vehicle Act (MVA),
and may not be the same in other locations.
Relevant sections of the MVA can be found at the bottom.
This shorter quiz is intended for students. See how much you know about the laws (of Nova Scotia, Canada) relating to crosswalks and crosswalk safety. As you take the quiz remember that although you will receive a score the quiz is not about how many you get right or wrong but about how much you learn when you review the answers.
Instructions
1. start the quiz by clicking on the Start quiz button
2. some questions have hints. Where a hint is provided click on the Hint button if you would like to see the hint.
3. click on the Check button on the right side to input your answer. After having done so you will see if you were right or wrong along with an explanation including references to the Motor Vehicle Act.
4. after reading the answer go on to the next question by clicking Next (also on the right side)
5. after you have answered all six questions click on Quiz Summary (also on the right side); then click on the Finish Quiz button
6. at this point you will see your overall score – but as mentioned it is not your score that matters most but what you learn
7. click the View Questions to see all the questions and answers.
Below the Quiz there are a couple of videos you might be interested in.
As well check out the short video on the Adult Quiz page.
Then please review the further educational information below on extending your arm and where crosswalks exist,
followed by the actual sections of the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act that relate to each questions.
Student Crosswalk Safety Quiz
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Question 1 of 6
1. Question
1 points
A pedestrian should extend their arm to show their intent to cross the road.
Correct
Congratulations for knowing this good practice.
Extending your arm is a very good practice even if it is not required by the MVA.
At least two studies have demonstrated that extending your arm increases the likelihood a vehicle will yield for you.
A study in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia observed extening your arm increased the chance a vehicle will yield form 13 to 37%. A second study in Michigan demonstrated raising your hand or extending your arm increases th enubmer of drivers who yield for pedestrian – generally from 10% with no hand action to 30% when an arm is extendedto 50% when you raise your hand.
But remember … never assume extending your arm or raising your hand means the driver will see you and yield/stop.
Always wait until you are sure the driver does yield for you.
Incorrect
Sorry, while extending your arm is good practice it is not requiredby the Motor Vehicle Act.
At least two studies have demonstrated that extending your arm increases the likelihood a vehicle will yield for you.
A study in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia observed extening your arm increased the chance a vehicle will yield form 13 to 37%. A second study in Michigan demonstrated raising your hand or extending your arm increases th enubmer of drivers who yield for pedestrian – generally from 10% with no hand action to 30% when an arm is extendedto 50% when you raise your hand.
But remember… never assume extending your arm or raising your hand means the driver will see you and yield/stop.
Always waituntil you are sure the driver does yield for you.
Hint
Good practices – like extending your arm – can help drivers see you.
Question 2 of 6
2. Question
1 points
If the Don’t Walk sign is lit and a countdown timer is showing a number but there are no vehicles in sight you may leave the curb and cross the road.
Correct
Congratulations! Right you are.
Once the countdown timer starts the Don’t Walk light also illuminates. Unless you are already in the crosswalk it is illegal to step off the curb to cross the road, regardless of whether there are any vehicles in sight or not.
Section 92(2)(i) of the MVA addresses the ‘don’t walk light. It states “don’t walk” light – pedestrian traffic facing the signal, either flashing or solid, shall not start to cross the roadway in the direction of the signal”
Incorrect
Sorry, but that is not correct.
Once the countdown timer starts the Don’t Walk light also illuminates. Unless you are already in the crosswalk it is illegal to step off the curb to cross the road, regardless of whether there are any vehicles in sight or not.
Section 92(2)(i) of the MVA addresses a ‘don’t walk light. It states “don’t walk” light – pedestrian traffic facing the signal, either flashing or solid, shall not start to cross the roadway in the direction of the signal”
Hint
Laws don’t allow for judgement.
Question 3 of 6
3. Question
1 points
There is a minimum distance a horse can be tied from a crosswalk.
Correct
‘Hay’ you got it right!
Crosswalk safety was important enough in the horse and buggy era that the MVA included, and still does to this day, a restriction as to how close one may tie a horse or horses to a crosswalk.
Section 167 (4) of the MVA states “No person shall at any time fasten any horse or horses in such a manner that the tie rope, reins or lines shall be an obstruction to the free use of any sidewalk or crosswalk.”
While there is no minimum numerical distance – the horse(s) must be far enough away that the tie rope, reins, or lines do not obstruct the free use of the any crosswalk.
Incorrect
Sorry but you may have to move your horse.
Crosswalk safety was important enough in the horse and buggy era that the MVA included, and still does to this day, a restriction as to how close one may tie a horse or horses to a crosswalk.
Section 167 (4) of the MVA states “No person shall at any time fasten any horse or horses in such a manner that the tie rope, reins or lines shall be an obstruction to the free use of any sidewalk or crosswalk.”
While there is no minimum numerical distance – the horse(s) must be far enough away that the tie rope, reins, or lines do not obstruct the free use of the any crosswalk.
Hint
The ability for a driver to be able to see a crosswalk is very important.
Question 4 of 6
4. Question
1 points
When a pedestrian is in or has stopped to face a crosswalk a driver must yield the right of way to that pedestrian.
Correct
Congratulations!
True – a driver is required to yield to a pedestrian “… in or stopped facing…” a crosswalk*.
Section 125(1) of the MVA is clear that “Where pedestrian movements are not controlled by traffic signals,
(a) the driver of a vehicle shall yeild the right of way to a pedestrian lawfully within a crosswalk or stopped facing a crosswalk”
So where do crosswalks “not controlled by traffic signals” actually exist. Well the MVA is clear that every intersection has crosswalks, whether marked or unmarked. The specific wording is
“that portion of a roadway ordinarily included iwthin th eextension or connection of curb lines and property lines at intersections or any other portion of a roadway, i.e. unmarked crosswalks or any portion of a roadway clearly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface, i.e. marked crosswalks.”
The MVA never speaks to ‘unmarked’ versus ‘marked’ crosswalks. A crosswalk is a crosswalk, and at least two (and most often three or four) exist at every interesection.
Incorrect
Sorry, that is incorrect – drivers must always yield to pedestrians at a crosswalk.
Section 125(1) of the MVA is clear that “Where pedestrian movements are not controlled by traffic signals,
(a) the driver of a vehicle shall yeild the right of way to a pedestrian lawfully wwithin a crosswalk or stopped facing a crosswalk”
So where do crosswalks “not controlled by traffic signals” actually exist. Well the MVA is clear that every intersection has crosswalks, whether marked or unmarked. The specific wording is
“that portion of a roadway ordinarily included iwthin th eextension or connection of curb lines and property lines at intersections or any other portion of a roadway, i.e. unmarked crosswalks or any portion of a roadway clearly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface, i.e. marked crosswalks.”
The MVA never speaks to ‘unmarked’ versus ‘marked’ crosswalks. A crosswalk is a crosswalk, and at least two (and most often three or four) exist at every interesection.
Question 5 of 6
5. Question
1 points
Where there is a yellow overhead light you must push the button whether or not there is a vehicle in sight.
Correct
Congratulations!
Even if there are no vehicles in sight you must push the button to activate a yellow overhead yellow light … or you are breaking the law. You never know that a vehicle might not approach while you are crossing.
MVA Section 125(4): “Where a pedestrian is crossing a roadway at a crosswalk that has a pedestrian-activated beacon, the pedestrian shall not leave a curb or other place of safety unless the pedestrian-activated beacon has been activated”
Incorrect
Sorry, but yes you do have to push the button to active the light.
Even if there are no vehicles approaching you must push the button to activate an overhead amber light … or you are breaking the law. You never know that a vehicle might not approach while you are crossing.
MVA Section 125(4): “Where a pedestrian is crossing a roadway at a crosswalk that has a pedestrian-activated beacon, the pedestrian shall not leave a curb or other place of safety unless the pedestrian-activated beacon has been activated”
Hint
The more visible the crosswalk and the pedestrian the less the chance of an accident.
Question 6 of 6
6. Question
1 points
On which of the following is it legal for a person to cross a crosswalk?
Correct
Congratulations – a three parter and you got them all correct. Well done.
Section 172(1) provides
“… it shall be an offence for a person upon roller skates or a skate board to go on a roadway except while crossing on a crosswalk…”
Then Section 175(1) states
“A cyclist on a highway shall ride in the same direction as the flow of traffic”
The Motor Vehicle Act considers a bicycle the same as a vehicle. Bicycles must follow the same rules as a car, stopping at lights, yielding to pedestriansetc. Where a car cannot drive across a crosswalk, in the same way a bicycle cannot be driven across a crosswalk. You must get off and walk your bicycle across.
Although not related to crosswalks did you also know that when riding a bicycle, while on a roadway in Nova Scotia , it is illegal to do any of the the following :
remove your feet from the pedals.
remove both hands from the handlebars.
practice any trick or fancy riding.
Incorrect
Sorry, but that may be partially correct but unfortunately is not totally correct.
Section 172(1) provides
“… it shall be an offence for a person upon roller skates or a skate board to go on a roadway except while crossing on a crosswalk …”
Then Section 175(1) states
“A cyclist on a highway shall ride in the same direction as the flow of traffic”
The Motor Vehicle Act considers a bicycle the same as a vehicle. Bicycles must follow the same rules as a car, stopping at lights, yielding to pedestrians etc. Where a car cannot drive across a crosswalk, in the same way a bicycle cannot be driven across a crosswalk. You must get off and walk your bicycle across.
Although not related to crosswalks did you also know that when riding a bicycle, while on a roadway in Nova Scotia , it is illegal to do any of the the following :
remove your feet from the pedals.
remove both hands from the handlebars.
practice any trick or fancy riding.
Hint
Two of the three are true. One is not.
Scroll up to continue with the quiz.
When finished please review the information below.
Extending your arm to show you want to cross the road
Your challenge:
As you will observe from a study by a Grade 5 elementary class (see the Studies page in the Facts and Studies section for data on this and a number of other questions examined by the class) only a small percentage (18% based on this study) actually extended their arm to let the drivers know they intended to cross the road.
As presented in the answer to Question 1 extending your arm or raising your hand improves the chance a vehicle will yield and you will be able to safely cross the road
So start a trend – raise your hand or extend your arm when you next intend to cross the road
… but remember doing so does not guarantee the vehicle will yield … you must be absolutely sure the driver sees you and is yielding before you start to cross the road.
Where do crosswalks exist
Most drivers do not understand where a crosswalk exists.
Of course there are crosswalks where there are traffic signals.
And we all know where there are markings on the road, with or without signs, that is a marked crosswalk.
But in addition there are crosswalks – legal crosswalks where pedestrians have a legitimate, and legal, expectation a driver will yield in order that they may cross the road – at every intersection – every last one, whether marked or unmarked.
So all drivers – please be attentive to pedestrians and yield for them where there is a crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked.
Fact:
There are crosswalks at every intersection and drivers are required
to yield to a pedestrians at every one, whether marked or unmarked.
Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) Crosswalk Safety References
Q 1 – extending your arm
There is no mention in the MVA of a person having to extend their arm to signal their intention to cross the road.
Q 2 – countdown timers
Section 92(2)(i)
“don’t walk” light – pedestrian traffic facing the signal, either flashing or solid, shall not start to cross the roadway in the direction of the signal;
Q 3 – minimum distance to tie a horse from a crosswalk
Section 167(4)
“No person shall at any time fasten any horse or horses in such a manner that the tie rope, reins or lines shall be an obstruction to the free use of any sidewalk or crosswalk.”
Q 4 – driver requirement to yield
Section 125(1)
“Where pedestrian movements are not controlled by traffic signals,
(a) the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian lawfully within a crosswalk or stopped facing a crosswalk”
Q 5 – overhead amber lights
Section 125(4)
“Where a pedestrian is crossing a roadway at a crosswalk that has a pedestrian-activated beacon, the pedestrian shall not leave a curb or other place of safety unless the pedestrian-activated beacon has been activated.”
Q 6 – roller skates, skate boards, and bicycles
Section 172(1)
“… it shall be an offence for a person upon roller skates or a skate board to go on a roadway except while crossing on a crosswalk …”
Section 172(5)
“A cyclist on a highway shall ride in the same direction as the flow of traffic”
