(A) At any street, road or highway crossing or intersection, where the movement of traffic is not regulated by a traffic officer or by traffic control signals, any blind or partially blind pedestrian shall be entitled to the right-of-way at the crossing or intersection, if the blind or partially blind pedestrian shall extend before him or her, at arm's length, a cane white in color or white tipped with red, or if the person is accompanied by a guide dog. Upon receiving such a signal, all vehicles at or approaching the intersection or crossing shall come to a full stop, leaving a clear lane through which the pedestrian may pass, and the vehicle shall remain stationary until the blind or partially blind pedestrian has completed the passage of the crossing or intersection. At any street, road or highway crossing or intersection, where the movement of traffic is regulated by traffic control signals, blind or partially blind pedestrians shall be entitled to the right-of-way if the person having the cane or accompanied by a guide dog shall be partly across the crossing or intersection at the time the traffic control signals change, and all vehicles shall stop and remain stationary until the pedestrian has completed passage across the intersection or crossing.
(B) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to deprive any blind or partially blind person not carrying a cane white in color or white tipped with red, or being accompanied by a guide dog, of any of the rights and privileges conferred by law upon pedestrians crossing streets and highways, nor shall the failure of the blind or partially blind person to carry a cane white in color or white tipped with red, or to be accompanied by a guide dog, upon the streets, roads, highways or sidewalks be held to constitute or be evidence of contributory negligence by virtue of this section.
(1995 Code, § 40-201)
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see G.S. §§ 20-175.2, 20-175.3