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Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025

Are Minnesota drivers required to yield to pedestrians at unmarked intersections?

Deanna Pistono, MinnPost
yes

Drivers in Minnesota must yield to pedestrians at marked crosswalks and unmarked intersections where there is not a traffic light.

That’s according to state statute 169.21. However, as noted by the law as well as the City of Minneapolis webpage, pedestrians cannot move into a crosswalk if an oncoming vehicle has no time to stop.

Although this law has been on the books since at least 1937, Minnesota drivers seem to have a hard time following it. Using data collected in the summer of 2021, researchers found that drivers in the state failed to yield to pedestrians at such settings nearly 60% of the time. Their findings were published in the Journal of Safety Research. 

As of 2022, Minnesota is one of 19 states that require drivers to stop if a pedestrian is anywhere in the roadway at a crosswalk or unmarked intersection. Other states allow drivers more leeway.

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