Smyrna, TN Public Conduct: Jaywalking (2026)

The pedestrian rule that governs crossing against a signal in the Town of Smyrna, Tennessee is § 15-509. Where special pedestrian control signals showing the words Walk, Wait, or Don't Walk are in place, a pedestrian facing the Walk signal is allowed to proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal, and drivers of all vehicles must give the pedestrian the right-of-way. Under the Wait or Don't Walk signal, no pedestrian is allowed to start to cross the roadway in the direction of that signal. A pedestrian who has partially completed the crossing on the walk signal must proceed to the nearest sidewalk or safety zone while the wait signal is showing.

The ordinary traffic-control signal in § 15-507 adds pedestrian rules. A pedestrian facing a green signal is allowed to proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk. On a yellow signal, pedestrians are advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway and must not enter it unless a pedestrian Walk signal authorizes them to, and a pedestrian who then starts to cross must yield the right-of-way to all vehicles. Section 15-109 makes it unlawful for any pedestrian to violate or fail to comply with any traffic-control sign, signal, marking, or device placed or erected by the state or the town, unless otherwise directed by a police officer. It also makes it unlawful for any pedestrian to willfully violate or fail to comply with the reasonable directions of a police officer.

Drivers carry duties toward people on foot. Vehicles turning right or left on a green signal must yield to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk when the signal is exhibited. Under § 15-121(5), when a vehicle has stopped at a marked crosswalk or at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the street, no operator approaching from the rear can overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.