When Romanian drivers must stop even if pedestrians are outside a marked crossing

Romanian drivers must stop for a blind pedestrian who raises a white cane while crossing the road, even if there is no marked pedestrian crossing nearby. The requirement appears in the regulations implementing Emergency Ordinance 195/2002 on road traffic.

The rule treats a white cane raised by a blind person as a mandatory traffic signal. Drivers must stop and allow the person to cross safely. Failing to respect the signal falls under the second class of traffic penalties.

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Stopping by road users is mandatory at signals given by blind people by raising a white cane when they are crossing the road.

The fine amounts to four or five penalty points. With the value of one point set at 216.25 lei from July 1, 2026, the total penalty ranges from 865 to 1,081 lei.

Romanian rules also allow pedestrians to cross at a street corner inside built-up areas when no pedestrian crossing is nearby. They must first make sure they can cross without endangering themselves or other road users, while drivers must drive defensively and avoid an accident.

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In the absence of designated places, pedestrians may cross the carriageway at the street corner only after making sure they can do so without danger to themselves or other road users.