Jaywalking means crossing a street in an illegal or unsafe way, usually outside of a crosswalk or against a traffic signal. When you jaywalk, you might dart across a busy street in the middle of the block instead of walking to the corner and using the crosswalk, or you might cross against a red light when cars have the right of way.

The word combines “jay” (an old slang term for a foolish person, like a country bumpkin unfamiliar with city traffic) with “walk.” Cities created jaywalking laws in the early 1900s as cars became common and streets grew more dangerous. Before cars, people could wander freely across streets, but automobile traffic made this far more dangerous.

Different places enforce jaywalking laws differently. In some cities, police officers will ticket jaywalkers with fines. In others, the laws exist but rarely get enforced. Regardless of the law, jaywalking is genuinely dangerous. Drivers don't expect pedestrians to suddenly appear between parked cars or in the middle of a block, so they can't react in time to avoid a collision.

Some people argue that jaywalking laws make sense for safety, while others think they're unnecessary in quiet neighborhoods with little traffic. Either way, crossing streets carefully and predictably helps keep everyone safe.