You see pedestrians near the road. You should:
- Sound your horn and maintain your speed.
- Speed up to clear the area quickly.
- Slow down and pass with caution. ✓
Answer: C. Slow down and pass with caution.
Slow down and pass with caution when you see pedestrians near the road.
Why this is the answer
The manual tells you to slow down and be ready to stop for pedestrians, and to yield to them at crosswalks and intersections whether marked or unmarked. It also warns you to expect someone stepping into the road who may not see or hear you, and to use extra caution near children and older pedestrians. Speeding past or honking does nothing to protect a person who may move into your path without warning.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Sound your horn and maintain your speed. — Honking does not make the pedestrian safer and the manual never tells you to hold your speed around people on foot; it tells you to slow down and be ready to stop.
- B. Speed up to clear the area quickly. — Speeding up gives you less time to react to a pedestrian who may step into the road, which is the opposite of the caution the manual asks for.
Remember it
When feet are near the pavement, ease off the gas and cover the brake, because you cannot count on the pedestrian seeing or hearing you.