You are coming to an intersection and have a green light. Pedestrians are crossing against the red. You should:
- Honk your horn.
- Speed up and pass in front of the pedestrians.
- Stop to let the pedestrians cross safely. ✓
- Drive close to the pedestrians and frighten them so they’ll think twice before crossing against a red light.
Answer: C. Stop to let the pedestrians cross safely.
Stop and let the pedestrians cross safely, even though you have a green light.
Why this is the answer
The handbook tells drivers to watch for people on foot whether they have the right-of-way or not, and to yield to pedestrians. It also says that when you see someone crossing or trying to cross, you should slow down and be ready to stop; a full stop is required when that is the only way to avoid hurting someone. A green light does not make it safe to drive through people who are already in your path.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Honk your horn. — A horn may be used when necessary, but honking alone does not yield to people already crossing and does not get you safely past them.
- B. Speed up and pass in front of the pedestrians. — Speeding up puts you on a collision course with pedestrians who are already in the roadway, which is the opposite of slowing and being ready to stop.
- D. Drive close to the pedestrians and frighten them so they’ll think twice before crossing against a red light. — Driving close to scare them is aggressive and does not give them the right-of-way; the handbook calls for slowing and being prepared to stop.
Remember it
Green means go only when the path is clear; people in the roadway still get your yield.
Official handbook: Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7), Chapter 4: Right-of-Way , p. 23