What does it mean to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks?

• A. Drivers may continue driving if pedestrians are slow.
• B. Only stop if the pedestrian is in the crosswalk.
• C. Drivers must stop and allow pedestrians to cross; do not proceed until it is safe.
• D. Pedestrians must yield to vehicles in crosswalks.

Answer: (C)

Yielding to pedestrians means drivers must give pedestrians the right of way in crosswalks. When a pedestrian is in a marked crosswalk or is about to step into one, you must stop and let them cross. Do not proceed until the crosswalk is clear and it’s safe to continue. This keeps pedestrians safe and is a legal obligation, even if you have a green light or you’re in a hurry.

Some ideas you might hear are unsafe or incomplete: continuing if pedestrians are slow is not acceptable, since they may be in danger; stopping only if a pedestrian is already in the crosswalk misses situations where someone is about to enter; and the idea that pedestrians yield to vehicles is the reverse of how crosswalk rules work.