When should a driver yield to pedestrians?

Yielding to pedestrians is a crucial part of safe driving practices and is a legal requirement in many jurisdictions. The correct answer emphasizes that drivers should yield at crosswalks, intersections, and when pedestrians are clearly waiting to cross the street. This is important because it ensures the safety of pedestrians who may be crossing or are waiting to cross the roadway.

Crosswalks and intersections are designated areas for pedestrians to cross, making it mandatory for drivers to be vigilant and yield to those crossing or intending to cross at those points. Additionally, recognizing situations where pedestrians are waiting to cross—even if there isn’t a marked crosswalk—demonstrates awareness and respect for pedestrian rights and safety.

While the other options present scenarios where yielding might be relevant, they do not encompass the broader responsibility of drivers to yield to pedestrians in a variety of common situations. For instance, yielding only at traffic lights excludes many necessary scenarios where pedestrians may need to cross, and limiting yielding to low-speed situations discounts the fact that pedestrians are vulnerable regardless of vehicle speed. Similarly, yielding only when pedestrians are in a hurry does not provide a consistent or fair standard for when drivers should stop, as the safety of pedestrians is paramount regardless of their perceived urgency.