You are stopped at a red light. A pedestrian steps into the crosswalk, and then your light turns green. What does the manual say to do?
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A.
Move forward as long as the pedestrian is not directly in your lane.
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B.
Proceed slowly around the pedestrian since your light is now green.
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C.
Wait for the pedestrian to finish crossing before you move. Correct
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D.
Sound the horn to alert the pedestrian and continue when they yield.
The answer is "Wait for the pedestrian to finish crossing before you move."
When a pedestrian is in the crosswalk and the light turns green, the driver must wait for the pedestrian to finish crossing before moving. Drivers who read a green as clearance to move as long as the person is not directly in their path pick A; the pedestrian's right of way covers the whole crosswalk, not just the driver's lane.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. Move forward as long as the pedestrian is not directly in your lane.
The pedestrian's right of way covers the entire crosswalk, not only the driver's own lane. This answer slices the crosswalk into vehicle lanes, an intuition that ignores how the crosswalk is drawn across the whole road.
B. Proceed slowly around the pedestrian since your light is now green.
A pedestrian in the crosswalk keeps priority even after the light turns green; the driver must wait. This answer reads a green as clearance to move regardless of who is in the crosswalk, the same misread that produces pedestrian strikes.
D. Sound the horn to alert the pedestrian and continue when they yield.
The pedestrian is not required to yield to a car in the crosswalk; the horn does not shift priority. This answer treats a horn as a right-of-way tool, a habit borrowed from clearing hazards rather than moving people.
This question tests your knowledge of Right of Way in New York. Source: New York State Driver's Manual, "Right-of-Way," p.34..
Related New York questions
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- You reach an intersection with no signs or signals at the same time as another vehicle approaching from your right. Under the manual, who must yield? →
- You approach an intersection on a green light and see a vehicle already turning inside it. What does the manual tell you to do? →
- You have the right of way as you approach an intersection. What does the manual say to do? →
- You want to turn left. An oncoming driver reaches the intersection at about the same time and is going straight. What does the manual say to do? →
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