Pedestrians who are blind or have low vision, as a white cane or guide dog shows, always have the right-of-way, so stop and stay stopped until they have completely left the road. Honking can startle or confuse them, and driving around them puts them in danger.
Whether or not a crosswalk is painted, you must do all you can to avoid hitting a pedestrian who is in your path. Stop and wait until the person is out of your lane, because driving past or around someone on foot puts them in danger if they hesitate or change direction.
These signals mean children may be boarding or leaving the bus. Stop your vehicle and do not move again until the red lights are turned off and the arm has been retracted.
Whether you are pulling out of a driveway, an alley or a parking lot, you must stop before your wheels reach the sidewalk, even if it looks empty. Pedestrians there, and traffic already on the street, get to go first.
When there is no sidewalk, people on foot should stay near the left edge of the road so that vehicles approach them head-on. Facing traffic lets them see what is coming and step out of the way if needed.
Drivers heading the same way as a stopped school bus must halt and remain halted until everyone is off the roadway and the bus starts moving again. A brief stop followed by passing is not allowed while students are getting on or off.
The five-sided, schoolhouse shape marks school zones and school crossings, and this one warns that children may be crossing ahead. Slow down, follow any reduced school-zone speed limit, and let the children cross first.
Tip A pentagon-shaped sign points to school-zone rules, whereas an ordinary pedestrian crossing uses a diamond-shaped sign.
Young children act on impulse and may chase a ball or a friend into the street without checking for cars. Near places where they play, reduce your speed and be prepared to brake at once.
Flashing red lights on a stopped school bus mean children are getting on or off. You have to stop before you get to the bus and remain stopped until the lights go off; on an undivided road this applies to traffic from both directions.
This five-sided yellow sign with two walking figures is the school advance warning sign. It tells you that a school zone is near or starting here, so slow down, watch for children who may dart into the street, and be ready to stop.
In most states, drivers going the other way on a highway split by a median or physical barrier may continue. Vehicles behind the bus must always stop, and on most undivided roads traffic from both directions must stop too. Rules vary: New York, for example, requires drivers on both sides of a divided highway to stop.
A white cane or guide dog means the person cannot see your vehicle, so you must ease off, let the pedestrian go first, and be ready to come to a complete stop.
Children may be boarding or leaving the bus, so you have to stop and stay put for as long as the red lights flash and the stop arm is out. Do not move or try to pass until both signals have been turned off.
Small children can be impossible to see behind a vehicle, even when you use the mirrors and the rear window. When children are nearby, step out and look behind the car before backing up, since a horn or a warning does not guarantee they will stay out of the way.
A turning driver must watch for people on foot and let them cross first, even where there is no traffic signal or marked crosswalk. Wait until the pedestrian is safely out of your path before you complete the turn.
A crossing guard's directions must be followed whenever they are given, whether or not school is in session and even if no children are in sight. The guard may be clearing the way for someone you have not yet noticed.
A white cane or a guide dog shows that the pedestrian is blind or has low vision, so you must yield to that person at all times, at an intersection or anywhere else. These pedestrians rely on traffic sounds to judge when to cross, so avoid honking at them.
Special protection under the law applies to a blind pedestrian who carries a white or metallic cane or is led by a guide dog. You must yield to that person even when the traffic signal or the usual right-of-way rules would favor you.
A white cane tells you the person is blind and may not know your vehicle is there. Reduce your speed, let the person have the right-of-way, and stay ready to brake.
A yellow diamond with one walking figure marks a spot where pedestrians may cross, and it can be used anywhere, not only near schools. School signs look different: they are five-sided and show two figures, usually children.
The upward arrow above the "SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT" panel gives advance notice that a lower speed limit for a school zone begins ahead. Start slowing down so that you are within the posted school limit when you enter the zone.
Every question in this set has its own page with the correct answer and an explanation.
