When pedestrians are near an ongoing emergency scene, what should you do?

• A. Slow down, be prepared to stop, and yield to pedestrians as required by law and safety.
• B. Increase speed to clear the area quickly.
• C. Honk to move pedestrians along.
• D. Ignore pedestrians if they appear hesitant.

Answer: (A)

Pedestrian safety around an ongoing emergency scene requires you to slow down, be prepared to stop, and yield to pedestrians as required by law and safety. By reducing your speed and staying ready to stop, you give yourself time to notice bystanders, victims, or responders who might step into the roadway or move unpredictably. Yielding to pedestrians—in crosswalks or when they have the right of way—helps prevent injuries and keeps the scene safer for everyone involved. Honking to hurry people along or speeding through to “clear the area” increases the risk of a collision and alarms or confuses pedestrians. Ignoring hesitant pedestrians is unsafe and may be illegal. The safest practice is clear: ease off the accelerator, monitor the path ahead, and yield to pedestrians as the situation requires.