New York DMV Permit Written TestRules of the Road and Traffic LawsHard
You are at an intersection with a stop sign and a solid white stop line. A pedestrian is crossing the street in the crosswalk, but they are not directly in front of your vehicle. What is your legal obligation?
- AWait until the pedestrian has completely cleared the crosswalk on the other side of the street before proceeding.
- BProceed slowly, as long as you do not get closer than five feet to the pedestrian.
- CStop at the stop line, then proceed if the pedestrian is not in your immediate path.
- DStop before the crosswalk, yield to the pedestrian, and then proceed when clear.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Stop before the crosswalk, yield to the pedestrian, and then proceed when clear.
In New York State, drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within crosswalks. This means stopping before the crosswalk and waiting until the pedestrian has safely crossed your path, even if they are not directly in front of your vehicle at the moment you arrive. You must ensure they have safely completed their crossing relative to your vehicle's path.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This is overly cautious; you generally only need to wait until the pedestrian has cleared your path of travel, not the entire street.
- B. This is incorrect; you must yield the right-of-way, not just maintain a minimum distance, and proceeding slowly may still be unsafe.
- C. While stopping at the line is correct for the stop sign, you must also yield to the pedestrian, which may mean waiting longer.
Pedestrian Right-of-Way
The legal principle that pedestrians generally have the right-of-way in crosswalks and intersections, requiring drivers to yield.
- Drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
- Stop before the crosswalk and wait until the pedestrian has cleared your path.
- Be extra cautious around children and elderly pedestrians.
- Failure to yield is a serious traffic violation.
Memory trick: Pedestrian's path, driver's stop, for safety's sake, don't take a hop!