What should you do if you encounter a pedestrian in a crosswalk?

When you encounter a pedestrian in a crosswalk, yielding the right-of-way is the correct and safest action. Pedestrians have the priority in crosswalks because they are the most vulnerable road users. This means that as a driver, you are required by law to stop and allow pedestrians to cross safely. Yielding to pedestrians promotes safety and helps prevent accidents that could result from ignoring their presence.

Honing your horn, as suggested in one of the other options, can be distracting and may startle the pedestrian, potentially leading to a dangerous situation. Speeding up to pass before the pedestrian crosses disregards their safety and violates traffic laws that are designed to protect people on foot. Stopping only if other cars are present does not account for your responsibility as a driver; the presence of other vehicles does not negate a pedestrian's right-of-way. Therefore, the best practice is always to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks to ensure their safety and comply with traffic regulations.