What is the proper action when driving through a heavy pedestrian area?

Yielding to pedestrians and proceeding cautiously is essential in heavy pedestrian areas to ensure safety and compliance with traffic regulations. These environments typically have numerous individuals who may not be paying full attention to vehicles, especially in places such as shopping districts, parks, or near schools. By yielding and driving slowly, a driver can better respond to unexpected movements from pedestrians, reducing the risk of accidents.

This approach demonstrates consideration for people on foot, who have the right of way in most scenarios. Driving cautiously allows the driver to observe the surroundings more carefully, making it possible to recognize potential hazards, such as children suddenly stepping into the path of a vehicle or pedestrians crossing without warning.

The other options do not promote safety or adhere to responsible driving practices. Accelerating to clear the area quickly disregards the presence of pedestrians, increasing the likelihood of an accident. Sounding the horn continually can create alarm or panic among pedestrians, which is counterproductive and could lead to dangerous situations. Maintaining speed regardless of surroundings lacks consideration for the dynamic nature of pedestrian-heavy environments and can lead to serious consequences if a pedestrian is unexpectedly on the roadway.