Final answer:
Drivers must yield to pedestrians at crosswalks to ensure their safety. Traffic signals are crucial for managing vehicle speed and providing safe crossing times for pedestrians, especially in high traffic areas like school campuses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Drivers are required to yield to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks, which means they must slow down or even stop to allow pedestrians to cross safely. The discussion of installing traffic signals at busy intersections arises from concerns that vehicles often disregard the speed limit and put pedestrian safety at risk. Traffic signals enforce a regulated flow of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, ensuring that pedestrians can cross at designated times without having to dodge cars.
For example, at an intersection near a campus where students frequently cross, the installation of a traffic signal has significantly improved safety. Pedestrians no longer have to navigate between speeding vehicles, and the occurrence of accidents has dropped. In urgent cases, such as when transporting an individual to the hospital, some may argue for the moral justification to breach traffic signals if it leads to a greater overall utility.
Overall, traffic signals are not just about controlling vehicle flow; they play a crucial role in safeguarding pedestrians in busy streets and intersections.