When passing a pedestrian, must the driver reduce speed if necessary?

The question is about a driver passing a pedestrian. If necessary, the driver must reduce speed. The answer is: yes.

The Road Traffic Act states that when passing, the driver of a vehicle is obliged to keep a safe distance from the vehicle, road user or obstacle being passed and, if necessary, to reduce speed. A pedestrian walking on the roadway or on the shoulder is a road user, so the rule covers him directly. Passing (omijanie) means driving past a vehicle, road user or obstacle that is not moving - for example past a pedestrian standing at the edge of the roadway; meeting someone walking or driving from the opposite direction is passing an oncoming road user (wymijanie), and driving past someone walking in the same direction is overtaking. A safe distance from a pedestrian is in practice at least a metre, and the faster you drive, the more; if the road is narrow or a vehicle is coming from the opposite direction and the distance cannot be kept, you slow down, or even stop and wait. A pedestrian may trip, step to the side or carry something that sticks out into the roadway - a speed margin gives you time to react.

Legal basis: Art. 23 para. 1 point 2 and Art. 2 point 17 and 27 of the Road Traffic Act (Prawo o ruchu drogowym)