Back To School 2022: Fairfax County Traffic Safety Rules To Remember

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — The first day of school for Fairfax County Public Schools this upcoming Monday means students walking to schools or bus stops. Police and school officials are reminding residents of several safety rules to remember while schools are in session.

Residents will notice increased school bus and pedestrian activity around Fairfax County in the mornings and afternoons as students return to school. As the largest school district in Virginia and one of the largest employers in the state, FCPS has approximately 180,000 students and over 24,000 full-time employees.

Here are some safety tips to know on the roads:

Stop For School Buses

Drivers must stop when school buses flash their lights and activate their stop sign to pick up or drop off students. Drivers are required to stop for school buses in both directions, unless separated by a median or walls between their travel lanes and the school bus. That means traffic must stop in both directions if the road doesn't have a median separating the two directions. If there is a median, traffic on the same side of a school bus must stop. Vehicles must be stopped until red lights are no longer flashing on the school bus. Under Virginia law, passing a stopped school bus can lead to a fine of $250. Passing a school bus could also be classified as reckless driving, which could carry penalties of up to $2,500 in fines and loss of your license for six months as well as up to 180 days in jail.

Watch for Students in the Roadway

As classes resume, children will be crossing the streets near bus stops and schools. Drivers should make full stops at stop signs, follow directions of crossing guards and watch for pedestrians crossing regardless of whether they have the right-of-way. Families are also encouraged to remind children to cross the street only when cars have stopped or crossing guards wave them across a guarded crossing.

Be Alert For School Zones

Drivers should pay close attention to where school zones start and end. School zones are typically marked with 25 mph flashing signs. The flashing lights typically start 30 minutes before school and 30 minutes after dismissal. Under Virginia law, speeding in a school crossing zone can carry a penalty of $250 in addition to other penalties provided by law.

Seatbelts Are Required

According to the Virginia DMV, Virginia law requires seatbelts for everyone under 18 and for drivers to be responsible for minors wearing a seatbelt. In addition, anyone in the front seats are required to wear seatbelts regardless of age. Drivers can be cited for a seatbelt violation.