As August winds to an end, students in Culpeper County are headed back to school.Our police and sheriff’s deputies want all Virginia motorists to remember the laws surrounding school buses, school speed limits, and pedestrian crossings – because they’ll be enforcing them.
What do you need to remember as a Culpeper driver now that school is back in session?
The speed limit around some schools drops to 15 miles per hour when students are arriving at or leaving the school.Look for signs and even in some cases flashing lights to alert you that the 15 mph speed limit is in effect.
When a bus stops to pick up or drop off school children, motorists behind the bus and those approaching from the opposite direction must stop and wait.
If a bus stops and flashes its red lights, motorists on all lanes of a four-lane undivided highway must stop (yes, even if you are 3 lanes away from that bus, you have to stop and wait).However, if the highway is divided, only the vehicles traveling in the same direction of the bus must stop.
If you fail to stop for a bus that is loading or unloading children, you could face a reckless driving charge.
If a pedestrian is attempting to enter a crosswalk, you MUST stop – even if you think you can drive through the crosswalk before the pedestrian gets to your side.It’s the law.
Keep our school kids safe and don’t give police a reason to write you an expensive ticket.Remember these laws now that school is back in session.
