Fairfax County Urges Drivers to Stop for Stopped School Buses

Fairfax Co. sees uptick in drivers illegally passing school buses

Each day, Fairfax County, Va., Public School buses transport more than 110,000 students to and from classes, and to do that safely, buses and other vehicles on the road need to work together. But according to police and school officials, that hasn’t been the case recently.

In the past five years, police say they’ve issued more than 1,700 summonses to drivers who passed buses illegally.

Passing a school bus when it’s picking up or dropping off students at bus stops is not only illegal, it’s reckless. Violating the law could land you with an array of consequences including reckless driving charges, fines, points on your record or even jail time, police said.

Four students have been struck by motorists this year, according to school officials.

“For even one child to be injured because a motorist is disregarding traffic laws is inexcusable,” said FCPS Superintendent Jack Dale.

“I urge all motorists to exercise extreme caution when driving near school buses and bus stops,” Dale added.

Police and school officials also said parents should remind their kids how to get safely to and from their buses, and to be aware of other vehicles on the roadways.

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