According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Virginia traffic laws clearly dictate that all vehicles must come to a complete stop when nearing a school bus that has activated its flashing red lights and/or extended its stop sign. The Virginia school bus law also says:
- Stopped drivers cannot proceed until all children are safely off of the bus, and out of the roadway.
- Wait until the bus moves to begin driving.
These rules are intended to protect vulnerable child pedestrians, who may not be fully aware of the traffic around them as they exit the bus. In order to reduce and prevent child injuries, it is critical for drivers to be extra vigilant in areas where children are entering and exiting school buses.
Listed below are several other considerations for Virginia school bus safety:
- Drivers should always double-check driveways and sidewalks as they pull or back into the road. Children can appear quickly and can be hard to see, particularly for drivers of vans, SUVs and trucks.
- Responsible drivers are considerate of how children behave – unpredictably and quickly – and their size, and exercise appropriate caution in school zones and near bus stops.
For more information about Virginia child pedestrian accidents, please go to the pedestrian accident section of our library.
A child pedestrian accident can ruin and completely change your child’s life. As the parent of a child victim of a Virginia walking accident, until you retain an attorney, the representatives of the insurance company know that they are dealing with someone who is not adequately prepared and thus are unlikely to offer you fair compensation.
If you, or your child, have been injured in a pedestrian accident in the Northern Virginia area, it would be in your best interest to contact an experienced Virginia personal injury lawyer who will protect your rights and ensure you get the justice and compensation you rightfully deserve. Virginia has a statute of limitations that may prohibit you from filing a lawsuit if too much time has passed. Contact Parrish Law Firm, PLLC today for a FREE evaluation of your case – 571-206-0215.
Call or Text 571-229-1800 or Complete a Free Case Evaluation form
