Road Rules for School Buses, School Zones and Crossing Guards

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It's back-to-school time! Fairfax County Public Schools begin on Monday, Aug. 18, while private schools also begin around the same time.

With more than a million residents, our roads are normally busy, but school buses add an extra layer of vehicles, while school zones and crossing guards are looking out for the safety of our children. There are more than 180,000 FCPS students and 200+ schools in Fairfax County. While it may be tempting if you’re in a hurry, it is never OK to pass a school bus, speed through a school zone or ignore a crossing guard’s direction.

There are three ways we need drivers to pay more attention on our roads: 

• Stopped school buses with flashing lights
• School zones
• Crossing guards

Driving Rules Near School Buses

Fairfax County Public Schools runs more than 1,600 buses daily.

And if you drive, there’s no doubt you will encounter FCPS and private school buses. The rules are pretty simple if you encounter a school bus with flashing red lights:

• Drivers must stop in both directions, unless separated from the bus by a median. 

It is considered reckless driving - a criminal offense - if you pass a stopped school bus unloading children. 

County school buses are now equipped with cameras to capture drivers who fail to stop when the bus’s stop arm is extended. Drivers who illegally pass school buses that are loading and unloading children will be recorded and issued a $250 citation by mail.

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School Zone Speed Cameras

Pay attention to school zones, especially where they start and end. Those slower school zone speed limits are there for a reason. Follow the speed limit when the lights are flashing. It’s important to add more time into your commuting schedule so you’re not in a rush.

• Speed cameras are active in nine county school zones.
• Three additional speed cameras will go live on Aug. 18.
• Seven cameras will start operating Sept. 17 after a 30-day warning period.
• Twenty more cameras will be installed in the coming months.

In total, 39 school zone cameras will be watching and ticketing drivers later this fall, with more to be installed in future years.

The cameras are only active when the school zone is in effect. Drivers who exceed the speed limit by 10 mph or more will be fined based on an escalating fine structure that maxes out at $100.

Crossing Guards

Heeding the whistles and waves of our dedicated crossing guards is yet another way you can ensure the safety of students. Pay attention in the 160+ crossing guard zone areas as you drive.