Crime & Safety

Police Urge Motorists to Watch Out for Children Around Schools, Neighborhoods

With school back in session, Fairfax County police tell motorists to add more time to their commutes to avoid speeding in school zones and in neighborhoods.

Juan Sanchez was excited to walk his son to school Tuesday morning.

Linked hand and hand, father and son walked to the front of in Falls Church for the 7-year-old’s first day of school as a first grader. Before the two crossed Graham Road to get to the school, Sanchez instructed his son to look both ways before they crossed. The young child, with his large, new backpack weighing him backwards, looked at his dad and said it was safe to cross. Just before the two crossed the street, a speeding car whizzed by the two.

“This is why I make sure I walk my son to school or anywhere for that matter,” he said. “People don’t really care about the people they might hit as much as getting to where they have to go.”

Find out what's happening in Falls Churchwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Thousands of children made their way to schools throughout Falls Church City and the Falls Church area of Fairfax County Tuesday. Traffic jams around schools and streets leading to the schools could be seen throughout Falls Church. Lucy Caldwell, spokeswoman for Fairfax County Police, said police have investigated 112 crashes in school zones since January.

With school back in session and more children riding bikes and walking to school, motorists need to be more aware, Caldwell said. In 2010, county police issued 266 tickets to motorists for improperly passing school buses and also issued 1,371 tickets for speeding in school zones, Caldwell said.

Find out what's happening in Falls Churchwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“The police are out there,” Caldwell said. “We know some people will be in a rush and we’re telling them to add extra time to their commutes to avoid passing buses and speeding through school zones.”

Here are some tips for motorists and pedestrians from Fairfax County police to follow around schools and in the neighborhoods:

Students

  • Cross in crosswalks and cross at traffic lights, not outside crosswalks or between cars
  • Look both ways before crossing streets

Motorists

  • Watch for children walking and riding bikes
  • Reduce distractions inside your car
  • When bus lights and stop signs are activated, vehicles must stop in both directions, unless they are separated from the bus by a median
  • Add extra time to your commute

To learn more about traffic safety issues contact Master Police Officer Allie Eggers at 703-280-0563.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.