Overtaking school bus when stop sign is ON (Manassas, Fairfax: elementary school, live)

[EricD]

Originally Posted by bangorme

I've got a question. On a highway with a dividing strip of some sort, do you have to stop on the other side of the strip? I'm thinking of roads like Van Dorn.

In driving school back in the day, I was told that you do NOT have to stop if there is a median. Basically it's like 2 one-way streets.

If there is a median, the bus driver is supposed to drop the kid off on the correct side of the street, so they do not have to cross when getting off the bus.

So unless they changed something... that has been my understanding of it. The same works for a fire engine or ambulance... if there's a median, and you're on the other side, you don't need to slow down, or pull off to the side.

[car54]

Originally Posted by EricD

In driving school back in the day, I was told that you do NOT have to stop if there is a median. Basically it's like 2 one-way streets.

If there is a median, the bus driver is supposed to drop the kid off on the correct side of the street, so they do not have to cross when getting off the bus.

So unless they changed something... that has been my understanding of it. The same works for a fire engine or ambulance... if there's a median, and you're on the other side, you don't need to slow down, or pull off to the side.

Yes, this is still true.

[The Dissenter]

Another question: What if you do stop completely but it is slightly past the school bus stop sign?

[car54]

Originally Posted by Alanboy395

Another question: What if you do stop completely but it is slightly past the school bus stop sign?

If you are traveling in the same direction as the bus, you are supposed to stop behind the bus, not alongside it.

[jlpicardq]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

If I were you I would thank my lucky stars you did not kill or maim a kid - you would have to live with that the rest of your life.
I don't care what your excuse is - you should hang your head in shame and hope you pay dearly for what you did.

Fairfax Mom: I think your comment was uncalled for and rude. He made a mistake, as all of us do, and is simply worried about what's going to happen to him now. I'm sure he's glad he didn't hit a child.

To the original poster: I would call a lawyer. They're not THAT expensive. Find out your rights. You can ask the court to allow you to take a driving course/test. Best case scenario the court tosses the ticket... most likely, though, they'll reduce it to a lesser charge.

VA is way too harsh when it comes to declaring reckless driving charges. They consider 20mph over the speed limit reckless driving regardless of whether you're in a subdivision or on a highway. It's a stupid law since in one scenario you're doing almost double the speed limit and in another you're doing 30% over the speed limit.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by car54

If you are traveling in the same direction as the bus, you are supposed to stop behind the bus, not alongside it.

Would a cop write me up over it? I've done it a couple of times (not by choice, and WON'T do it again), haven't gotten written up yet.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by jlpicardq

Fairfax Mom: I think your comment was uncalled for and rude. He made a mistake, as all of us do, and is simply worried about what's going to happen to him now. I'm sure he's glad he didn't hit a child.

To the original poster: I would call a lawyer. They're not THAT expensive. Find out your rights. You can ask the court to allow you to take a driving course/test. Best case scenario the court tosses the ticket... most likely, though, they'll reduce it to a lesser charge.

VA is way too harsh when it comes to declaring reckless driving charges. They consider 20mph over the speed limit reckless driving regardless of whether you're in a subdivision or on a highway. It's a stupid law since in one scenario you're doing almost double the speed limit and in another you're doing 30% over the speed limit.

In my opinion Virginia is tough state on reckless drivers and i applaud that. For 20 over in a subdivision i think that should fetch jail time, i can see (NOT understand) 20 over on a highway but what is the hurry inside a subdivison with kids playing?

My observation is that the NoVA posters, like me, are sick of the selfish drivers who endanger others on the road for NO good reason and this is our response, which is more productive than giving the offenders the bird on the highway or cussing them out on the street or even worse.

[tgbwc]

The key is you have to be able to identify the driver. A few weeks ago we were hit by an SUV. The went up on the median near Fair Oaks Mall and after hitting us their passenger side mirror was hanging. I thought I was doing a good job getting the plate number. The police said they couldn't do anything unless I could identify who was driving the other car.

[Nancy in Nokomis]

jlpicardq - Do you have kids? Maybe I overeacted but - come on - how can you miss a huge bus with a huge STOP sign? What was he doing - texting someone like all the other idiots. And I am not rude - you are rude - I was just posting my thoughts - kiss my you know what! God - everyone is so nambly pambly - oh the poor guy - just made a teeny weeny mistake - lets just let him get by with a little pat on his behind

[NSX]

Originally Posted by claremarie

It is unlikely that you can receive a ticket based solely on the bus driver's report. At most, you (or the rental company) would receive a warning letter.

Exactly right...You can't get a ticket without the cop present for what you describe. Just be careful for next time and you'll be all good.