HANOVER, Va. – As the school year begins, the Sheriff’s Office will maintain high visibility to ensure the safety of children being transported to and from school. With school buses, motorists, pedestrians, crossing guards, and cyclists added to the daily commute, motorists are reminded to be alert, slow down, and allow for extra travel time to ensure a safe start to the school year.

Deputies will be actively enforcing all laws pertaining to school zone and bus safety. As a result, motorists are reminded that:

School zone speed limits are reduced when the yellow lights are flashing.

Bus safety:
Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.

Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped and that children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving.

Drivers are required to stop for a school bus when they are headed towards it even when approaching from a cross street.

Drivers are not required to stop when approaching a stopped school bus when the roadways of the driver and the school bus are divided by a physical barrier or an unpaved area.

Please join us in our efforts to ensure this school year is safe for everyone.