Lane Ranger: School bus blocks view of traffic

Dear Lane Ranger,

There is a Prince William County school bus that sits in the right turn lane on Ridgefield at Delaney roads in Dale City, waiting to continue their morning pickup around 6:25 a.m. 

I’m not sure if he just gets there too early or it’s between routes. He completely blocks the view of any traffic coming over the hill on Ridgefield. 

It’s dangerous trying to pull out and realize you’ve not seen a car because the bus has obstructed your view. Surely there is a better place to wait. Why not turn onto Delaney on a flat, level road and pull over and wait?

Donna Hanna

Dale City

Donna,

Prince William County Public Schools spokesman Ken Blackstone said transporting 57,000 school children to and from school each day can be a challenge and added buses need to be on time to pick up the students. But not too early.

In this case, the bus driver in question sits at the identified spot before beginning the route, said Blackstone.

He says the driver does not stop at the location every day and was asked to move to a safer location.

Dear Lane Ranger,

I walk daily with a friend through the Lake Ridge community for exercise in the morning. On several occasions, we have noticed we are taking our lives in our hands just crossing the street.

The final straw was watching a family with two small children crossing Antietam Road, in a crosswalk, terrorized by a driver who swerved around them at the last possible moment.

People seem to speed up when they see pedestrians in the crosswalk. They also seem enraged to see them there.

We always wait to enter the crosswalk until we feel we can cross safely and most of the close calls have happened on Mohican Road crossing, in front of Lake Ridge Middle School around 7 a.m.

Is my understanding of the state law is correct? Do pedestrians in a crosswalk have the right of way and isn’t it a requirement for vehicles to stop or at least slow down when someone is in the crosswalk?
Is there any way a sign could be located at busier crosswalks in Prince William County to remind drivers that they must give pedestrians the right of way? I am tired of people who are running late for work taking it out on walkers.

Karen Churchill

Lake Ridge

Karen,

Prince William County Occoquan Supervisor Michael C. May said Virginia code requires drivers to stop for any pedestrian inside a crossing, and he brought your concern to an employee of the Prince William Department of Transportation.

That county employee is now coordinating with the Virginia Department of Transportation in an attempt to add additional warning signage near the intersection of Mohican and Old Bridge roads.
May also touted several pedestrian improvements along Old Bridge Road, including a sidewalk that recently opened.

“This is a positive for the public safety of our students and also enhances the quality of life for many residents in our community,” stated May in an e-mail.

Send your commuter questions to the Lane Ranger via email at Laneranger@insi denova.com, on insidenova.com on Facebook and via Twitter at Twitter.com/insidenova. You can also send your questions directly to the Lane Ranger, 14010 Smoketown Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192.