[Archived] New Virginia Traffic Safety Laws Take Effect July 1

New Virginia Traffic Safety Laws Take Effect July 1

New traffic safety laws will take effect in Virginia on July 1, as a result of new legislation passed during the 2020 General Assembly Session. These new laws support and extend Alexandria’s commitment to Vision Zero, the City's initiative to end traffic-related deaths and serious injuries.

Effective Wednesday, July 1:

1. Drivers to stop for pedestrians: Drivers must stop and remained stopped for a person or people crossing at any marked or unmarked crosswalk until the person has passed the lane where the driver has stopped. 

• It is illegal for a driver of any other vehicle to pass the stopped driver in an adjacent lane or behind the stopped driver, to overtake or pass the stopped driver
• People walking or in wheelchairs may cross at any clearly marked mid-block crosswalks, marked crosswalks at intersections, and unmarked crosswalks at intersections
• This law applies on streets with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or below
• In Alexandria, if a driver fails to stop for a person crossing, the driver could be subject to fines of up to $500

2. Vulnerable road users: Any driver that causes serious injury to or death of a vulnerable road user due to carelessness or distraction can be charged with a Class 1 Misdemeanor. 

• It is now illegal for drivers to use a bicycle lane to pass another driver
• Vulnerable users are people in wheelchairs, walking, biking, skating, riding horses or other animals, and those in animal-drawn vehicles, as well as those using electric scooters, electric bikes, and electric boards.
  

For additional information on these items, please visit the Alexandria Vision Zero Initiative web page at alexandriava.gov/VisionZero. To report concerns, please use Alex311 (311 or 703.746.4311).