[Archived] City of Alexandria Reminds Community of New Virginia Traffic Safety Laws in Support of Vision Zero

For Immediate Release: July 1, 2020

The City of Alexandria reminds the community of new Virginia traffic safety laws in effect as of today, July 1, as a result of 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.

Drivers must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks:

When the posted speed limit is 35 mph or lower, drivers must stop and remain stopped for a person crossing at any marked or unmarked crosswalk until the person has passed the lane where the driver has stopped. Violators are subject to fines of up to $500. Prior law required drivers to yield in such situations, but not necessarily to stop.
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.

Vulnerable road users receive additional protection:

Any driver who causes serious injury to or the death of a vulnerable road user due to carelessness or distraction can be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor. Vulnerable users include people in wheelchairs, walking, biking, skating, riding horses or other animals, and those in animal-drawn vehicles, as welI as those using electric scooters, electric bikes and electric boards.
It is now illegal for drivers to use a bicycle lane to pass another driver.

For additional information on these new laws, visit the Alexandria Vision Zero Initiative web page at alexandriava.gov/VisionZero. To report traffic violations, call 703.746.4444. For other traffic safety issues, such as requesting traffic signage, use Alex311 online or call 311 or 703.746.4311.

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.

This news release is available at alexandriava.gov/116442.