Police: Drive safely as Culpeper schools open

Local law enforcement officials are urging drivers to exercise safety and patience on the roads as schools reopen this week.

Culpeper police and Culpeper County sheriff’s deputies will be out in force making sure that thousands of children get to and from school safely.

“We will have police personnel directing traffic and monitoring vehicle traffic at the three school crossings in town,” said Capt. Chris Jenkins, interim chief of the Culpeper Police Department.

Two crossings are located on Radio Lane between Sycamore Park Elementary and Floyd T. Binns Middle; another is on Sunset Lane for Farmington Elementary.

While children are going to and from those schools, the speed limit is 15 mph. Another in-town school crossing is on North Main Street near Floyd T. Binns and Sycamore Park. The reduced school speed limit there is 25 mph.

In the county, sheriff’s deputies will assist with school traffic on Route 229 at Emerald Hill Elementary and on Orange Road near Pearl Sample and A.G. Richardson elementary schools. Deputies will also assist with pedestrian traffic heading to Culpeper County High School from Ira Hoffman Lane and North Ridge Boulevard.

“We will have extra deputies working radar in school zones to aggressively enforce reduced speed in those zones,” said Sheriff Jim Branch.

As a reminder, motorists must stop in both directions for school buses while they are picking up or dropping off children. Traffic must also stop in both directions on a four-lane undivided highway when the buses display red flashing lights.

Drivers on a divided four-lane highway travelling the same direction as the bus must stop and wait until the flashers are off before continuing. Passing a stopped school bus is considered reckless driving.

In addition to school pedestrian and bus safety, town police plan to vigorously enforce the law requiring motorists to stop at crosswalks for a pedestrian attempting to cross the road.

“We want everyone to reach and leave school safely,” Branch said. “Please drive carefully.”

Jenkins agreed.

“Our children are our future,” he said, “and we need to do everything to make sure they are safe as they strive for the education they need to prosper in life.”

Wall-to-wall back-to-school coverage

Today: Safety on the roads

Wednesday: Special back-to-school guide

Thursday: Stories and photos from all 10 Culpeper County schools

Friday: Annual football preview section

Saturday: Coverage of the Cannonball Classic football game between Eastern View and Culpeper