U.S. Virgin Islands – The VI Police Department (VIPD)/Office of Highway Safety’s (VIOHS) continues to remind motorists to take extra cautionary measures for student safety. This includes driving near student pedestrians and around school buses.
According to VI Code, Chapter 20, Section 495, passing – in either direction – a school bus with flashing signal lights and/or an extended stop arm is illegal. These signals indicate student movement to or from the bus for loading or off-loading; vehicle movement during this time is life-threatening. “Our children’s road navigation and safety skills are still developing,” explained VIOHS Director Daphne O’Neal. “Motorists must take responsibility for their safety, adhere to traffic laws and give them the right of way. This includes reducing speeds around young pedestrians and stopping to allow children to cross the street safely, with or without a crosswalk in place.”
For more information on keeping students safe on the roadways, contact the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety through Director O’Neal at daphne.oneal@vipd.vi.gov, Occupant Protection Program Manager, Denise Gomes, at denise.gomes@vipd.vi.gov, or Impaired Driving Program Manager, K’Tonya Petrus, at k’tonya.petrus@vi.gov. You may also contact the office via telephone at (340) 712-6073 or (340) 473-7383.
