Drivers in Reston-area school zones will need to drop to 25 mph starting Monday, Aug. 24, when Fairfax County Public Schools opens the 2026-27 school year. Fairfax County Police Sgt. Evan Dicker is warning families now: the uptick in foot traffic, bikes and cars around schools means everyone needs to pay closer attention.
"We do see people with headphones, or looking down at their phones, even when they're crossing in the crosswalk," Dicker told the Fairfax Times. "That doesn't mean that the vehicle is going to stop or see them."
Dicker's advice for students walking to school: go with an adult, wear bright clothing so drivers can spot you, and stay on the sidewalk. He urged pedestrians of all ages to put away phones and pull out earbuds before crossing any street.
For student cyclists, Virginia law requires riders under 15 to wear a helmet. Dicker recommended helmets for older students, too.
New teen drivers face distraction risk
Teenagers who earned a license over the summer may be driving themselves to school for the first time. Dicker said distracted driving is the biggest safety issue he sees with new teen drivers, whether they're texting or turning around to talk to passengers.
Virginia is a hands-free state, meaning holding a phone behind the wheel is illegal regardless of age.
Countywide enforcement already ramping up
The school-zone warnings come as FCPD wraps up Wave 3 of its Road Shark traffic enforcement campaign, which runs through Sunday, Aug. 16, a week before classes begin. Officers have been targeting speeding, aggressive driving, distracted driving, school-zone violations and DUI, according to Northern Virginia Magazine.
The first two Road Shark waves this year produced 25,311 citations and warnings combined, up from 17,570 across the same two rounds in 2025. A fourth wave is scheduled for October.
The stepped-up patrols follow a grim milestone: Fairfax County recorded 14 pedestrian and vulnerable road-user deaths as of July 29, matching the county's full-year totals for both 2024 and 2025 in under seven months, The Connection reported.
What Reston families should know
FCPD's practical checklist ahead of Aug. 24:
- Drivers: Observe the 25 mph school-zone speed limit. Put your phone away.
- Walkers: Children should walk with an adult. Wear bright colors. Stay on the sidewalk and off devices at crossings.
- Cyclists: Helmets are required for riders under 15 and recommended for everyone.
- New teen drivers: Eyes on the road. No texting, no turning to talk to backseat passengers.
As we reported July 26, FCPS students will also use new ID cards to tap onto buses this fall, giving families real-time tracking of their child's ride.
Residents who witness dangerous driving can report it to the Fairfax County Police non-emergency line at 703-691-2131.
