Drivers Urged to Use Extra Caution as Randolph County Schools, Davis & Elkins College Begin School Year Monday, August 18

ELKINS, W.Va. — August 14, 2025 — As Randolph County Schools and Davis & Elkins College welcome students back on Monday, August 18, public safety officials in Elkins remind motorists to stay alert for increased pedestrian, cycling and bus traffic.

With more young people walking, cycling, and riding buses throughout Elkins and Randolph County, the community’s vigilance is critical for ensuring a safe start to the 2024-2025 school year.

Key Safety Reminders:

• Never pass a stopped school bus with flashing lights and an extended stop sign—it’s illegal and endangers children and all nearby pedestrians.
• Yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, especially younger elementary school students whose actions could be unpredictable.
• Observe reduced speed limits in school zones—fines are often doubled in these areas.

Why It Matters:

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has data indicating that fatalities among young pedestrians occur most often during the after-school hours.
• According to the NHTSA, between 2014 to 2023, there were 971 fatal school-bus-related crashes, and 1,079 people of all ages were killed in those crashes — an average of 108 fatalities per year.
• Depending on the source cited, anywhere from 13,000 to 15,000 injuries a year involve school buses, often due to illegal passing or distracted driving.
• School buses are the safest way for children to travel to school. While passengers in a school bus are more likely to sustain injuries in a crash, fatalities are far more common in the other vehicle involved, according to the National Safety Council.

In West Virginia, passing a stopped school bus can result in fines and even imprisonment:

• First offense: a fine of up to $1,000, or up to six months in jail, or both.
• Second offense: a fine of up to $1,500, or up to six months in jail, or both.
• Third and subsequent offenses: a fine of $2,000 and up to six months in jail.

The City of Elkins welcomes back students and faculty at both Randolph County Schools and Davis & Elkins College and wishes everyone a successful and safe academic year.

The flier below is courtesy of the NHTSA.