8 School Zone Speed Cameras Activated Friday Across Fairfax County

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Motorists speeding near a Fairfax County school on Friday morning may have been been photographed by one of the speed cameras installed in eight school zones around the county.

Friday was the first day the photo monitoring devices were activated as part of a pilot program to improve pedestrian safety and save lives by changing motorists driving habits.

“The goal of the Speed Camera Pilot program is to improve the safety of our roads, protect pedestrians and motorists and prevent accidents,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay said, in a county release. “This program, in coordination with the Police Department and Fairfax County Public Schools, is a critical tool to deter dangerous behavior and ultimately save lives. As you drive in our neighborhoods and school zones — the message is clear, please take a moment to slow down.”

No citations will be issued for the first 30 days of the speed camera pilot program. Instead, drivers will receive a warning from police. After 30 days, speeding drivers caught by the cameras will face escalating fines for every 10 mph over the speed limit, with a maximum fine of $100.

Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn originally introduced the measure to develop a speed camera program for school and work zones in the county, during the Dec. 7, 2021 board of supervisors meeting. The board voted unanimously to adopt the measure, which was cosponsored by Supervisors John Foust (Dranesville) and Rodney Lusk (Franconia).

"Speed camera enforcement reduces pedestrian injuries and ultimately saves lives," Foust said, in a recent social media post.

At the end of the six-month pilot program, additional cameras will be installed countywide in two phases. In Fiscal Year 2024, 50 cameras will be installed in work and school zones around the county. An additional 30 cameras will be placed in school zones in FY 2025.

Here are the locations of the speed cameras that were activated on Friday:

• Chesterbrook Elementary School: Kirby Road near the school (Dranesville District)
• Irving Middle School: Old Keene Mill Road near the school (Braddock District)
• Key Middle School: Franconia Road- near the school (Franconia District)
• London Towne Elementary School: Stone Road near the school (Sully District)
• Sleepy Hollow Elementary School: Sleepy Hollow Road near the school (Mason District)
• South County Middle School: Silverbrook Road near the school (Mt. Vernon District)
• Terraset Elementary School: Soapstone Drive near the school (Hunter Mill District)
• West Springfield High School: Rolling Road near the school (Springfield District)

The county is also planning to install a school zone speed camera for Oakton High School on Blake Lane near Sutton Road and a work zone speed camera at Route 28 near Old Mill Road.

Six months after the board approved the speed camera program, two Oakton High School students were killed and a third was injured after they were struck by a speeding car as they were walking home along Blake Lane in Fairfax.