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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55489</law_id><section_number>46.2-861.1</section_number><catch_line>Drivers to yield right-of-way or reduce speed when approaching stationary vehicles displaying certain warning lights on highways; penalties</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Operation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="8">Regulation of Traffic</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="7">Reckless Driving and Improper Driving</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">driver</span> of any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, upon approaching a stationary vehicle that is displaying a flashing, blinking, or alternating blue, red, or amber <span class="dictionary">light</span> or <span class="dictionary">lights</span> as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Flashing or steady-burning blue or red, flashing red and blue or blue and white, or red, white, and blue warning lights" href="/46.2-1022/">46.2-1022</a>, <a class="law" title="Flashing red or red and white warning lights" href="/46.2-1023/">46.2-1023</a>, or <a class="law" title="Flashing or steady-burning red or red and white warning light units" href="/46.2-1024/">46.2-1024</a> or subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Flashing high-intensity amber warning lights" href="/46.2-1026/">46.2-1026</a> shall (i) on a <span class="dictionary">highway</span> having at least four <span class="dictionary">lanes</span>, at least two of which are intended for traffic proceeding as the approaching vehicle, proceed with caution and, if reasonable, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, yield the right-of-way by making a <span class="dictionary">lane</span> change into a <span class="dictionary">lane</span> not adjacent to the stationary vehicle or (ii) if changing <span class="dictionary">lanes</span> would be unreasonable or unsafe, proceed with due caution and maintain a safe speed for <span class="dictionary">highway</span> conditions. A violation of any provision of this subsection is <span class="dictionary">reckless driving</span>. <a id="paragraph-203385" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-861.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">driver</span> of any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, upon approaching a stationary vehicle that (i) is displaying a flashing, blinking, or alternating amber <span class="dictionary">light</span> or <span class="dictionary">lights</span> as provided in subdivision A 1 or 2 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Flashing amber, purple, or green warning lights" href="/46.2-1025/">46.2-1025</a>, (ii) has activated the vehicular hazard warning signal flashers, (iii) is displaying caution signs, or (iv) is marked with properly lit flares or torches shall (a) on a <span class="dictionary">highway</span> having at least four <span class="dictionary">lanes</span>, at least two of which are intended for traffic proceeding as the approaching vehicle, proceed with caution and, if reasonable, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, yield the right-of-way by making a <span class="dictionary">lane</span> change into a <span class="dictionary">lane</span> not adjacent to the stationary vehicle or (b) if changing <span class="dictionary">lanes</span> would be unreasonable or unsafe, proceed with due caution and maintain a safe speed for <span class="dictionary">highway</span> conditions. A violation of any provision of this subsection shall be punishable as a <span class="dictionary">traffic infraction</span>. <a id="paragraph-203386" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-861.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If the violation resulted in damage to property of another person, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may, in addition, <span class="dictionary">order</span> the <span class="dictionary">suspension</span> of the <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> to operate a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> for not more than one year. If the violation resulted in injury or death to another person, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may, in addition to any other <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> imposed, <span class="dictionary">order</span> the <span class="dictionary">suspension</span> of the <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> to operate a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> for not more than two years. <a id="paragraph-203387" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-861.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The provisions of this section shall not apply in <span class="dictionary">highway</span> work zones as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Maximum speed limits in highway work zones; penalty" href="/46.2-878.1/">46.2-878.1</a>. <a id="paragraph-203388" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-861.1/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2019, c. 850; 2023, cc. 616, 617.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
