With thousands of bus stops in the District — and most of them located on busy corners — chances are you’ve swerved left around a parked bus and then made a quick right turn without a second thought.

Beginning next month, that little maneuver could cost you.

The D.C. Council recently approved a new law that prohibits the practice, citing pedestrian safety concerns.

D.C. Council member David Catania, I-At-large, who introduced the legislation, said the blind turn puts pedestrians — including those alighting from the bus — at risk because drivers often do not have a clear view of the intersection.

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One only needs to drive along K Street, Massachusetts or Wisconsin avenues where hundreds of bus stops are located to see a close call, officials said.

School buses have warning lights for unloading passengers. But Metrobuses, Downtown Circulators and other commuter and tourists bus services do not.

The law was approved unanimously last month and is expected to go into effect in late September after a Congressional review.

Although pedestrian safety was at the heart of the law, it could also significantly cut down on vehicle-bus accidents and save transit services hundreds of thousands of dollars in repair costs.

Metro spokeswoman Cathy Asato said the left side of the transit agency’s nearly 1,000 buses are the most frequently damaged and costs tens of thousands to repair annually.

“We are in favor of any regulations that makes the system safer for pedestrians, our passengers and our operators,” Asato said.

Violations will cost drivers $100 or twice the fine for illegal turns, whichever is greater, officials said. A new sticker will be placed on the rear of all buses operating the city to remind passengers of the new rule, officials said.

mrupert@dcexaminer.com