School Zone Sign Changes

Dayna Roselli — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:09:24 +0000

You may have noticed around town that some of the school zone signs have changed. Some like the change, some don’t. Many people used to complain they didn’t like the school zone signs with the times posted. They felt the times were hard to see, and it was too confusing, having to read the times as you drove through.

Now, you will see signs that say WHEN CHILDREN ARE PRESENT, instead of times.

SO, now drivers are asking me, “what does that mean?”

I gathered up my friends from the city and county to explain.

According to the county:

Time School Zones are in Effect.

School Zones and School Crossing Zones are in effect from 30 minutes prior to the start of the education day until 30 minutes after the education day ends as per state law. State law does allow for the speed reduction to not be in effect during the education day hours and for the school zones and school crossing zones can be posted WHEN CHILDREN ARE PRESENT. All School Zones and School Crossing Zones are in effect during the times that are on the signs, the flashers are active, or 30 minutes prior to the educational day starting until 30 minutes after the educational day ends when children are present in the zone depending on the sign posted. Additionally, a school zone or school crossing zone is in effect during school hours when children are present in the school zone or school crossing zone.

Basically, we believe the school zone and/or school crossing zones are in effect “when children are present” during an educational day. Not on weekends or holidays or when school is not in its normal educational time frame. Attached you will find our latest “school zone” pamphlet, which might also help. As for the enforcement within these zones, you might want to check with Metro.

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And this is from the city of Las Vegas:

The signs that read When Children Are Present are in effect during hours children are going to or from school on school days. In the past when time of day was used , there could be hundreds of children trying to cross a street and drivers only slow down during the time specified on the signs regardless if children were present or not. This policy left children who were a few minutes early or late unprotected. There is a thought that, if drivers are trained to look for children and slow down for them, pedestrian safety would be improved, especially at crosswalks where pedestrians (children and adults) have the most diffeculty crossing our streets. In the past , officers found drivers were more concerned about the time when the school zones were in effect and not the reason why the school zones were installed. Many times, when children were just a few minutes after or before the posted times, drivers would not slow down or think about how difficult crossing the street is for a young school student.

With this new policy When Children Are Present, hopefully drivers will give children more consideration while going to and from school, and possibly get drivers to be more alert of pedestrians all the time.

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I hope this helps and makes sense to everyone.

What do you think makes more sense? Times? Or WHEN CHILDREN ARE PRESENT.

Personally, I like WHEN CHILDREN ARE PRESENT. You should always slow down when you see kids or even adults in a school zone. I think it’s common sense. But who am I? Right.

What’s Driving You Crazy » WHEN CHILDREN ARE PRESENT

School Zone Sign Changes