New school zone hours extended in Carson City area
Updates and changes to school zones have arrived in the Carson City area.
School zones for Bordewich Bray, Carson Middle, Carson High, Eagle Valley, Empire, Fremont, Fritsch, Mark Twain, Pioneer High and Seeliger have been extended from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The installation of new signs and updated times is expected to be completed by the second week of October, 2020.
This marks the first Carson City Safe Routes to School Master Plan programmatic project to be implemented in the city. School zone extensions for schools within the Carson City School District were proposed by Carson City Public Works and approved by the Board of Supervisors on June 4, 2020.
Carson City’s updated school zone extensions are in effect when school is in session. All school zone signs, including flashing zone signs, will not be in effect on weekends, holidays and Mondays during the 2020-21 school year.
“School zones in Carson City have not been updated since 1992,” said Kelly Norman, Transportation Planner for Carson City Public Works and Safe Routes to School Coordinator. “Carson City Public Works and Western Nevada Safe Routes to School partnered to revise school zones in an effort to create safer spaces around each Carson City school to encourage students and families to walk or bike.”
As the school zone extensions take place, the Carson City Sheriff's Office is focused on educating drivers and pedestrians of the new changes. Nevada law prohibits drivers from driving faster than 15 miles per hour in a school zone, and fellow drivers in the area must take cautionary measures in specific areas.
“We’re trying to create a consistency of how the school zones are managed,” Sheriff Ken Furlong said. “Our officers are advising and educating drivers of the changes that are taking effect.”
In an effort to promote safety and education, Furlong said speeding tickets and other traffic violations will not be heavily enforced early on for drivers unaware of the new school zone extensions around Carson City. Furlong urges fellow drivers and pedestrians to adjust to the changes as the year progresses.
“We are absolutely not going to be enforcing such heavy violations early on,” he said. “The department is focused on educating and prevention first for people driving around town… When those time periods occur where drivers need to slow down, it takes time to make that adjustment.”
The Carson City Sheriff's Office joined forces with Nevada law enforcement from Aug. 10 to Aug. 21 to heighten awareness of the state’s pedestrian safety laws through the dedication of extra traffic patrol deputies.
The campaign sought much-needed attention for all road users, drivers and pedestrians to remember and obey the basic rules of the road that have been put in place to help save lives. Carson City’s changes to school zones align with the campaign’s values for safety on the roads at all times.
“This is the time of year when accidents and things happen,” Furlong said. “It’s getting darker, very difficult to see pedestrians. Halloween is coming up with kids potentially roaming the streets. COVID-19 is putting fewer kids in school, so they may be outside more. It’s challenging for drivers, we have to stay alert and stay cautious with these new extensions.”
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