August 10, 2026 - 6:00 am

It’s that time of year again: Thousands of Clark County School District students are heading back to class starting today, and with their return comes the resumption of school zones after their own summer break.

Drivers who have gotten used to their morning and afternoon commutes without active school zones and children present should be prepared as the students go back to class.

School zones will be active 50 minutes before and after school, an increase from the previous 30 minutes, and drivers should take note that school start times have changed for the school year.

Most elementary schools will now start at 9:15 a.m., middle schools at 7:30 a.m. and high schools at 8:30 a.m.

Every road user plays a role in keeping safety around schools a top priority and can help reduce the number of crashes involving student pedestrians, which totaled 427 in the 2025-26 school year — a 356 percent increase from the previous school year.

Here are some tips for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike.

There are no U-turns allowed within active school zones. The prohibition is intended to reduce the chances of striking a student crossing the road in a school zone, according to PedSafe Vegas.

Motorists are not allowed to pass another vehicle in a school zone, even if they are traveling under the posted speed limit. This law is in place to keep a standard speed and preserve clear views for drivers in a school zone.

The 15 mph speed limits within school zones around most elementary and middle schools are in place to protect the young students. A small child has a better chance at surviving an auto-pedestrian crash at a speed of 15 mph or less. Remember that the next time you think about speeding through a school zone.

Follow the posted school zone speed limit. If increasing safety was not a big enough factor to do so, a new state law has doubled the penalty for traffic violations in school zones.

Budget extra time for your drive, knowing that driving through a school zone means moving at a slower speed than during nonschool hours, to avoid the urge to speed.

Motorists are not allowed to park within 20 feet of a crosswalk or 10 feet of a driveway to help keep sightlines clear for approaching drivers, making it easier to spot pedestrians, cyclists and children using scooters.

When picking up a student from school, drivers cannot park in a bike lane, as those lanes are for … bikes. Motorists should park in the nearest area to the school where they are not obstructing a bike lane.

Drivers are required by law to stop for school buses when students are boarding or unboarding and buses’ red flashing lights are active. Motorists traveling on a divided road with a raised median do not have to stop for a school bus loading or unloading while traveling on the opposite side of the road. Drivers should still travel through the area with caution and be mindful of children in the area.

Students riding bikes, scooters or other wheeled devices should always wear a proper-fitting helmet and obey traffic laws, traffic signals and only cross roads in marked crosswalks. Students should walk their bikes and scooters while going through a crosswalk; it gives drivers more time to be aware they are crossing the street.

With the use of e-dirt bikes by school-aged children becoming an increasingly common safety issue on local roads, some police departments across the Las Vegas Valley are planning to target the use of the illegal devices.

The Henderson Police Department, which has been cracking down on the use of e-dirt bikes over the summer, will target the illegal devices this school year, the department told the Road Warrior last week. Henderson officials were scheduled to provide details on their e-dirt bike enforcement in a Monday news conference.

Parents should take time to remind their children about road safety rules to ensure they have it at top of mind as the school year begins. Again, anyone with a daily commute that involves passing through a school zone should leave earlier than they did during the summer, to ensure they can arrive at their destination in a safe and timely manner.

Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X. Send questions and comments to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com.