Motorists reminded to watch for kids

Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004 | 8:24 a.m.

With more than 280,000 students headed for the first day of public school next week, the Clark County School District and Metro Police are urging motorists to use extra caution on the road.

At a press conference Monday, students from Hal Smith Elementary School demonstrated -- with the help of a crossing guard -- the right way to cross the busy intersection of Desert Inn Road and Nellis Boulevard.

In 2003 the Legislature approved a law aimed at improving traffic safety around schools. Cars are required to come to a full stop when a crossing guard is in the roadway and remain stopped until the last person reaches the opposite side of the street. Before last year motorists had to wait only until the pedestrian moved past the vehicle.

In addition to watching for students on foot, bicycle, in-line skates and scooters, police reminded motorists to follow the law when it comes to school buses.

Cars traveling behind a school bus must stop when children are being loaded or unloaded, or when the stop sign arm is extended.

Traffic safety is a required part of the district's curriculum beginning with kindergarten.

A quarter of all children who die in motor vehicle crashes are pedestrians, according to AAA Nevada. The majority of the fatalities occurred in the afternoon hours following school.