Go slow when seeing school zone signs in Las Vegas

Kids are crying, but their moms are rejoicing: It's back-to-school time!

And that means it's also time for motorists to go on high alert around those hallowed halls of knowledge because, as we all know, kids seem to do the dumbest things when walking near a street.

With temperatures still in triple digits and some drivers on autopilot when they make their morning and evening commutes, it's easy to get lulled to inattention when entering school zones.

And then, it doesn't help when you're confronted with confusing signage. For example, when you approach Canyon Springs High School from the east on East Alexander Road at North Fifth Street, there is a sign noting a school zone and a speed limit of 25 mph. Less than 100 feet ahead, there is another sign marking the school speed limit at 15 mph.

Don't get thrown by that phrase "when children are present" on school zone signs. I'm slowing down even if it's someone walking their dog, not just for a kid schlepping a backpack.

Considering that speeding ticket fines are higher in school zones, it's a good idea to go slow.

So who's responsible for choosing whether it's a 15 mph limit or a 25 mph limit?

Turns out, state lawmakers came up with different speed limits.

David Roddy, a public information specialist with the Clark County School District, said just about everything a motorist wants to know about driving around schools is in Nevada Revised Statutes 484B, and that includes why some limits are 25 and some are 15.

The 15 mph limits are for "school zones," streets that are adjacent to a school property. The 25 mph limits are for "school crossing zones," streets that aren't adjacent to a school but are used as a student's route to walk to school.

So that's why on East Alexander, there is a 25 mph zone — for the crossing zone — and then a 15 mph zone — because Alexander is adjacent to Canyon Springs High west of Fifth.

You may also see crossing guards along school crossing zones, and it should be noted that not only must the students be clear of a crosswalk before a motorist can proceed through it but also the crossing guard. Motorists can be cited if they pass over a crosswalk when the guard is still present.

School zones and crossing zones are established by traffic engineers in Southern Nevada's municipalities and by Clark County. School districts (and citizens) can petition their respective city councils for zone adjustments or additional traffic devices, such as flashing lights.

New this school year is a crossing zone at Fort Apache Road and Echelon Point Drive to accommodate students of Escobedo Middle School. It was necessitated by the opening of the Fort Apache Road bridge at the 215 Beltway.

Don't forget that you will be seeing yellow — school buses, that is — when classes open. Don't pass a school bus with a flashing red light in either direction. But remember, also, that if you're on a road with a median and the school bus with the flashing red light is on the other side of the street, you can safely pass with caution.

Big rigs

Warrior reader Evy has seen an increase in big rigs parking in her neighborhood:

"I have noticed recently that more of the big semi-trailer trucks are parking for long periods of time in residential areas in unincorporated Clark County. Some of them even block the view at stop signs. Is there a county regulation prohibiting this? If so, whom should I call to report it?"

This is a problem not only in unincorporated Clark County, Evy, but also in municipalities throughout Southern Nevada.

Generally, the parking of big rigs overnight is prohibited, but there are some exemptions. For example, recreational vehicles are allowed to park for up to 48 hours in the cities of Las Vegas and Henderson. So if Cousin Eddie shows up with the tenement on wheels, he's OK for the weekend.

But 18-wheelers more than 24 feet long and weighing more than 8,000 pounds are not allowed to "stand, park or store" on a city street in the city of Las Vegas. The exception is for goods or passengers being picked up or delivered, "but only for that period of time during which goods or passengers are being expeditiously loaded or unloaded" or "in conjunction with the performance of service, repair, construction or similar essential use within the immediate neighborhood."

So who to call? In Las Vegas, it's the code enforcement office, 702-229-6615. In unincorporated Clark County, it's the constable's office, 702-455-4099 (Las Vegas township).

In Henderson, officials recommend calling a traffic hotline at 702-267-5099 or the city's parking office at 702-267-5093.

In North Las Vegas, call the North Las Vegas police, 702-633-9111, for vehicles parked on public streets and the code enforcement division at 702-633-1677 for vehicles parked illegally on private property.

The Nevada Department of Transportation also recommends calling the Nevada Highway Patrol, 702-486-4100, to report trucks parked long-term on state-maintained roadways.

Questions and comments should be sent to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com. Please include your phone number. Follow the Road Warrior on Twitter @RJroadwarrior

Road work ahead

■ Restrictions will be in place through February on Lamb Boulevard between Wyoming Avenue and Vegas Valley Drive on a water pipeline rehabilitation project. Lamb will be reduced to one lane in each direction, and left turns will be prohibited. Two lanes will be open in each direction during daylight hours. Work is scheduled Sundays through Thursdays, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

■ The far right lane of Tamarus Street between Silver Hawk and Serene avenues will be restricted for a water reclamation line project Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

■ Road repairs are planned on state Route 158 — Deer Creek Road — the route connecting Kyle Canyon and Lee Canyon roads in the Spring Mountains. Portions of deteriorating road will be removed and the surface of the 9-mile road repaved in weekday work. All lanes will be open on weekends and nonwork hours. Speed limits will be reduced, and a pilot car will guide motorists around construction zones, resulting in delays of up to 30 minutes. The project continues through late August.

■ Craig Road will be restricted to two lanes in each direction at Simmons Street through August for a water drainage project. There is no access to Simmons either north or south of Craig. Restrictions on Craig and north of Craig on Simmons will continue through September, and the entire project will be completed in February.

■ The left and center travel lanes of Nellis Boulevard between Boulder Highway and Plata del Sol Drive will be restricted through Aug. 30 for a Clark County Water Reclamation District project. The right lane will remain open.

■ Sewer line construction work at Patrick Lane and McLeod Drive will close three intersections and restrict lanes through Aug. 31. Patrick Lane and Harrison Drive west of McLeod, Patrick Lane and Stevenson Way east of McLeod, and McLeod and Post Road south of Patrick will be closed. One southbound lane on McLeod, turning west onto Patrick, and one eastbound lane on Patrick, turning north onto McLeod, will be open.

■ Lane shifts have occurred along the northern 215 Beltway between North Fifth Street and Aliante Parkway for the construction of permanent roadway, a concrete barrier and street lights. Speed limits have been reduced to 45 mph and the shift will be in effect through fall

Gasoline prices

The average gasoline price Friday in the Las Vegas Valley was $3.26 per gallon. It was $3.22 in Nevada. The national average of $2.67 is up 5 cents from a week ago, down 11 cents from a month ago and down 80 cents from a year ago.