After an eye-popping 356 percent increase in crashes involving vulnerable school-age road users, Clark County is looking to increase safety for students.
The massive increase in crashes was between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years has a lot to do with micromobility devices such as electric bikes and electric scooters, and those devices are going to be at the forefront of the county’s safety efforts.
The crashes included in the report occurred between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on school days, and involved people 18 years old and younger.
Of the Southern Nevada jurisdictions included, there were 427 related crashes last school year involving schoolchildren. Of those, Clark County accounted for 179 crashes, while the city of Las Vegas accounted for 121, North Las Vegas 76, Henderson 48, Boulder City 2 and Mesquite 1.
Of the total crashes last school year, 218, or 51 percent, involved a student riding an e-bike or e-scooter, according to the data.
The large increase in crashes occurred even after the majority of jurisdictions in Southern Nevada added crossing guards at most of their middle schools, furthering the safety initiative that was already in place at elementary schools.
Data reveals that high schoolers are the most at-risk, with 53 percent of crashes involving students between the ages of 14 and 17. Fifteen-year-olds had the most reported crashes with 64, followed by 14-year-olds with 60, 17-year-olds with 54 and 16-year-olds with 50.
The time frame with the highest rate of crashes was in the 2 p.m. hour, after school ends for middle and high school students. A total of 75 crashes occurred in that window last school year.
Traffic Safety Working Group
The Clark County Office of Traffic Safety created the School Traffic Safety Working Group, comprised of multiple agencies from the Southern Nevada region that work together to address ways to increase traffic safety around schools.
The advisory committee includes officials from Clark County, Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, Mesquite, Clark County School District, Nevada Department of Transportation, Regional Transportation Commission and Metropolitan, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City and Mesquite police departments.
Representatives from University Medical Center, the Southern Nevada Health District, PedSafe Vegas and the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority are also included in the group.
The working group analyzes risk, shares data, develops actionable recommendations and coordinates phased implementation of safety measures and policies, according to the group’s report, which is set to be heard at Tuesday’s Clark County commissioners meeting.
Four subgroups
There are four subworking groups within the board, focusing on education, enforcement, engineering and planning, and policy.
On the enforcement side, local law enforcement agencies conduct coordinated multiagency school zone enforcement, where officers are present at schools and in school zones with their emergency lights activated. Henderson and Boulder City police have conducted targeted enforcement events focused on proper and safe e-bike and e-scooter uses, where warnings and citations were given to those not using the devices in a lawful manner.
Additionally, police officers in multiple jurisdictions have also held safety events, aiming to educate students and parents on the dangers of e-devices.
Engineering and planning efforts have focused on 15 mph school zones when they are active, and on ensuring high-risk areas have proper signage, flashing beacons and other features to promote safe road use by all users.
The group has also helped spearhead legislation that is being reviewed and is in the process of recommending further law changes to supplement school traffic safety.
Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.
