Commissioner provides free helmets to students, promotes traffic safety for new school year

Clark County Commission Chairman Michael Naft welcomed students back to school today by giving away more than 40 helmets, along with backpacks and school supplies, at Helen M. Jydstrup Elementary School. Director of Traffic Safety Andrew Bennett joined Chairman Naft as they fitted kids with helmets and reminded parents, students, and drivers to exercise caution in school zones.

“As students headed back to the classroom, we reminded drivers to slow down, stay alert, and follow traffic laws — particularly in school zones,” said Chairman Naft. “On the first day back to school, we once again gave away free helmets while reminding kids to stay visible, ride at safe speeds, and wear their helmet at all times. Traffic safety is a shared responsibility among all road users, and when everyone does their part, we can prevent tragedies.”

Nearly half of the 427 school-related crashes in Clark County last school year involved an e-bike or an e-scooter, underscoring the importance of safe riding habits as more students use e-devices.

Families are urged to make helmets non-negotiable. Helmets are required for minors operating e-bikes or electric scooters in unincorporated Clark County. All e-devices must have essential safety equipment such as a bell or horn, and front and rear lights and reflectors for nighttime use.

Bennett also distributed traffic safety fliers and flashcards with school zone safety tips and e-device guidance as part of the Office of Traffic Safety’s effort to deliver educational materials to every Clark County School District and charter school student in the Valley. These resources include information about a new school traffic safety law that took effect in July, which doubles the fines for certain violations in active school and crossing zones and allows local governments to extend school crosswalk flasher schedules to better protect students as they travel to and from school.