New Kansas City MO ordinance aims to boost school crossing safety after death of 9-year-old girl | KMBC

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

A new traffic safety ordinance, introduced by Mayor Quinton Lucas, aims to enhance protections for children in school zones. “We have a fundamental responsibility to protect anyone who travels on our streets, especially our children,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas. “Every parent should feel confident that their child can safely walk or bike to school.” The proposed ordinance includes several key measures, such as prohibiting right turns on red in school zones during school hours.

Link: 

New Kansas City MO ordinance aims to boost school crossing safety after death of 9-year-old girl | KMBC

https://www.kcmo.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2709/231

The full text of the ordinance is here:

https://kansascity.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7711575&GUID=7...

Key excerpts:

WHEREAS, the City has a fundamental responsibility to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all residents, particularly the children of Kansas City; and

WHEREAS, the tragic death of an elementary student at an intersection near a school has highlighted the urgent need for enhanced traffic safety measures in school zones; and

WHEREAS, students walking, biking, and traveling to and from school are among our most vulnerable road users and deserve the highest level of protection; and

WHEREAS, school zones experience concentrated periods of pedestrian activity during arrival and dismissal times, creating heightened risk for vehicle-pedestrian conflicts; and

WHEREAS, eliminating right turns on red during school zone hours will reduce potential conflict points between vehicles and student pedestrians, particularly in intersections adjacent to schools; and

WHEREAS, this ordinance is consistent with the City's commitment to Vision Zero principles and the goal of eliminating traffic-related deaths and serious injuries on Kansas City streets; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY . . .

School zones. No vehicular traffic shall make a right turn on a steady red signal within a designated school zone during the hours when the school zone speed limit is in effect, regardless of whether a sign is present prohibiting such turn.