December 21, 2024

Pizen Switch Times

established 2021

Lyon County Sheriff’s Message of the Week : August 30, 2024

Lyon County schools go back in session starting Tuesday, September 3rd. This means school zones are active, buses are running, and kids will be on bikes and on foot! The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office will be increasing enforcement in the school zones as our first days of school kick-off. We are asking that community members also have self-accountability and obey all traffic laws within the school zones.

Lyon County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers will still operate under the zero-tolerance mentality that was established in partnership with the Lyon County School District. I am waiting on the statistics from the 23-24’ school year to gauge the effectiveness of the policy.

Fernley has a new School Resource Officer this year! Deputy Holland has taken the position, and we are excited for her to begin this new chapter of her career. Deputy Ziegenfuss (Z) in Silver Springs, Smith Valley, and Deputy McCullough, with his K9 partner Linda in Dayton, are also returning as School Resource Officers!

NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has provided back-to-school safety tips for sending your child back to school.
  • School Bus Safety

Many students rely on school buses to get them to and from school safely.

Did You Know: School buses are the most regulated vehicles on the road; they’re designed to be safer than passenger vehicles in preventing crashes and injuries; and in every state, stop-arm laws exist to protect children from other motorists.

If you are driving, remember these simple rules:
  • • Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. You should slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle.
  • • Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. You must stop your car and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving, before you can start driving again.
  • • Even when lights aren’t flashing, watch for children, particularly in the morning or mid-afternoon, around school arrival and dismissal times. Be alert as you back out of a driveway, or drive through a neighborhood, school zone or bus stop.

Parents – talk bus safety with your children:

Your child should arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Teach them to play it SAFE:
  •  Stay at least ten feet — five giant steps — away from the curb.
  • Always wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and the bus driver signals for you to board.
  • Face forward after finding a seat on the bus.
  • Exit the bus after it stops and look left-right-left for cars before crossing a street.

Pedestrian Safety: Watch the road

Virtual learning, in-person instruction, or somewhere in between – it’s likely you or your child will be a pedestrian at some point in the day.
Remind them to:
  • • Use the sidewalk whenever possible, and if there isn’t a sidewalk, walk on the edge of the street facing traffic.
  • • Whenever they are available, use marked crosswalks to cross the street, and look left-right-left for vehicles or bikes before crossing.
  • • Make sure you never play, push or shove others when you walk around traffic.
  • • Everyone should watch the road, not their phones.

If you are driving, especially in a neighborhood, look out for pedestrians at all times, everywhere. Foot traffic is likely to be higher as more families and children are at home.

Labor Day weekend is always a busy weekend for law enforcement and emergency personnel in Lyon County. Across the Country, there is a rise in DUI-related accidents and deaths on Labor Day weekend. We are asking that our community do the responsible thing and arrange a ride from a sober driver before you’ve had too much to drink. Be safe, and enjoy your weekend!

Respectfully,
Sheriff Brad Pope