08/10/2026
Good evening!! It is an exciting time of year – the start of a new school year!
Each new school year brings many firsts. While it may be the first year of school for a Kindergartener or a first time in the flow of traffic, we understand there will be some fear(s) or apprehension the first few days.
With this new beginning, we wanted to share a few reminders to help make the start of the school year successful for everyone:
1) Patience and Planning:
a. As many of you know, it takes a couple weeks to get traffic flowing smoothly; please be sure to leave with ample time to make it through the traffic and be patient.
b. Plan ahead, know the established traffic routes for drop-off and pick-up. Please be sure to approach the drop-off points from the appropriate direction to help with traffic flow (see maps).
2) Seatbelts and Car Seats:
a. Arkansas Code § 27-34-104 requires children under the age of 15 to be properly secured in a passenger restraint system and a child, who is less than six (6) years of age and who weighs less than sixty pounds (60 lbs.) shall be restrained in a child passenger safety seat.
3) Cell Phones:
a. Arkansas Code § 27-51-1609: a driver of a motor vehicle shall not use a handheld wireless telephone while operating motor vehicle when passing a school building or school zone during school hours when children are present and outside the building.
4) School Buses:
a. Arkansas Code § 27-51-1004: when a school bus stops and displays its alternating red warning lights…Every operator of a motor vehicle or motorcycle meeting or overtaking the school bus from any direction shall [come] to a complete stop not less than thirty feet (30’) before reaching the school bus. The operator of the motor vehicle or motorcycle shall not start up or attempt to pass in any direction until the school bus has finished…and is in motion again.
5) Speed:
a. Arkansas Code § 27-51-212: the maximum speed limit in a school zone is 25 Miles Per Hour (mph).
6) Passing and Traffic Control Devices:
a. Arkansas Code § 27-52-103: The driver of a motor vehicle or operator of a streetcar shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device – follow all official signs, signals, markings, and/or the instructions of a law enforcement officer.
