Back-to-School Safety: Tips for Flagstaff Drivers and Students
- Mountain Mojo Group
- May 15
- 4 min read
As students head back to class, from preschool to NAU, Flagstaff’s streets get a little busier. That means more kids walking, biking, crossing intersections, and boarding buses. Whether you’re a parent, student, or commuter, here’s what to keep in mind for a safe and smooth transition back to school.
What to Look Out For This School Year
School zones are active again—so it’s time to slow down and stay alert. Even driving a few miles per hour over the limit can increase risk in high-traffic school areas.
Expect to see more:
Crossing guards helping students cross safely
Buses making frequent stops to pick up and drop off kids
Cyclists and pedestrians traveling in groups, especially around schools
A newer addition to the city’s pedestrian landscape is the NAU sidewalk delivery robots. These compact delivery units are part of campus tech upgrades—and yes, drivers and cyclists must yield to them when they’re crossing.
Flagstaff’s streets are evolving, and with more multimodal travel and tech, awareness is more important than ever.
Why it matters: Children are among the most vulnerable road users. In the Flagstaff region, pedestrian crashes account for 1.5% of all incidents but represent over 28% of fatalities.
Tips for Drivers Around Schools
With students of all ages moving through neighborhoods, school zones, and major crossings, drivers have a big role to play in keeping Flagstaff safe. Children may move unpredictably or appear suddenly between parked cars, especially during busy morning and afternoon periods.
Data shows that nationally, nearly one-fifth of child traffic fatalities happen during school travel hours. Even in Flagstaff, close calls and minor crashes increase during back-to-school season, most involving driver inattention, speed, or failure to yield.
Know your speed. In school zones, that usually means 15 mph. Obey posted signs and watch for kids darting out between cars.
Watch for buses. If a school bus has flashing red lights and an extended stop sign, you must stop—whether you’re behind it or approaching from the opposite direction (unless there’s a divided road).
Use extra caution when turning or backing out. Kids can be hard to see, especially when they’re on bikes or scooters.
A few seconds of patience can prevent a serious crash and help ensure that every student arrives safely.
Tips for Students Walking, Biking, or Taking the Bus
Whether you’re walking to elementary school or biking to your first day of college classes, these safety habits matter. Students of all ages can help reduce risk simply by staying visible, alert, and predictable in how they move through public spaces.
Cross at marked crosswalks. Don’t jaywalk. Always look both ways and make eye contact with drivers.
Wear bright or reflective clothing. This is especially important early in the morning or after evening activities.
Walk on sidewalks when possible. If there’s no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
Use bike lanes properly. Ride in the same direction as traffic and follow all road rules.
Stay alert. Avoid texting or wearing headphones while crossing.
If you’re taking the bus, wait at a safe distance from the curb and avoid approaching the bus until it has come to a full stop. Never walk behind the bus, and always cross in front of it where the driver can see you.
Being aware of your surroundings helps everyone get to class safely.
New Infrastructure Near NAU and Local Schools
Flagstaff is implementing funding and planning initiatives to enhance school-area safety, with several projects already underway and more to follow.
NAU & Southside Neighborhood: The Butler Avenue Complete Streets project is a major investment in student and pedestrian safety. It includes protected intersections, grade-separated bike lanes, and a new pedestrian crossing near campus, all aimed at easing travel for students and staff navigating the busy Southside corridor. These improvements also support reduced speeds and better traffic flow, especially during peak hours.
Coconino High School: A new Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) was installed on West Street to help students cross more safely. The beacon provides a clear, activated signal to stop traffic and allow for safe pedestrian movement near the school entrance—a location identified through crash data as needing intervention.
Both projects were developed in collaboration with school officials, traffic engineers, and community members. They’re designed to:
Reduce conflict points between cars, cyclists, and pedestrians
Improve visibility for all road users
Create more predictable, accessible routes to and from school
These infrastructure upgrades are part of Greater Flagstaff’s broader commitment to safe routes to school and age-inclusive transportation design. Whether you’re a kindergartner crossing with a guardian or a college student biking to class, better infrastructure helps reduce risk and support safer, independent travel.
Let’s Make This School Year a Safe One
Safety is a community responsibility. While infrastructure plays a key role, it’s the daily decisions we make—behind the wheel, on foot, or on a bike—that truly shape how safe our streets are.
Greater Flagstaff’s commitment to school-area safety only works if we each do our part. That means being mindful in school zones, setting a good example for kids, and supporting efforts to build safer routes across the city.
MetroPlan encourages all residents to model safe habits for young travelers. When we slow down, look twice, and follow the rules, we build a better Flagstaff—together.
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