Officials urge caution on the road as Lancaster County students return to school

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Summer break is over for Norris School District students.

On Thursday, all 2,500 headed to school for their first class of the year.

Superintendent Brian Maschmann said Norris is one of a few Lancaster County schools that is out in the country, so speeding is a particular concern there.

The main road in and out of campus is about 5 miles outside of Hickman on 68th Street, where the speed limit is 55 mph and 35 mph in the school zone.

“We want you here safe,” Maschmann said. “We don’t need you to be speeding on 68th Street, so if you could be very cautious on driving down 68th Street, we would appreciate it.”

He said there was already a crash Thursday morning on 68th.

Maschmann said a few cars were involved, but no one was hurt.

For their safety, the district doesn’t want any kids walking or biking to school.

Most students take the bus, though some parents and student drivers are traveling in and out of the area.

Crashes remain one of the leading causes of death for teens across the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and males ages 16 to 19 are most at risk.

Teens are also more likely to speed, the CDC said.

Thirty-five percent of male drivers between 15 and 20 years old involved in deadly crashes in 2020 were speeding. Same goes for 18% of females.

The Nebraska Examiner reported that Nebraska is one of only three states where texting while driving is a secondary offense, meaning officers can’t pull you over just for that.

Brian Ortner with AAA Nebraska recommends sitting down with teens and talking to them about safe driving and avoiding distractions.

“Especially if they’re driving for the first time back to school, hopefully they’ve completed a solid driver’s education course,” he said. “But you have to remember, parents, that you’re the person they learned their driving habits from.”

Lancaster County Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said anyone driving in a school zone needs to pay attention to speed limits and watch for kids crossing the road.

“A lot of times, kids won’t understand the rules of the road, and they will dart out,” he said. “So please make sure you are watching for that – and be patient.”

He said it’s illegal to pass buses when their stop sign is out, and if a road is undivided, both lanes must stop.