Mayor Michelle Cafusi highlights new solar-powered school-zone lights at Canyon Crest Elementary

Mayor Michelle Cafusi and a staff member said new 12-inch, solar-powered reduced-speed school-zone light assemblies were installed on Canyon Road next to Canyon Crest Elementary and will flash before and after school to mark a 20 mph limit when activated.

The change, they said, is intended to improve motorists' ability to see and obey school-zone warnings and to protect students walking to and from campus. Vern, a staff member, described the new fixtures and pointed parents to a state saferoutes website for route information.

"Well, right now, we're on Canyon Road next to Canyon Crest Elementary, and we've installed new light assemblies for a reduced speed school zone," Vern said. "What that means is motorists have to slow down to 20 miles an hour when these lights are flashing. And we have them flashing before and after school so our students can walk to school safely and be with our crossing guards."

Vern said the new fixtures use larger 12-inch lights, replacing older 8-inch side-by-side assemblies, and are solar powered. "These bigger signs will allow for motorists to see that amber light much further away as they're approaching this reduced speed school zone. So they should be slowing down. No excuses. You're in a school zone. You gotta be going 20 miles an hour," he said.

Officials provided safety reminders aimed at drivers. Vern said motorists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and "as soon as a student steps off that curb to go in that crosswalk, they have to wait until the student is all the way across that crosswalk before they proceed," adding that drivers must wait until the pedestrian has cleared the entire crosswalk, not just the driver's lane. He also said it is illegal to pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing: "When they put out that stop sign and those lights are flashing, it's illegal to pass."

Mayor Michelle Cafusi described the update as part of a city safety initiative and said she was "excited" to be on site to show the new light assembly. Vern directed parents to saferoutes.utah.gov for maps of recommended walking and biking routes for Provo City School District elementary schools and said school starts back up next week.

No formal vote or policy change was announced during the conversation; speakers described an installation that has already been completed and offered guidance on driver behavior and resources for families.