Hailey
It was a tragic morning when nine-year-old Hazen Workman-Duffy was riding her bike to school and lost her life in a crash near her neighbourhood.
Her death has touched the hearts of many in the city of Kansas City, Missouri — and now city leaders are working to make sure nothing like this happens again. The proposed changes focus on making school zones safer and reminding drivers to slow down.
What happened?
On October 14, at approximately 7:15 a.m., Hazen was struck at the intersection of Longview Road and Eastern Avenue in the Hickman-Mills area of Kansas City.
A small memorial — with balloons, toys and a photo of Hazen — has grown at the site. The driver of a van who struck her has been cooperating with investigators.
Drivers in the area have been seen speeding, even though it’s a known school-zone neighbourhood. The incident prompted the mayor, Quinton Lucas, to say that “every tragedy, particularly impacting a young child, is one too many.”
Why the change is needed
The crash revealed several issues:
- Drivers are continuing to go too fast near schools.
- School zones might not have enough restrictions or signs to keep children safe.
- Turning right on red during school hours can be risky in busy intersections.
Mayor Lucas and city officials say that by tightening these rules, they hope to reduce the chances of harm for children walking or biking to school.
What is being proposed?
Mayor Lucas is introducing a new ordinance that aims to improve safety in school zones. Key parts of the proposal include:
- Making right-turn on red illegal in school zones during school hours.
- Installing new signs at intersections if the ordinance is approved.
- Allowing schools to request a waiver if the rule interferes with important activities like student pickup and drop-off.
- Putting the signage in place within 180 days of approval.
The city council will review this in committee next Tuesday, and if it moves forward, the full council will vote on it on Thursday, October 30.
How the rule would work
Here’s a simple table showing the main points:
| Rule element | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| No right-turn on red during school hours | Drivers cannot turn right when the light is red if school is in session | Reduces chances of conflict with children crossing or biking |
| New signs in school zones | Signs will tell drivers about the new restrictions | Ensures drivers know about the rule |
| Waiver for schools | Schools can apply to be exempt in special cases | Keeps pickup/drop-off flexible when needed |
| 180-day installation period | After approval, signs go up within six months | Gives time for preparation and awareness |
What this means for parents, students and drivers
For parents and students, the proposal aims to create safer routes for walking or biking to school. Hazen’s death showed how dangerous a seemingly normal morning ride can become.
For drivers, the message is clear: slow down, pay attention, and expect new rules in school zones.
The city isn’t looking to punish you unjustly but wants to protect children by making school-zones more secure. As Mayor Lucas said:
“It’s not to try and get you a speeding ticket. … It’s actually trying to make sure you slow down, so you will be safer, so you’re not a threat to the child who is walking to school, who is riding a bicycle to school.”
For the schools in the district, there is some flexibility — the waiver process ensures that the rule doesn’t mess up legitimate school operations like after-school clubs, events or pickups.
Key take-aways
- The tragic death of nine-year-old Hazen Workman-Duffy has sparked a push for stricter school-zone traffic laws.
- The new rule would ban right-turns on red lights in school zones during school hours and require visible signage within 180 days of approval.
- Schools can request waivers if the rule disrupts important routines like student pickup.
- Drivers need to be aware: school zones may soon have tighter rules, so slow down and stay alert.
- The city council will vote on the proposal on October 30 after a committee review.
The loss of such a young life is heartbreaking, and the proposed changes by Kansas City’s mayor and council show how seriously the city is taking road safety near schools.
By banning right-turns on reds during school hours, installing signs, and giving schools a say through waivers, they are hopeful this will prevent future tragedies like Hazen’s.
If everyone — drivers, students, parents and schools — works together and follows the new rules, school-zone safety can be much better, and kids walking or biking to school can feel more secure. Let’s hope this becomes a turning point for safer roads around schools.