Rocky Mountain High School has expanded its school zone enforcement hours after staff saw a rise in speeding during the lunch period. Before, the flashing school zone lights were only active before and after classes, but they now turn on midday as well. That means any driver passing 20 mph during lunch risks receiving a ticket. While the change has caught some community members off guard, school officials say the adjustment shows how students actually move around campus throughout the day and the need to protect them during the busiest times.

Rocky administrators explain that the decision came after months of monitoring traffic patterns around the school. With more students choosing to leave campus for lunch and foot traffic growing near both the main entrance and the back lot parking exit, the school documented a rise in near‑miss incidents involving pedestrians and student drivers. Rockys vice principal,

The stretch of Linder Road bordering the school has long been a concern, but campus safety officers say lunchtime has become especially hazardous. Hundreds of students pour out of the building or drive toward nearby restaurants within a tight 35‑minute window, creating a dense mix of cars and pedestrians. Even small increases in speed can raise the risk of an accident, something students remember all too well after the fatal crash near the Five Mile and Chinden intersection a few years ago that we still talk about today.

School officials continue urging drivers to pay close attention to the flashing lights and assume students may be crossing at any time. They emphasize that the 20 mph limit is mandatory whenever the lights are active and that enforcement will remain strict. When interviewed, one of our art teachers, Ryan Wise said, “Drivers need to be aware that we have these things for a reason. Even though it can be an interruption throughout the day, it’s an important rule so we can keep our kids safe.”

For now, the message is pretty straightforward: slow down, pay attention, and remember that the midday rush at Rocky isn’t just noise, its students moving in every direction. Keeping everyone safe really does start with the drivers.