Roads in Nevada have become increasingly unsafe, especially for school children, according to federal and school district data.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows traffic fatalities in the state increased from 304 in 2019 to 417 in 2022, although 2023 saw a slight decline to 389 fatalities. 

Traffic safety concerns have grown especially acute after a series of high-profile collisions in Las Vegas led to the deaths of children, and as e-bikes and e-scooters grow in popularity.

Last month, at least two children in Clark County died in separate traffic accidents. On Oct. 6, 12-year-old Haylee Ryan was riding her bike home from school when a school bus struck and killed her in a northwest neighborhood of Las Vegas. Just weeks later, 10-year-old Marquis Abraham was struck and killed by a pickup truck while riding his e-scooter in North Las Vegas.

During an Oct. 7 press conference, Clark County School District Superintendent Jhone Ebert reported that 84 students have been hit by cars on their way to or from school so far this academic year, compared with 39 students at this point last year.

“These situations can be avoided by adult actions,” Ebert said during the conference. “Right now we need immediate action with the community’s help to protect our children. We need everyone’s help.”

Nevada is considered one of the most unsafe states for pedestrians in the country, with the fourth-highest pedestrian death rate among states in 2024.

The rising popularity nationwide of e-bikes and e-scooters may contribute to traffic dangers, particularly given that these vehicles are “a pretty prevalent mode of transportation for juveniles right now,” said Officer Robert Wicks, a spokesperson for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD).

Wicks told The Nevada Independent that parents are legally responsible for their kids’ traffic violations, emphasizing that adults must make sure that children understand the rules of the road regardless of their mode of transportation.

How up-to-speed are you on the rules of the road and the state of traffic safety in Nevada? Put your Nevada road safety knowledge to the test in our interactive quiz below.