Category: Motor Vehicle Accidents

In 2011, Nevada launched the Zero Fatalities traffic safety goal with then Department of Transportation Director, Susan Martinovich declaring that, “One death on Nevada roads is too many…” Though fatality figures initially dipped, data from the last few years shows that fatal accidents and serious injuries on Nevada’s roads are as common as ever. In some areas the numbers are increasing, particularly in Las Vegas.

The latest data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety revealed sobering news for motorcycle riders. After seeing deaths drop steadily throughout the 1990s, there’s been a general upswing in motorcycle related deaths and serious injuries. These numbers come at a time when auto fatalities are in a sharp decline, because of advancements in automobile safety technology and driver education.

Across the country, safety advocates, professional drivers and trucking companies are investing research and dollars into new technology that will help prevent accidents. As beneficial as this technology is, as long as there are untrained drivers on the road, there will continue to be accidents.

On Thursday, October 1st, several new traffic laws went into effect in the state of Nevada. The Nevada State Legislature passed the laws earlier this year in response to rising fatality rates across the state. New laws regarding electronic proof of insurance and increased speed limits in rural areas will also affect drivers across the state.

Large truck accidents are a serious concern on the roadways of America. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, large trucks were involved in approximately 342,000 police reported vehicle accidents in the United States in 2013 alone. Of those, 3,964 fatality accidents and an estimated 95,000 injury accidents involved large trucks.

Keeping everyone safe on the roadways, including motorcyclists, is a top priority for Nevada officials. The Nevada Department of Transportation, along with partner groups, recently updated the state’s strategic highway plan for keeping the roads safe. Motorcycle safety was included as one of the six critical focus areas highlighted in the plan.