Category: Motor Vehicle Accidents

The implementation of roadside blood draw programs may help cut down on drugged driving accidents. As more states legalize marijuana and the opioid epidemic continues, crashes involving drug-impaired drivers are an increasing problem that puts everyone on the road at risk for serious injuries or death. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, of the drivers killed in auto collisions in 2016 who were tested, 43.6% had drugs in their systems.

A number of activities distract Nevada motorists’ attention from driving. People spend a lot of time in their cars, and it may seem like an opportune time to get some things done, like returning a friend’s call, listening to some new music, eating lunch, or checking an email. However, doing these seemingly little things while behind the wheel may significantly impair the ability of drivers to control and safely operate their vehicles. Consequently, this distracted driving behavior increases the risk of collisions, which may result in injuries or death. Thousands of people are killed and nearly one-half million are injured annually in distracted driving crashes.

Space cushion driving may help prevent serious or fatal accidents. As Nevada roads become more congested, drivers are leaving less room between their vehicles and those around them. Following too closely reduces drivers’ opportunities to react to situations on the road and may increase tension between drivers.

When motor vehicles suffer mechanical failures on the road, serious auto accidents often result. Most crashes in Nevada are caused by human error. However, sometimes vehicle parts or systems fail, impairing drivers’ ability to operate their vehicles and potentially resulting in motor vehicle collisions.

Drivers who consume opioid medications and get behind the wheel put themselves, other motorists, and pedestrians at serious risk of injury or death. A significant number of people are consuming opioid medications and then driving motor vehicles. In doing so, they are willfully breaking the law and causing death and destruction along their route.

In Nevada, drivers who are most likely to leave the scene of fatal crashes tend to be younger men who have suspended licenses and who might be driving drunk at the time of the accidents. Hit and run accidents have increased over the last few years, and the increase might be due to several factors, including an increased number of vehicles on the road, the improved economy, larger vehicles, speeding, drunk driving, and an increase in distracted driving.

Nevadans can take several steps during their daily commutes to reduce stress and avoid getting involved in road rage incidents. Road rage and aggressive driving are responsible for 66 percent of fatal traffic accidents. It is important for people to destress during their drives and avoid aggressive drivers so they can remain safe.

In September, Nevada had 21 traffic fatalities during the first 10 days of the month, and law enforcement officers state that drunk and drugged driving are largely to blame. One-third of the fatal accidents that occurred in 2017 were caused by drivers who were impaired. The other accident fatalities resulted from reckless driving, including running red lights, speeding, and failing to wear seatbelts. The city is trying to figure out how to change people’s behavior so that they do not drive while they are impaired or in a reckless manner to save lives.