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Nevada law enforcement is working to prevent traffic fatalities in a new initiative after a recent report identified the state’s intersections as the sixth most dangerous in the nation.
The study, conducted by personal injury law firm Injured in Florida, sourced data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration spanning from 2017 to 2021, which revealed that out of 393 fatalities in Nevada during that period, 100 occurred at intersections. The alarming statistics have prompted action from local law enforcement and safety advocates.
The Reno Police Department (RPD), in collaboration with the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety, conducted a pedestrian and school zone safety operation throughout December. Throughout the initiative, RPD issued 104 traffic citations and four warnings and made three DUI arrests, thanks to a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety.
Todd Hartline, law enforcement liaison for the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety, addressed the concerning rise in pedestrian fatalities, calling for increased enforcement.
“Anytime that happens, and they can be out there, and they can be out there enforcing these laws, like what it means to us is it’s saving lives,” he told KTVN 2 News. “We get impaired drivers off the road. We get people that are speeding in school zones off the road, or they get citations where they get driving behavior.”
Hartline noted the importance of eye contact between pedestrians and drivers as a crucial safety measure to avoid accidents by ensuring that each sees the other.
Additionally, Nevada authorities, including the Highway Patrol, are actively encouraging motorists and pedestrians to adhere to traffic safety laws, particularly focusing on yielding to pedestrians, respecting crosswalks and driving at the speed limit.
“The people behind the wheel, you got to slow down,” Hartline added. “Speeding has really increased our crashes and our fatal crashes in our state, and they also contribute to the pedestrian fatalities.”
In response to the escalating issue of road safety, a new advocacy group named Stop Road Crashes has emerged, comprising law enforcement, federal, state and local leaders, as well as survivors and family members of crash victims. The group aims to address and change the myriad dangers faced by drivers and pedestrians on Nevada’s roads. It plans to focus on legislative and behavioral changes, encouraging the community to think twice before getting behind the wheel. Stop Road Crashes also plan to launch a contest for the 2024 holiday season, where participants can sign a pledge to drive safely and soberly, with the chance to win a grand prize.
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