Sheriff’s office, NHP cracking down on distracted drivers

In an effort to keep area roadways safe, law enforcement is cracking down on distracted drivers.

The Nye County Sheriff’s Office and the Nevada Highway Patrol are on the lookout for drivers who are not paying attention to the road due to other activities behind the wheel. The enforcement kicked off Nov. 2 and runs through the end of the weekend.

The sheriff’s office has been working diligently to urge motorists to keep your eyes on the road and put away cell phones or other items that cause distractions.

Studies show that on average, texting takes your eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds. When traveling at 55 mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that traffic deaths rose 10.4 percent in the first half of 2016 over 2015. That equates to 1,665 more deaths across the country in six months.

This follows a seven-percent increase in 2015 over 2014, displaying the rise of the death rate is a trend.

“The problem is distracted driving,” the Nye County Sheriff’s Office said. “Far too many of us are fiddling with our phones as we hurtle down the road.”

Law enforcement officials caution that a phone call or text can wait until one has arrived at their destination safely.

For resources about distracted driving, visit: http://www.distraction.gov/stats-research-laws/facts-and-statistics.html

For more information on Joining Forces and other statewide traffic safety programs, please visit http://www.zerofatalitiesnv.com. Follow Zero Fatalities Nevada on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and @ZeroFatalitiesNV.

Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.