Las Vegas Personal Injury attorney and accident lawyer Craig Murphy, Esq. has been warning Las Vegas drivers for years about the dangers of distracted and/or impaired driving. Distracted drivers in Las Vegas can range from drivers texting, talking on cell phones, eating, putting on make-up, to any other activity that causes the driver to stop paying attention to driving and the traffic on the road. Impaired driving is driving while the driver’s ability to drive is impaired due to alcohol, drugs or other factors. Impaired driving in Las Vegas is against the law in most instances.
Until the most recent legislative session in Nevada distracted driving was not against the law. In Las Vegas, most drivers see instances of distracted drivers on a daily basis. However, Las Vegas drivers and throughout Nevada must be aware that as of October 1, 2011 it will be against the law to text while driving. It will also be against the law for drivers in Las Vegas and Nevada to talk on the cell phone while driving, except if they use a hands free device.
Distracted driving is a real problem in Las Vegas. I am not aware of any current statistics that document how many Las Vegas traffic accidents are caused per year due to distracted drivers. However, the injuries and devastation that can be caused by a distracted driver can range from minor injuries and property damage to life time injuries and death.
If you are a Las Vegas driver who texts while driving or talks on your cell phone, be aware that it will soon be against the law. In addition, it is reported that the Las Vegas Metro Police will begin pulling Las Vegas distracted drivers over and giving warnings before the law takes effect on October 1, 2011. So be warned. If you have not stopped texting and driving or talking on your cell phone and driving due to the safety hazards you cause, including threatening your own life, now is the time to stop. If being safe is not enough for you, perhaps getting fined will put a stop to your dangerous behavior. Whatever it takes, please stop testing and driving. Pay attention to the road. Become a safe driver for your sake and the sake of everyone else on the roads in Las Vegas.