Nevada law enforcement focusing on impaired drivers

Between 2011 and 2015, 369 lives were lost in Nevada in alcohol-related crashes, one of the deadliest and most often committed of crimes on the road. Impaired drivers have consistently been the most common cause of motor vehicle crashes resulting in injuries and deaths in Nevada which is a serious safety epidemic.

There is someone injured in a car accident every two minutes, and someone killed every 53 minutes in the United States involving an impaired driver. This is a preventable crime, and lives can be saved by following some simple steps.

Law enforcement officers in Nevada will be working to reduce the number of impaired drivers on the road. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will have extra patrols through March 29 to boost enforcement efforts and keep impaired drivers and riders of the streets.

Drivers and riders are encouraged to know the law for blood alcohol levels and abide by the following guidelines:

• Designate a sober driver before drinking.
• Use a taxi, call a sober friend, family member or use public transportation.
• Call 911 if a suspected drunk driver is seen on the road.
• Take the keys, hide the keys or assist in making other arrangements for someone who is about to drive who is impaired.
• Call law enforcement, it is better for the impaired driver to be arrested than to have them involved in an accident.

For resources and laws pertaining to impaired driving and riding, please visit:
http://www.zerofatalitiesnv.com/dont-drive-impaired.

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 @ZeroFatalitiesNVon Instagram.