• 30
  • September
    2011

People come from all over the world to visit Las Vegas. The city has long had a reputation as being a great place to unwind for visitors and locals alike. While most people are able to responsibly enjoy all of the entertainment options that the city offers, not every night on the town ends peacefully. Unfortunately, all too often people who have had too much to drink get behind the wheel and cause serious accidents.

According to National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, alcohol is still a factor in Nevada car accidents. In 2009, there were 68 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, which accounted for 28 percent of all drivers killed in traffic accidents. Despite the number of deaths decreasing, the state still will need to show great improvement to completely solve this problem.

There are harsh penalties in place for those caught drinking and driving, yet even with increased focus, drunk driving accidents still happen regularly. High traffic areas in Las Vegas, such as the strip, can be potentially dangerous places to be for all motorists. People may want to simply avoid some of these locations if at all possible to prevent getting into an accident with an intoxicated driver. With many stoplights and intersections causing roadways to become congested with cars and pedestrians, intoxicated drivers may not be able to respond quickly enough to avoid accident.

Drivers should exercise caution if they see other drivers exhibiting signs of intoxication. Intoxicated drivers have slower reaction times, which will make it that much more difficult for them to navigate busy Las Vegas roadways. If you spot a motorist that you think is intoxicated, try to get the license plate of the vehicle. Report this driver to the police as soon as possible. Even though you may be able to avoid this driver, others may not be so lucky.