In an effort to curb the rising number of accidents caused by distracted drivers, the State of Nevada recently enacted legislation mandating that any driver using a cell phone while driving must also employ a hands-free device. This new law recognizes what every auto accident lawyer Las Vegas residents work with has known for years: A distracted driver is an unsafe driver. Many people tend to use their vehicles as mobile offices, making their commutes to and from work unnecessarily dangerous.
The new law, enacted to coincide with the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year and featuring beefed-up enforcement as of January first, 2012, is intended to cut down on the steadily rising number of traffic fatalities, particularly those concerning pedestrians. We’ve all heard the same tragic story over and over again. A driver glances down to answer their cell phone or read a text, and didn’t see the red light or the people in the crosswalk (or, to be fair, the roadway).
Nevada officials recognize the dangers of talking or texting while driving, and this new law is intended to promote safety behind the wheel. When most people think of dangerous driving practices, they think of reckless driving such as tailgating, dodging between lanes of traffic, or drinking and driving. Very few people consider that behaviors such as talking on a cell phone or texting while driving can be just as dangerous as knocking back a few cocktails before going home.
Hands-free devices are relatively inexpensive and permit for greater freedom and attention behind the wheel. Of course, these devices have to be used with common sense. The content of a conversation can be just as distracting as looking down to read a text while behind the wheel. Drivers who engage in arguments or tangled business discussions while driving are statistically far more likely to be involved in accidents than those who don’t. When navigating Nevada’s roadways, a highly charged emotional state can be a fatal error.
If someone else’s poor driving decisions lead to you being involved in an accident, contact your Las Vegas auto accident attorney. Most accidents are caused by a combination of illegal or reckless behavior and inattention to what is happening on the road, and the new hands-free law is one we can all live with. There is no phone call or text message that is worth more than your life or that of someone else.
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