The Nevada Departments of Public Safety and Transportation report that the number of vehicle crashes and fatalities in Clark County declined 11 percent year over year. There were 179 crashes and 170 fatalities in 2014, or 20 fewer in each instance than the prior year. In addition, there were nearly 31 percent fewer alcohol related crashes; 20 percent fewer motorcycle crashes; and 10 percent fewer bicycle related crashes.

“We attribute the drop in crash numbers to enforcement through the Department of Public Safety, targeting seat belts and impaired driving, as well as greater educational outreach and driver awareness about lane departures, intersections and pedestrians,” said NDOT spokesman Tony Illia. “The crash decline is the result of our coalition partners working together to improve traffic safety and save lives.”

Additional pedestrian crossing countdown signals, more highly-visible stop signs and other safety enhancements implemented in Clark County throughout the year are helping reduce crashes and fatalities.

Numerous road safety audits have also been undertaken to enhance specific roadways, while public education campaigns have reached 95 percent of Nevadans. These areas represent the greatest opportunity to save lives and reduce the number of severe crashes and injuries.

“The department oversees 753 miles of freeways and roads in Clark County, which is about 13.7 percent of the total network,” Illia said. “However, state maintained highways and roads account for over 52 percent of all vehicle miles traveled, including Interstate-15 and U.S. Highway 95 as well as several major local thoroughfares like Sahara Avenue and Charleston Boulevard.”

The Nevada Strategic Highway Safety Plan was adopted in 2006 by the Departments of Public Safety and Transportation, along with its coalition partners, to save lives by addressing the frequency, rate and primary factors contributing to fatal and severe injury crashes. It identifies critical safety strategies in the areas of enforcement, education and emergency service, in addition to engineering improvements. Using these strategies, the plan’s goal is to cut statewide traffic fatalities and injuries in half by 2030. The ultimate goal, however, is zero fatalities. For more information on zero fatalities campaign, go to: http://www.zerofatalitiesnv.com/

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2014 MOTOR VEHICLE FATAL CRASHES 01052015