fire & life safety

Distracted Driving

Stay Safe on the Road

Distracted driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving.

Applying makeup.

Talking or texting on a cell phone.

Eating or drinking.

Talking to other passengers in the vehicle.

Tending to children or pets in the vehicle.

Adjusting music on the stereo.

Using navigation system.

Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.

Statistics

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) leads the national effort to save lives by preventing this dangerous behavior. Get the facts, get involved, and help us keep America’s roads safe.

2,841 people killed by distracted driving (2018, NHTSA)

400,000 estimate number of people injured in crashes involving distracted drivers (2018, NHTSA)

2.9% of drivers using handheld phones in 2017 (NHTSA)

While those numbers may sound like just statistics, they’re more than just stats. They could be parents, children, neighbors and friends from our community. There are too many sad tales of deaths and injuries that could have been prevented had drivers been paying attention to the road instead of someone or something else.

Ignoring the Dangers

With more technology now than ever, driver distractions have risen to unprecedented levels. We live in a world where people expect instant, real-time information 24 hours a day, and those desires don’t stop just because they get behind the wheel.

Drivers simply do not realize – or choose to ignore – the danger they create when they take their eyes off the road, their hands off the wheel, and their focus off driving.

Get Involved: Help Stop Distracted Driving
We can all play a part in the fight to save lives by ending distracted driving.

Teens - speak up when you see a friend driving distracted.

Parents - lead by example and talk to your young driver about distraction.

Educators and Employers - educate about the dangers of distracted driving.

More Information

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Nevada Office of Traffic Safety