Lead foot drivers beware: For the next 10 days, more than two dozen Nevada law enforcement agencies will join forces to crack down on motorists exceeding speed limits or driving too fast for road conditions.
"We encourage everyone to leave early and follow the speed limit signs throughout the whole year," said Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Daniel Lopez. "When we do these Join Forces, our goal is to encourage drivers to be safe all the time."
According to a joint news release issued by the Nevada Highway Patrol, speeding is a contributing factor in approximately one-third of fatal crashes on the nation’s roadways.Exceeding the speed limit is considered aggressive driving just as weaving in and out of traffic, passing in emergency lanes or along the shoulder and failing to yield to other motorists.
A survey sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that the majority of U.S. drivers consider others’ unsafe driving behaviors a threat to the safety of themselves and their families.
Most motorists, however, do not believe speeding is as risky as other behaviors, but according to NHTSA, the consequences of driving too fast include:
— Greater potential for loss of vehicle control
— Reduced effectiveness of occupant protection equipment
— Increased stopping distance when the driver perceives a danger
— Increased degree of crash severity leading to more debilitating injuries
— Unexpected economic and psychological implications of a speed-related crash