NHP going after drivers using handheld devices

Between now and Feb. 23, Nevada’s Joining Forces law enforcement team will be cracking down on distracted drivers throughout the state.

Nevada’s ban on handheld devices while driving went into effect three years ago and still law enforcement continues to spot and cite offenders every day. The law was enacted because of the more than 3,500 distraction-related crashes every year in the state.

Surfing the Internet, using a GPS or changing the song on your mp3 player are all illegal distractions taking motorists’ eyes off the road and causing crashes.

Distracted driving facts:

· Research has found that using a cell phone behind the wheel makes a driver four times more likely to get into a crash serious enough to cause injury.

· When sending or receiving text messaging behind the wheel, a driver’s eyes are off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, equivalent to driving the length of a football field at 65 miles per hours.

· The likelihood of crashes dramatically rise when your actions require a combination of visual, manual and cognitive attention