Serious Impacts of Drunk Driving Accidents

Impaired Drunk Drivers in Nevada

Fatalities from driving while impaired are declining in Nevada, but there are still far too many people killed and injured on our roads because of impaired driving. Last year, of the 284 traffic fatalities reported in Nevada, 74 deaths were alcohol-related. Although the numbers are decreasing, nearly one-third of crash deaths nationally involve an alcohol-impaired driver. It is obvious drunk driving accidents continue to be a serious issue.

Nevada law enforcement authorities have organized a multi-agency program called Joining Forces, designed to improve driver behavior and promote traffic safety by combining enforcement activity with national and local media campaigns. Officials announced plans for continued “aggressive” enforcement of driving under the influence (DUI) laws across Nevada and say officers will be out in force on our roadways looking for motorists who are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The public education campaign called “Zero Fatalities” is a joint effort from multiple states addressing the principal behaviors that are killing people on America’s roads. These behaviors include all types of impaired driving, such as drowsy driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving, DUI driving and not wearing seat belts.

Various state departments, organizations and private businesses contribute to the success of the Zero Fatalities program, which is dedicated to the goal of eliminating fatalities to the point where that number is zero. Sounds like an impossible goal to reach, but when it comes to our friends and family, what number would be acceptable? Exactly. This is why their aim is zero fatalities—because everyone matters.

Here are some facts provided by NDOT about impaired driving:

  • A typical DUI costs an average of $10,000 when you include legal fees, fines and higher insurance rates.
  • Somebody dies every 51 minutes from a drunk-driving crash in the United States.
  • 27% of all 2,011 traffic fatalities in Nevada were alcohol-related.
  • Fatal impaired driving crashes in Nevada mostly involved a single vehicle.

With the human and financial impacts associated with impaired driving, it is best to be aware of the DUI law in Nevada and be a responsible driver in order to help keep everyone safe. Even buzzed driving is considered driving impaired! The illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in Nevada is:

  • 0.02% for drivers under the age of 21
  • 0.04% for commercial license holders
  • 0.08% for everyone else

The BAC applies only to alcohol. However, if there is a detectable amount of any illegal substance―such as marijuana or cocaine―found in your blood, you are subject to at least the same penalties as you would for alcohol.

Also understand the implied consent part of the law, which states that when you drive a vehicle in Nevada, you have legally given consent to breath or blood testing. To refuse testing is grounds for an arrest and law enforcement may use reasonable force to obtain blood samples.

Learn more about the DUI laws and penalties in Nevada

What You Can Do To Help Keep Roads Safe
Safe and Responsible Driver Tips:
  • If alcohol is part of your day or night outing, make sure you designate a driver to stay sober, get you home safely, and keep others from harm’s way.
  • Plan in advance for a safe way home before going out.
  • If you’re already impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, use public transportation or call a designated driver service to get home safely.
  • If you see a drunk driver on the road, please contact local police.
  • If you know people who are about to operate a motor vehicle while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

Stay safe, follow the rules of the road, and for everyone’s sake, remember it’s never a good time to drink alcohol and drive. Prevent drunk driver accidents from happening and save lives.