The Carson City Sheriff’s Office is taking a closer look at distracted driving and what it is doing on local roads.
After an increase in crashes in 2025, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office Traffic Management Unit reviewed crash data and found distracted driving and failing to yield the right of way were the most common factors.
Distracted driving is defined as any activity that takes attention away from driving a car. That includes talking or texting on a phone, eating or drinking, talking with people in the car, or adjusting the stereo, entertainment, or navigation system.
Texting stood out as the most dangerous behavior because it combines visual, manual, and cognitive distractions. Reading or sending a text takes eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. At 55 mph, that equals driving the length of a football field without looking.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,275 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2023.
Nevada law bans the use of a cell phone or other handheld wireless communications device while driving a car on a highway. The law covers texting, reading or sending data, searching the internet, and other nonvoice communication.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Traffic Management Unit said it will focus enforcement on distracted driving and right-of-way violations while still watching for speeding and traffic control issues.
The Carson City Sheriff’s Office said it will continue enforcing traffic safety laws and educating the public throughout the year, reminding everyone on the road to keep safety the top priority.
