Nevada Highway Patrol Troopers are out in numbers along Interstate 80. Their goal? To reduce the amount of distracted drivers, speeding, and other unsafe driving patterns on one of the main roads through the Silver State.
NHP says distracted driving is one of the leading causes of not only minor, but also fatal crashes in Nevada.
“It's devastating to see these crashes that are caused by something as simple as just putting down the distractions and paying attention to the road," said Trooper Matt McLaughlin with the Nevada Highway Patrol.
This initiative comes just after a recent fatal crash on I-80 near Fairfield where a California Highway Patrol officer was killed during a traffic stop. The driver was using his cell phone.
CHP and NHP are dedicating extra officers to patrol I-80 from the beginning near San Francisco all the way to near West Wendover at the Utah border. NHP says that this initiative is more for educational purposes, and less for tickets.
“Hopefully drivers start to understand when we pull them over and tell them they are going a little too fast, whatever the violation might be, but if need be, if the violation is so egregious, a citation will be issued,” said McLaughlin.
This comes at the same time as a Joining Forces DUI campaign that is scheduled to go through September 10th, and also includes seat belt enforcement and pedestrian safety.
