Editorial: Traffic resolutions

Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2004 | 8:54 a.m.

Over the past holiday weekend, three people were killed in traffic collisions, raising the total number of traffic deaths this year to 143 in Metro Police's jurisdiction. The 143 deaths, with three days left in 2004, represent a 14 percent increase over last year's total of 126.

Some of the traffic deaths that occur are accidents where fault can't be assigned to drivers, but too many others involve excessive speeding or inattention. If more drivers would just take their time (by slowing down) and pay attention to what they're doing (not using cell phones would be a big help), it would go a long way toward cutting down on fatalities. But we're also realists and the fact is that selfish people won't do the right thing on their own. An increased police presence, cracking down on traffic violations by handing out hefty fines, is what will get the message across to reckless drivers.

Far too often, however, there aren't enough traffic cops or highway patrolmen to catch these offenders. The main reason for this is that there isn't enough funding -- either at the state level for troopers or at the local level for Metro Police and the other local police departments in Southern Nevada. The Nevada Legislature, which convenes in February, should show its resolve by approving more money to hire additional highway patrolman and signing off on a request by Clark County's voters that local police departments be given the go-ahead to hire more officers, a request that would include additional traffic cops. It's a pair of New Year's resolutions that we hope all state legislators will find worthy of making -- and following through on once they get to Carson City.