Police aim to curb bad driving

David Kihara

Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005 | 8:29 a.m.

This year fatal traffic accidents in Southern Nevada are up by 6 percent, according to information compiled by the Nevada Public Safety Department.

* Through Dec. 27

Fatal collisions over the last two years as reported by the police agenci es in Southern Nevada. Metro Police is responsible for Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County.

* Through Dec. 27

A culture of aggressively bad driving, combined with the distractions of cell phones, onboard DVD players and behind-the-wheel dining, made 2005 the deadliest year on the road in Southern Nevada history.

With the new year still four days away, 297 people have died from traffic accidents in 2005, an increase of 6 percent from the previous year.

"People need to change their driving habits and change them quick because we've had enough slaughter on the roads," said Metro Police Detective William Redfairn, of the fatal traffic detail. In Metro's jurisdiction, 180 people have died in traffic accidents, and "we still have a week to go," Redfairn said.

Drivers in Southern Nevada have a reputation as being dangerous behind the wheel. They often drive faster than speed limits, disregard stop signs and run red lights so often that Metro officers joke darkly that the color means "speed up."

The driving culture is one of selfishness, said Redfairn, who said that during a visit to San Antonio earlier this month, he was amazed at the contrast with Nevada. Drivers in San Antonio were courteous, he said. They stopped for pedestrians. People -- even taxi drivers -- drove at the speed limit on freeways.

That is the opposite of the Clark County. Police frequently see drivers going more than 100 mph on freeways. On surface streets, drivers can regularly be found going 50 mph in a 35 mph zone.

"Here we have a driving mentality that is 'me me me.' People think, 'I'm the most important thing on the road,' " he said. "We just need to go back to basics."

Population growth also plays a role. Clark County's population has risen an average of 4 percent a year since 2000, and more people mean more traffic and more potential for accidents.

Fast-growing North Las Vegas had 15 fatal car accidents in 2005, an increase of 66 percent from last year, said Tim Bedwell, spokesman for North Las Vegas Police.

"The growth is a big factor," he said.

Distractions from cell phones and other devices also are becoming a bigger problem. The state Legislature adopted a law this year that allows for misdemeanor prosecution of a driver who causes a fatal crash while not paying attention to the road. Conviction carries a maximum jail sentence of six months and loss of driver's license for up to a year.

Judges also have been imposing stiff sentences for people whose failure to pay attention to driving results in injuries to others.

In June, North Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Stephen Dahl sentenced a 20-year-old man, Jesus Cervantes Cano, to 10 months behind bars after he hit a city worker with his car. The city worker, Anthony Borruto, lost both of his legs as a result of the accident.

The courts, however, are just part of the remedy.

Erin Breen, director of Safe Community Partnership, said traffic fatalities will diminish only if people stop risky and aggressive driving.

"You can have laws, but the reality is it doesn't matter whose fault it is. If you kill someone, it's not something you are ever going to get over," she said.