Editorial: Bloodshed on our roadways

Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005 | 7:11 a.m.

Spotted on Interstate 215:

A large truck, towing a fishtailing trailer, entering from the Stephanie Street on ramp at an unsafe speed. Slowing a bit to control his trailer, the driver heads directly for the opposite shoulder, where he has a work crew waiting. The driver pays no heed to fast-moving oncoming traffic, which includes a commercial truck the size of a cement mixer bearing down in the center lane. The commercial truck and cars in both the right and left lanes hit the brakes hard to avoid a pileup. Horns blare, and drivers coming onto the beltway from the ramp swerve or halt to protect themselves. The offending driver, reaching the shoulder on the other side of the beltway, raises his arm, as if to say: "My fault, but I didn't want to overshoot my crew."

We imagine that everyone who uses the roadways in Southern Nevada sees incidents equal to or worse than this one practically every day. Why do people risk the lives and property of themselves and other people for such little gain? Is there a psychologist in the house?

The reasons for such behavior will always be elusive, a quality not afforded to the flesh-and-blood consequences. They confront families every day, in the stark and tragic realizations that a relative has been killed or badly injured. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that most, if not all, of the accidents could have been avoided if a driver had been more aware and less reckless.

Roadway deaths in Southern Nevada are continually increasing, from 188 in 2000 to 297 so far this year -- a record. What will the final number be after tonight, New Year's Eve? Will drunkenness, euphoria, inattentiveness, rage and recklessness add to the number? Will more lives end for no better reason than someone trying to gain a car length, beat a light or engage in some other selfish action?

"People need to change their driving habits and change them quick because we've had enough slaughter on the roads," Metro Police traffic detective William Redfairn told Las Vegas Sun reporter David Kihara this week. Referring to the mounting bloodshed on our roads, Redfairn said Southern Nevada motorists have created a culture of selfishness. Refairn spoke of a recent trip he made to San Antonio, where he was amazed at how courteous and law abiding the drivers were compared to those in Las Vegas.

The police and courts can only do so much to reverse our driving culture. Most of the responsibility rests with drivers. And you know who you are.