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With the Zero Fatalities Campaign going strong, a number of agencies are working hard to improve the streets of Las Vegas for both pedestrians and drivers, with a goal of no more fatalities in the city.

A Bleak Start to 2016

By March 3 of 2016, there were already 19 pedestrians killed in Las Vegas, with Clark County being the region for 12 of these deaths. Clark County has now spent $22 million on improving pedestrian bridges, bus turnouts, bike lanes and more in an effort to combat pedestrian fatalities.

To further improve the safety of the City of Las Vegas, the city is spending $44.5 million to improve the streets of downtown, with a complete makeover of Main Street. The Regional Transportation Commission is investing $7.9 million through 2016 to improve bus shelters and ensuring that 500 new shelters are at least five feet from the curb.

The Factors Contributing to Fatalities Discovered by the Law Offices of Eric H. Woods

Speed is generally a factor in the severity of injuries from accidents, although speed has been less of a factor in 2015 than in previous years. While people are still driving fast on the roads of Las Vegas, speed was the reason for 9 fatalities in 2015, and for 20 fatalities in 2014. Speed was the cause of death in 15 cases for 2013.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs has been less of a factor in the last two years. Fewer people are getting arrested for DUI in Las Vegas, and the number of fatalities caused by drunk drivers or those under the influence of alcohol has decreased slightly since 2013.

Distracted driving and walking while distracted is the biggest contributing factor to fatalities on the roads of Las Vegas.Cell phone use by both drivers and pedestrians is a big factor in many of the fatalities.

While it is difficult to prove when a driver is distracted, failure to yield is a significant cause of accidents in Las Vegas. Both for drivers and pedestrians, it is clear that using a cell phone or not focusing on driving plays a big role in pedestrian fatalities.

You Have to Keep Yourself Safe

In Las Vegas, or in any city throughout the country, it's important to follow safety precautions when driving or walking through areas with heavy traffic. Pedestrians need to follow the rules, cross in crosswalks, and to pay attention at all times. This means putting down cell phones and looking around before crossing the street. People driving in Las Vegas need to avoid driving if they are too tired, and to save cell phone use for when they aren't driving the car. While it's hard to determine whether a driver was distracted, this is a leading cause for fatalities throughout the City of Las Vegas.

The number one thing you can do to keep yourself safe as a driver is to wear your seatbelt.

At the Law Offices of Eric H. Woods we encourage you to share your voice, to help increase driver and pedestrian awareness, and to take a stand about improving the safety of the residents of Las Vegas. If you have a story to share, we want to hear it. Together we can improve the streets of Las Vegas, making them safer for everyone.

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