CARSON CITY - With a rise in Nevada traffic deaths in 2012, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) will post traffic fatality numbers on digital freeway boards to remind motorists to always drive safely.
Freeway digital message signs, or DMS, in northeastern Nevada and across the state will periodically display updated statewide traffic death numbers.
The messages will be followed by safety messages reminding drivers to always buckle up, never drive impaired and other safety reminders.
"We're one of the first handful of states using these DMS messages as a driving safety reminder to help save lives," NDOT Director Rudy Malfabon explained. "These are so much more than numbers. They are a wife, a father, a brother, a friend or neighbor, and there's no better reason or stronger reminder for us all to buckle up, never drive impaired, stop on red, be pedestrian safe and focus on the road. This is something we take seriously. This is a sobering message we post in hopes it will help all of us in Nevada get home safely every time we're on the road."
"When you think of yourself and your family, nothing other than zero fatalities is acceptable," Nevada Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety Administrator Traci Pearl added. "We all have the responsibility to help reach zero fatalities on our roads and we want this to raise awareness and save lives."
Preliminary numbers show that 258 traffic fatalities occurred on Nevada roads in 2012, an increase of 12 deaths compared to the previous year. Despite recent upticks, Nevada traffic fatalities have generally trended down after reaching an all-time high of 432 in 2006.
Under the Nevada Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Nevada traffic and safety advocates implement enforcement, engineering, emergency medical and educational strategies to cut yearly traffic fatality averages in half by 2030, with the ultimate goal of zero fatalities on Nevada roads.
To learn more about Nevada traffic safety, log on to www.zerofatalitiesnv.com.[[In-content Ad]]
