Nevada Law Enforcement Joins Forces to Catch Speeding Drivers

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speed was a contributing factor in 9,557 U.S. traffic deaths in 2015. While the safety benefits of driving the speed limit are well known, most drivers are guilty of not doing so from time to time. When you’re running late to an appointment, work, or picking up your child from school, it can be tempting to disregard the speed limit to try to reach your destination faster. Time and time again, however, tragic accidents prove that speeding simply isn’t worth the risk.

Previously, I blogged about Nevada law enforcement agencies’ participation in a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement program called Joining Forces, and more specifically, their February campaign designed to reduce distracted driving. Now, these law enforcement agencies are joining forces once again to run a speeding enforcement campaign that will run from April 24 to May 8, 2019.

The increased patrolling that comes with the Joining Forces speed enforcement campaign will occur during the Laughlin River Run, an annual four-day event that draws over 70,000 motorcycle enthusiasts to Nevada.  Without the outer protection that cars provide, motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to being seriously injured or killed. During last year’s event, police officers responded to multiple instances of drivers traveling over 100 mph as well as one fatality.

Boulder City Police Chief Tim Shea reiterates the heightened risk to motorcyclists, saying that “the open highway can have unseen hazards: potholes, debris, and even wildlife can interfere with drivers. Motorcycles often can’t slow down or stop as easily as someone driving a car. One error can have fatal consequences.”

When a driver chooses to ignore the speed limit, everybody in their vicinity is forced to take on the risks and consequences that come with that decision. When drivers collectively decide that following the speed limit is a necessary precaution, however, more individuals will arrive safely to their destinations.