With the first week of the tournament in the books, March Madness season is upon us in Nevada. This year, Nevada’s men’s team was selected to the NCAA tournament as a first four team, the team’s first entry since 2019; unfortunately, they lost in the play-in game to Arizona State. UNLV’s lady rebels made it to their second straight NCAA tournament after winning their second straight Mountain-west regular season and conference.
As exciting as this season is for Nevada basketball fans, both in Northern and Southern Nevada, as well as sports betting and basketball fans across the nation, it is important to stay safe on Nevada roads during this season (similar to the Super Bowl). If you are planning on watching the games at your nearest sports bar or casino, or throwing a watch party for your favorite team, it is important to get to and from your location safe and sober.
The number of deaths on Nevada roads has continued to decrease in February according to preliminary statistics from state officials. There were thirteen car accident deaths reported by the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety, which is ten less than the twenty-three fatalities in February 2022. Additionally, there have been thirty-nine traffic deaths in 2023, which is a twenty-three percent drop from the first two months of 2022. However, impairment and speeding remain the top two factors in deadly crashes in Nevada.
DUI crashes remain a cause of concern for traffic officials in Nevada, and as mentioned previously, it remains a leading cause for traffic fatalities in the state. When discussing DUIs, the conversation usually centers on alcohol, however Southern Nevada law enforcement have become increasingly worried about marijuana related DUIs, especially as legal Marijuana Lounges continue to open in Nevada’s Southern region. Las Vegas law enforcement note that in order to catch stoned drivers, they conduct similar tests as with drunk drivers, such as if they can keep their balance on one leg for at least thirty-seconds, or walk in a straight line. However, they also check factors such as if the subject is crossing their eyes when following the officer’s fingers. However, officers note that marijuana-impairment impacts individuals differently and screening for impairment is not as cut and dry as with alcohol impairment.
Fatal accidents related to stoned or drug impaired drivers continues to rise in Nevada, and in 2021, there were thirty-eight fatalities on Nevada roads, nearly double from 2016. The state’s most recent data also notes the presence of THC (chemical in marijuana that causes people to get high) in seventy other fatal crashes where drivers also used alcohol or some other drug.
With 2023 being the first year that Nevadans can smoke weed publicly, law enforcement fear that this number will continue to rise. In light of this, Clark County and the city of Las Vegas have given the green light to marijuana lounges, businesses that act as a bar for weed consumption. UNLV Traffic Safety Coordinator, Erin Breen, voiced her concern for these developments, stating that “we are allowing yet another step in the marijuana journey without changing the laws in the state of Nevada”. However, she did state that there would be regulations to increase safety, including regulations requiring lounges to create driving prevention plans. These include a twenty-four hour no-tow policy so customers can return for their car once sober, and requiring establishments stop serving cannabis products two hours before close. [1]
If you are planning on drinking while enjoying this month’s March Madness games, stay safe by planning ahead and not drinking and driving. Taking the following steps can not only keep yourself safe, but can save lives:
[2] https://www.progressive.com/lifelanes/on-the-road/how-to-prevent-drunk-driving/
Image Credit: Tim Gerland
Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers
Summerlin Location
11441 Allerton Park Dr #100
Las Vegas, NV 89135
Phone: 702-684-6900
Fax: 702-382-9798
Downtown Location
626 S 10th St
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: 702-382-9797
Fax: 702-382-9798
Henderson Location
9230 S Eastern Ave #155
Las Vegas, NV 89123
Phone: 702-463-2900
Fax: 702-382-9798
Reno Location
1320 E Plumb Lane Ste A
Reno, NV 89502
Phone: 775-600-6000
Fax: 702-382-9798
Joseph L. Benson II, and Ben J. Bingham, Personal Injury Attorneys
How Medical Liens Work During Your Personal Injury Settlement: Common Types & Strategies To Manage…
Understanding The Importance Of Finding Key Evidence To Prove Your Personal Injury Claims When it…
Navigating The Insurance Claim Process & Proving Liability In Car Accidents: Key Definitions, Critical Evidence…
How Your Compensation is Determined In Nevada If you have been in an accident and…
Effective Strategies For Negotiating Car Accident Claims With Insurance Adjusters Insurance adjusters use specific tactics…
Reporting Future Expenses In Your Car Accident Insurance Claim If you’ve been in a car…