1. You betcha…and I believe the greatest contributor is all the distractions visible to drivers - neon lights, throngs of tourists, elevated views of the city, etc. - all pose as severe distraction for drivers, especially when travelling in new areas at bumper to bumper conditions.

   I vote NHP post inspectors at I-15 On-Ramp Stop Lights and randomly inspect for license/insurance. That would start eliminating the drivers who flat-out don’t care.

   Comment by TabascoJax — July 1, 2008 @ 11:54 am

2. Yes, I agree 100%. It’s almost as if people have moved to Las Vegas and forgot that all the laws that existed where they 1st received their licenses.

   People talk on their cell phones as if no one else in on the road - or they drive in the passing lane at the speed limit or less.

   They can’t merge - just because you are getting on a highway doesn’t mean you don’t have merge or even sometimes STOP to enter traffic.

   Comment by Kristi — July 1, 2008 @ 12:04 pm

3. You’re darn right I agree! Las Vegas drivers are pathetic examples of responsible driving. I have lived in five different states and three countries and I have not seen drivers more careless and just plain dumb as I have here. These people don’t seem to give a rat’s behind about other people’s safety. Get off the freakin phone and use a turn signal!!!

   Comment by Joe — July 1, 2008 @ 4:35 pm

4. Totally agree. Speed Limit on the sign means drive at whatever speed you want, but not the posted speed limit. We do not have enough law enforcement to catch the law breakers. I can go months without seeing a police car and I commute 150miles per week.

   Comment by Cynthia — July 1, 2008 @ 5:09 pm

5. I also agree whole heartedly, I relocated from Wisconsin to Las Vegas nine months ago, and I have never wore a seat belt until I moved here. The driving is very dangerous. Half the people who live there cannot even read much less understand the signs. Signals what are those, no one uses them, Courtesy driving is not one of there strong points here. But I agree there is too much distraction. I’ve since moved back to Wisconsin and enjoy driving again, Vegas took the joy out of driving PERIOD. Ignorant people live here.

   Comment by Debbie — July 1, 2008 @ 5:11 pm

6. I’ve lived in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, and in western Europe….. Las Vegas drivers are the absolute worst I’ve ever encountered. Police need to write more tickets. My family nor myself can’t even drive around town without coming across an accident backing traffic up for miles.

   Comment by Frank — July 1, 2008 @ 5:44 pm

7. Hey TabascoJax, I agree but, our police department is understaffed and has never been able to keep up with this areas growing population. I advocate adopting Virginia’s annual vehicle safety inspection to insure our vehicles are road worthy. Not only does this take a proactive measure to ensuring the safety of our roads, it gives the police a bright sticker on the windshield (probable cause) to stop the vehicle if it is not in compliance with the law. I drive down Lamb daily by Pic A Part and the vehicles pulling out have no brakes, no tread on their tires, no brake lights, and usually have no registration. The debris which falls off the trucks hauling trash and scrap metal to the facility on Lamb behind Pic A Part provides a dangerous obstacale course for those of us driving behind them. Police can not tell you if your brakes are in need of replacing (or able to stop your vehicle at all) by looking at your car. A safety inspection pulls the tire off and checks brakes, in addition to all lights, turn signals, windshield wipers, cracks in the windshield, mirrors, seat belts, exhaust, and much more. NV could roll its smog requirements into the annual safety inspection. I told a guy at church last week that I noticed his car did not have brake lights. He informed me that it was bright outside and I could not see them because he had modified them but, they were there. First, he did not even check his brake lights. Second, he LEGALLY modified his brake lights to where they are stylish but not functional - in other words, I can NOT tell when he is stopping but, they look good on his white Mustang! The police take a “reactive” approach meaning, they will site someone for bad brakes at the scene of an accident when it is determined (too late) that someones brakes were not legal - remember the Portuguese truck driver who killed people during a wreck (notice I did NOT say accident) on the 95 a few years ago? Also, police out here twice have fought over the juridiction of Craig and Lamb leaving TWO serious 911 calls answered by the dispatcher but NOT responded by ANY officers so, getting them to actually show up is a real treat. They try to shift it to North Las Vegas or vice versa pending how close you are to Pic A Part. The Va. State Inspections are conducted at service stations and dealerships by ONE on site, State Police trained, employee of that company to control the stickers. Spot inspections are done by the state police to make sure the one certified employee is not slacking on requirements nor selling stickers. The penalty is a stiff jail sentence for the inspector. Individuals have their cars inspected for $25.00 at their convenience throughout the month of expiration. The city of North Las Vegas plagiarized its code enforcement from Fairfax Virginia. There is NO harm in the state of Nevada stealing Virginia’s guidelines for safety inspections. I spoke with a local (unnamed) judge at a dinner last March that claimed he would fight me “until his last breath before he would allow that to happen” claiming it is a big brother tactic. I asked him if he was aware of just how much cheaper my car insurance (on the same vehicles through the same insurance company) was in Virginia versus Nevada. Nevada residents would save so much money on insurance if our state adopted safety inspections. Saving money is not nearly as important as saving lives which would also occur if safety inspections were implemented.

   Comment by Nancy — July 1, 2008 @ 11:02 pm

8. I’m originally from Houston and I’ve been to numerous metropolitan cities. I have been driving for 40 years and have never had a ticket or an accident, but I afraid this city could ruin my record eventually. Atlanta had the worst drivers I have ever seen, but Las Vegas ranks a close second. Drivers here spend too much time on their cell phones, are in way to much of a hurry, and are just plain rude. Tailgating, speeding, lane changing, stop-sign and red-light running; no consideration for anyone else on the road. And then there are the ones who just need to get their head out and pay attention. It’s no wonder our accident rates are so high.

   Comment by Teresa S. — July 4, 2008 @ 8:00 am

9. All the previous comments have a good deal of truth to them. We just moved here from Pgh, PA. The insurance costs in this state are out of sight because of the accidents in NV compared to else where. We had two cars in PA and we paid 60% less than we do for one of the cars in NV. The rates in NV are comparable to the rates in NJ and NYC where drivers main car accessory is the horn (I spent some time there!) Forget the cell phones and sights, which undoubtedly have bad consequences, but we find the drivers here have an attitude; it is me first!! There is no road courtesy. Everyone must be the first through the intersection and the first down the road. That includes crossing three lanes of traffic from left to right to make a right hand turn (in front of the DMV building-which they went into!) Enforcement can only do so much; but attitude adjustment could do so much more.

   Comment by William F. Jacob — July 4, 2008 @ 2:02 pm

10. HANG UP & DRIVE!

    Comment by H Smith — July 5, 2008 @ 12:55 pm

11. I am a former commercial driver who has recently changed careers because of the terrible drivers in this city. I look at it as a positive change for the better as I am now in school majoring in Hotel Management. I hope for Las Vegas’s sake law enforcement will get tougher on law-breakers and start issuing much deserved citations. Speaking of being oblivious to one’s environment, the newscaster hasn’t a clue of what he/she is publishing. There is no Sioux Falls in Idaho. It is Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Besides, I heard this very story covered by the national news and they seemed to have some geographic sense. I guess it goes to show how stupid and self-involved people are in this crazy but awsome city of glitz.

    Comment by Aaron O — July 8, 2008 @ 9:29 am

12. Recently I drove from South Texas to Las Vegas and I thought the worst drivers in the world were in Mexico and S.Texas.. sorry they are ALL here in Las Vegas. Soon after moving here I took to walking and riding the bus I hated driveing so bad here. People drive fast without paying attention, peolpe on the phone talking or OMG TEXTING. No curtisy no peitieance and in a rush. I have been hit by a car while crossing at the light (I had the walk light) and have had peolpe honk, yell and flip me off for crossing the road (always with the light) in front of them or honk at the car who DID stop to make sure I got across safely.
    When I was hit I was so afraid. Laying in the road and unable to get up I waited just knowing that one of the irrate idiots honking at the car that stopped was goiing to blast around the traffic and finish me off in front of my daughter. (on her 18th birthday no less.) Morons and idiots.. I have thought a few times how it would be to just sit at the light and slig shot rocks at people whoo use there horn for NON EMERGENCY reasons. I HATE that..

    Comment by Sheena K — August 9, 2008 @ 2:33 pm

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