One thing that can lead to a car crash or road rage is tailgating. This is also known as following too closely. Nevada law states that “the driver of a vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.”
Simply put you must not follow so closely that you are not able to avoid a collision. As the driver you must take into consideration the road conditions, weather, amount of traffic on the roadway and any other factors that may lead to a crash should you not be following at a safe distance.
A good rule of thumb is to consider keeping a distance of one car length for every 10 miles per hour that you are traveling. The average car length is around 12 to 13 feet. Obviously there are smaller vehicles on the roadway but this is a good length to judge by to safely maintain distance between you and the motor vehicle ahead of you.
In the event you are following too close and should end up in a car crash your seat belt should be secured and if your vehicle is so equipped your airbags may deploy. The combination of these two safety devices may make the difference from walking away or taking a ride in an ambulance to the hospital.
In other news, the Carson City Sheriff's Office is participating with law enforcement around the state in the Joining Forces campaign with high-intensity enforcement effort now through Feb. 2.
The sheriff's office will be conducting saturation patrols in the Carson City area for the rest of this month. The focus of these patrols will be to reduce crashes by enforcing traffic violations.
Deputies will be looking for drivers who are speeding, using cell phones, tailgating or any other violation that may lead to car crashes. Drivers are encouraged to follow the rules of the road and help in reducing crashes which can lead to injury and death.
Officers will be out in force on roadways across Nevada looking for motorists who are driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Last year, 284 fatalities were reported in Nevada, 18 more than in 2013. Of those fatalities, 74 deaths were ruled to be alcohol-related.
Even though the holiday celebrations have wrapped up, the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety reinforces the importance of designating a sober driver and avoiding driving impaired. Alternatives include taking taxis, staying overnight or calling a friend for a ride home.
— Sgt. Scott McDaniel is with the Carson City Sheriff's Office and writes regular public safety columns.