Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles
Nevada Department of Transportation
dmvnv.com | zerofatalitiesnv.com
What Is Distracted Driving?
With more portable technology now than ever, driver
distractions have risen to unprecedented numbers.
But cell phones aren’t the only problem.
Drivers can be distracted by eating and drinking,
grooming, tuning the radio or even talking to pas-
sengers. Anything that takes a driver’s attention
from the road is a potential hazard.
There are three main types of distraction:
• Visual — taking your eyes o the road
• Manual — taking your hands o the wheel
• Cognitive — taking your mind o driving
While all distractions can endanger drivers’ safety,
texting is the most alarming because it involves all
three types.
Other distracting activities include:
• Using a cell phone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Using a PDA or navigation system
• Watching a video
• Changing the radio station, CD, or Mp3 player.
It’s Deadly
• In 2009, more than 5,000 people died and almost
half a million injuries occurred in the U.S. simply
because people were not paying attention to the
road. Conversations can wait. The chances of
causing a crash that could ruin
lives is just too great.
• The proportion of drivers
reportedly distracted at
the time of the fatal
crashes increased
from 10 percent
in 2005 to 16
percent in 2009.
• About 89 percent
of Americans had
a cell phone in 2009.
In a national survey, 77
percent reported they talk on
the phone while driving at least
some of the time. (NHTSA)
Visit distraction.gov for more.
Eyes on the Road - Toward Zero Fatalities
Texting, accessing the internet and hand-held cell
phone use while driving are against the law in Ne-
vada. You may talk on a phone using a hands-free
device.
Penaties are $50 for the rst oense in seven years,
$100 for the second and $250 for the third and sub-
sequent oenses. Penalties are subject to doubling if
the oense occurs in a work zone. The rst oense
is not treated as a moving violation.
Exceptions include:
• Any person reporting a medical emergency, a
safety hazard or criminal activity.
• Drivers using a voice-operated navigation system
axed to the vehicle or those riding in autono-
mous vehicles.
• Drivers using citizen band or other two-way radios
that have a separate, hand-held microphone and
require a license.
• Law enforcement ocers, reghters or emer-
gency medical personnel acting within the scope
of their employment.
• Utility workers responding to an outage or emer-
gency and using devices provided by the company.
• Amateur radio operators providing communica-
tions services during an emergency or disaster.
Young Drivers At Risk
Young drivers are more at risk of distracted driving—
especially those under 20 years of age. Nevada has
two important restrictions on drivers under 18.
• Drivers age 16 or 17 may not transport passengers
under 18, except for immediate family members,
for the rst six months after receiving their full
license. (NRS 483.2523)
• Drivers age 16 or 17 may not drive between 10
p.m. and 5 a.m. unless they are traveling to or
from a scheduled event such as work or school
events. (NRS 484B.907)
NO
PHONE
ZONE
No Texting & Hands-Free Calls
Distracted Driving
