Traffic deaths on the rise in Nevada

Preliminary data shows that 284 traffic fatalities occurred on Nevada roads in 2014, an increase of 18 deaths compared to the previous year.

Statewide, traffic fatalities have slightly risen over recent years after trending down from an all-time high of 432 in 2006.

Traffic fatalities in many rural counties have increased, with a more than 200 percent jump seen in Churchill, Lander, Storey and Humboldt counties.

Pedestrian and motorcycle-related deaths have also risen, with a nearly 2 percent increase in motorcycle fatalities and one more pedestrian death than 2013.

“These are so much more than numbers. Every death and serious injury on Nevada roads is a tragedy,” NDOT Director Rudy Malfabon said in a statement. “That is why the state’s traffic safety goal is zero fatalities, and that’s why transportation, safety, enforcement and other groups continue working together to implement life-saving road safety advances.”

The Nevada Strategic Highway Safety Plan brings Nevada traffic and safety advocates together to implement enforcement, engineering, emergency medical and educational strategies for cutting the yearly traffic fatality average in half by 2030, with the ultimate goal of zero fatalities on Nevada roads.