Photo reprinted from flickr.com

We recently came across a report from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) that states the number of collisions in the Las Vegas area, the number of fatalities and their causes and the intersections with the highest incidences of collisions for the year to date.  In order to show how prevalent car accidents are in the Las Vegas valley and how they can be easily prevented, I have posted some information from that report.

Las Vegas Collision Stats

The LVMPD reports a staggering 17,884 collisions for the year of 2008, with 7,239, or 40% of those collisions resulting in injury and 82 in death. 

Of those 82 fatalities, pedestrian error was the #1 cause of death, followed by excessive speed and failure to yield the right of way along with other improper driving.  Although 82 may seem like a relatively low number of fatalities when compared to the number of collisions, that’s 82 lives cut short in accidents that likely could have been prevented by exercising caution and responsibility! And that number only accounts for deaths through the month of August! 

Dangerous Intersections

We all know that there are certain intersections in the city that are notorious for accidents.  Below I list the intersections in town to watch out for and to be especially careful while crossing or driving through them. 

The top 10 intersections with the highest incidences of collisions were:

1. Tropicana Ave. at Koval Ln.
2. Las Vegas Blvd. at Flamingo Rd.
3. Tropicana Ave. at Las Vegas Blvd.
4. Maryland Parkway at Sahara Avenue
5. Lamb Blvd. at Charleston Blvd.
6. Tropicana Ave. at Eastern Ave.
7. Sahara Ave. at Las Vegas Blvd.
8. Blue Diamond Rd. at Durango Dr.
9. Sands Ave. at Las Vegas Blvd.
10. Sahara Ave. at Valley View Blvd.

The top 5 intersections with the highest rate of collisions with injuries were:

1. Koval at Tropicana
2. Lamb at Charleston
3. Charleston at Eastern
4. Bonanza at Nellis
5. Nellis at Vegas Valley

I hope you find this information helpful and that it has inspired you to be a safer driver and a more cautious pedestrian.  Remember that speed limits as well as traffic signals and right-of-way laws exist to protect you and other drivers – follow them to avoid expensive auto insurance premiums and to keep you and your “precious cargo” safe.

Photo reprinted from www. ksfy.com

This week marks the end of summer and the beginning of another school year for Las Vegas teens.  And although kids are back in school with more of a focus and more to do, school year activities such as post-game parties and school dances are prime places for underage alcohol consumption. 

According to the National Research Council, alcohol is the No. 1 youth drug problem in America and more young people die from alcohol-related causes than from all other illicit drugs combined. According to the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Web site, drinking before the age of 21 is associated with damage to growing brains, alcohol dependence, violence, dropping out of school, drinking and driving, riding with drinking drivers, unplanned and unsafe sex,  fatalities and injuries from drownings, burns, falls, homicides, and suicides.

Although you may think your teen is safe while supervised by adults in a friend’s home, or unable to purchase alcohol at the local convenience store, read ahead.  A nationwide report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) released in June 2008 estimates that 40 percent of underage drinkers received free alcohol from adults over 21.  The MADD Web site states that adults continue to allow those under the legal drinking age to drink by selling alcohol to those under 21, providing or purchasing alcohol, looking the other way when teens openly talk about drinking and refusing to hold other adults and youth accountable for breaking the law. 

I hope that we all decide to be a solution to the problem of underage drinking instead of a contributor.  If you know someone who is selling alcohol to minors, or allowing minors to consume alcohol in their home, report them to the police.  Also, parents, do not allow your children to drink and ensure that the families of your children’s friends do the same.

Here’s to a safe and productive school year!

It’s no secret that our Hispanic population is growing in Las Vegas.  In fact according to the Hispanic Fact Pact, 2008 Edition, distributed by Advertising Age magazine, Las Vegas is now ranked #20 in the list of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets. 

I came across this article and wanted to share this with all of my readers.  I hope it prompts you to discuss this serious subject with your children.

Latino Parents Urged to Counteract Effects of Targeted Alcohol Ads

August 20, 2008
Source: Join Together

With Latino/Latina youths viewing a disproportionately high number of alcohol ads compared with other young people, parents need to have open discussions with their children so they will delay drinking, the Al Día weekly newspaper (Philadelphia) reported Aug. 14.

According to a 2003 report from the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, alcohol advertisers spent $23.6 million in 2002 to run ads on 12 of the 15 television programs most watched by Hispanic youths. The report added that Hispanic youths saw 24 to 32 percent more alcohol advertising in magazines than did non-Hispanic young people.

With unintentional injuries, homicide and suicide constituting the three leading causes of death among Hispanic youths ages 12 to 20, and alcohol a prominent factor in all of these categories, the article urges parents not to avoid conversations about alcohol and unwittingly deliver the message that it is OK for children to drink.

According to the 2007 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Hispanic teens are more likely than their non-Hispanic peers to ride in a car with someone who has been drinking, and also more likely to drink on school property.

The newspaper article discusses in detail the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s (NIAAA’s) “Talk to Your Children About Alcohol” initiative, listing tips for parents such as asking open-ended questions of youths and responding constructively rather than emotionally.

Sincerely,

Adam S. Kutner