Share:

In Nevada, texting, surfing the web, or being otherwise distracted while behind the wheel has been banned since January 2012. Accident attorneys know it can be tempting to pick up an important call or fire a quick text while you're on the road, but steep fines and severe consequences should deter you. Plus, you're much more likely to get into an accident while chatting on the phone or choosing a playlist, which is the reason for the law in the first place. Here are what qualifies and doesn't qualify as distracted driving in Nevada.

What Qualifies as Distracted Driving in Nevada

Manual

Distracted driving can involve a variety of your senses. This rationale is why Nevada classifies this offense into three categories that accident attorneys can discuss during court proceedings. The first, known as a manual distraction, involves anything that forces you to take your hands off the wheel while driving. Eating, smoking, or reaching for an object while behind the wheel are all manual kinds of distractions.

Visual

accident attorney

Another type of distraction is a visual one that takes your eyes off the road. Your cell phone is usually the object of your attention when this type of distracted driving occurs, even if to look at your GPS or answer a phone call. Reading or sending texts on average will take a driver's eyes off the road for a full five seconds. Checking your hair in the rearview mirror or looking at passengers in the backseat also applies to this category. 

Cognitive

Beyond manual and visual concerns, cognitive distractions are anything else that causes you to take your mind off of the task at hand. Conversations on the phone or with a passenger in the car, daydreaming, or going over something in your head can all pose threats to your driving ability. A Carnegie Mellon study even found that brainpower dedicated to driving decreases 37% when the driver listens to music or has a conversation

Exemptions to Distracted Driving

Nevada uses primary enforcement of distracted driving, which means police officers can pull you over if they merely see you violating these laws. While distracted driving is prohibited in most circumstances, Nevada laws provide leeway in a few situations, namely in case of emergency. 

Citizens who use their phones to report an event to 911, such as a crime or a medical emergency, are exempt from distracted driving laws. Voice-operated GPS also does not apply as long as it is connected to the car via Bluetooth or aux cord. Passengers in autonomous vehicles can also participate in distracting activities since they are technically not driving.

Active-duty emergency responders—police, firefighters, and medical personnel—will not have ramifications for distracted driving as long as they act within the scope of their employment. Utility workers and those providing communication services can also use devices deemed under the distracted driving laws during an emergency or a disaster.

 

Distracted drivers are responsible for hundreds of thousands of automotive injuries and thousands of fatalities each year. If you've been struck by a distracted driver and would like to learn more, contact the experienced accident attorneys from Kidwell & Gallagher in Elko, NV. Call today at (775) 738-1000 to speak to a friendly professional. For more information about the law firm's accident attorneys, visit the website.  

tracking