LAS VEGAS -- For almost three years, it has been illegal in Nevada to text and drive but chances are you see someone texting and driving almost everyday.
The Nevada Highway Patrol says it is cracking down on these distracted drivers more than ever.
On Tuesday, Allstate Insurance put some people to the test about texting and driving using a simulator. Especially because it appears many people in Nevada are still texting behind the wheel.
NHP says so far this year more than 9,400 citations have been issued to people caught texting and driving in southern Nevada, which is a big jump from last year, where troopers issued just under 7,000 tickets for all of 2013.
Patrick Williams is relieved this is only a driving simulator. Otherwise, this situation could have been a whole lot worse. He could have hit someone while texting behind the wheel.
"This pretty much taught me you shouldn't do it at all because that's a distraction even if you're at a light you're texting, the light turns green and you're heads down. You can cause traffic," Williams said.
“Texting and driving takes an average of five seconds to look down at your phone. That five seconds is equal to being blind folded for the length of a football field at 55 mph," Allstate agent Fred Ledford said.
Taking your eyes off the road leads to more than 3,500 car crashes a year, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation. Studies show younger drivers are at an even higher risk of getting into an accident.
"Honestly, I think friends are the biggest distraction, like more than a phone almost, because they're constantly there," driver Nicole Wellser said.
"I love my music so I have my iPod, my iPad and my phone. Sometimes I'll plug those into my radio and be like, ‘what song can I listen to?' and I'm like, ‘alright this song!' and I just throw my phone. That is a distraction," Williams said.
Ledford hopes drivers like Williams get the message.
“Make a promise to not text and drive and hopefully the experience today will take them with a firmer result not to do that," Ledford said.
NHP troopers say another reason for the uptick in tickets could be because troopers are working to be more vigilant looking for drivers on the phone.
The Nevada Highway Patrol says it is cracking down on these distracted drivers more than ever.
On Tuesday, Allstate Insurance put some people to the test about texting and driving using a simulator. Especially because it appears many people in Nevada are still texting behind the wheel.
NHP says so far this year more than 9,400 citations have been issued to people caught texting and driving in southern Nevada, which is a big jump from last year, where troopers issued just under 7,000 tickets for all of 2013.
Patrick Williams is relieved this is only a driving simulator. Otherwise, this situation could have been a whole lot worse. He could have hit someone while texting behind the wheel.
"This pretty much taught me you shouldn't do it at all because that's a distraction even if you're at a light you're texting, the light turns green and you're heads down. You can cause traffic," Williams said.
“Texting and driving takes an average of five seconds to look down at your phone. That five seconds is equal to being blind folded for the length of a football field at 55 mph," Allstate agent Fred Ledford said.
Taking your eyes off the road leads to more than 3,500 car crashes a year, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation. Studies show younger drivers are at an even higher risk of getting into an accident.
"Honestly, I think friends are the biggest distraction, like more than a phone almost, because they're constantly there," driver Nicole Wellser said.
"I love my music so I have my iPod, my iPad and my phone. Sometimes I'll plug those into my radio and be like, ‘what song can I listen to?' and I'm like, ‘alright this song!' and I just throw my phone. That is a distraction," Williams said.
Ledford hopes drivers like Williams get the message.
“Make a promise to not text and drive and hopefully the experience today will take them with a firmer result not to do that," Ledford said.
NHP troopers say another reason for the uptick in tickets could be because troopers are working to be more vigilant looking for drivers on the phone.
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