LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Saving lives by preventing traffic deaths. Metro Sheriff Kevin McMahill is making it a top priority.
LVMPD recently launched an aggressive new traffic safety plan targeting the 12 most dangerous intersections in Metro Las Vegas.
Thursday, FOX5 rode along with Metro officers to see their enhanced enforcement in action.
They are looking to stop dangerous drivers before they can hurt anyone or themselves. Traffic Lieutenant Cody Fulwiler says in his 20 years on the force, this is the most drastic traffic enforcement effort he’s seen.
“We’re doing something about it… We’re out there and we’re visibly stopping folks,” Lt. Fulwiler contended.
Even seasoned detectives who normally don’t do traffic patrol are being pulled for this campaign. Last year, 161 people died on roads patrolled by Metro.
“We need to take a drastic approach,” Lt. Fulwiler argued.
At Flamingo and Pecos, FOX5 caught an SUV running a red light on camera. A motorcycle officer on the special patrol was also watching. As the officer pulled the vehicle over, another driver not paying attention almost hit him. That dangerous driver became the priority and was pulled over and given a ticket for failure to yield.
FOX5 also saw tickets handed out for speeding on Boulder Highway.
“It’s fabulous, absolutely…. We’re just so happy to see them here,” shared Cassaundra Steele who works near Boulder Highway and Sahara, one of the intersections identified by Metro as the worst.
She can’t count the number of accidents she’s seen as people go way beyond the 45 mile per hour speed limit.
“There’s a mile of unchecked traffic from Sahara to the freeway, so the minute they get the green light on the Sahara, they go about 80- 100 miles an hour sometimes… people are losing their lives on this highway on a regular basis,” Steele revealed.
Sometimes, Steele is among the first to get to help those involved.
“It’s people we know sometimes. It’s personal and you know, and you’re running out there and you’re trying to respond and call 911,” Steele recounted.
It wasn’t hard to spot drivers running stop signs and red lights. Thursday alone, the special patrol stopped 200 vehicles, issued 145 citations, made five arrests and towed eight vehicles.
The deadly intersection campaign started a month ago. Metro estimates three lives have already been saved. They say last August there were 10 traffic deaths, this year there were seven. Their special traffic enforcement will run through the end of the year.
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