In Nevada:

Up to $250 fine for talking or texting on a hand held cell phone (effective January 1, 2012).

In the United States:

Over 800,000 drivers are on cell phones at any given moment. The result, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is more than 6,000 distracted driving deaths in 2008 and more than half a million injuries.

Distracted driving is something that is so common place most people do not realize the deadly consequences, particularly given the rise in the number and type of communication devices now available.

Two studies by the New England Journal of Medicine and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to be involved in a crash. This is a particular problem among young drivers under 20 who have the highest proportion of distraction-related crashes. One of the reasons is the amount of thinking that is diverted from the essential task of driving. The Carnegie Mellon University found that using a cell phone while driving reduces the amount of brain activity needed for driving by 37 percent.

Driving is serious business and demands every bit of attention at all times. Driving instructors estimate that a driver makes about 200 decisions for every mile of driving. If you are talking on the phone or texting a friend, what is the affect on those decisions? Not only is talking or texting while driving illegal, it is also dangerous!

Take the pledge to not drive distracted now!