Take a Defensive Driving Course Now

Vehicle crashes and fatalities were up in Clark County, Las Vegas and across the state of Nevada during the first half of 2017, according to figures released Thursday by the Nevada Department of Transportation.

There were 106 crashes reported in Clark County between Jan. 1 and June 26, an 8.16 percent increase from the same period last year, NDOT officials said. Figures showed that there were also 111 traffic-related fatalities countywide during the first six months of 2017, up from 106 a year earlier.

Across Nevada, 140 crashes were reported so far this year, up from 134 during the first half of 2016, NDOT officials said. There were also 148 traffic fatalities statewide, up from 143.

NDOT Director Rudy Malfabon said Thursday that the agency must “put funding where it’s needed” to drive down the fatality rate.

Contact Art Marroquin at amarroquin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0336. Find @AMarroquin_LV on Twitter.