The Nevada Department of Transportation announced the new daytime headlight requirements for certain northern Nevada highways, with a statewide law set to take effect in July 2028 requiring headlights at all times on rural two-lane roadways.
Since last year, the department has installed ‘Turn On Headlights’ signs on several rural two-lane sections, including U.S. 395A in Washoe Valley, U.S. 395 from Gardnerville to the Nevada/California state line at Topaz Lake, U.S. 95A from Fernley to Silver Springs, U.S. 95 from I-80 to Hawthorne and Winnemucca to McDermitt, and U.S. 6 in central Nevada. Additional signage will be placed on other highways such as U.S. 50 and U.S. 93.
The signs indicate when drivers must use headlights and note the distance to the next major city where headlights are not required. Current state law requires headlights from thirty minutes after sunset to thirty minutes before sunrise, during rain or limited visibility conditions, or when directed by traffic signage. Beginning July 1, 2028, drivers will also need to use headlights at all times while traveling on two-lane rural highways; this does not apply to urban streets or highways with more than one lane in each direction.
The department said it is phasing in these requirements through increased signage “to raise driver awareness and enhance roadway visibility.” The statement added: “NDOT reminds motorists that using daytime running lights can provide enhanced visibility of your vehicle, even in areas where daytime headlights are not required.” The department noted that head-on crashes are among the most frequent types of accidents on rural roads nationwide and described the measure as a safety precaution.
To further improve safety on two-lane roads across Nevada, NDOT outlined several enhancements: “NDOT’s Speed Management Action Plan outlines strategies to manage speed on all roadways in Nevada and save lives. NDOT is prioritizing additional passing lanes statewide to enhance safe passing opportunities. NDOT has installed rumble strips on thousands of miles of state roadways… NDOT grades and flattens roadside slopes and edges, helping drivers to safely correct their vehicle if they unintentionally leave the road or have to pull off in event of emergency,” according to the official announcement.
The Nevada Department of Transportation promotes roadway safety through programs targeting zero fatalities and advances multimodal planning for aviation, public transit, freight, bicycle and pedestrian needs,according to the official website. The agency manages about 5,400 miles of highways and more than 1,000 bridges statewide as reported by its website, organizing operations through three districts covering southern (Las Vegas), northwest (Sparks), and northeast (Elko) regions according to its website. A seven-member board oversees operations as listed by NDOT. Additional details can be found on the official roster page.
