The Nevada Department of Transportation has started installing "Daytime Headlights Required" signs on rural two-lane highways ahead of a new law taking effect July 1, 2028, which will require drivers to use headlights during daylight hours on these roads. The rule, part of Nevada statute NRS 484D.100, is intended to reduce head-on collisions, a common type of accident on rural highways, and does not apply to multi-lane highways or city streets. Between October 2019 and October 2023, there were 110 crashes on U.S. 6 and U.S. 95 involving vehicles passing other vehicles, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation.
Drivers on central Nevada’s U.S. 6, including areas like Tonopah, and on U.S. 95 in Schurz, will see new 108-by-36-inch signs that say "Turn on Headlights" with the distance to the next city where headlights can be turned off. Similar signs will be added to U.S. 93 in Elko County. Current law still requires headlights during rain, low visibility, and half an hour before and after sunrise and sunset. The Nevada Department of Transportation notes that daytime running lights also help with vehicle visibility. Additional safety measures include adding passing lanes, installing rumble strips, flattening roadside slopes, and creating a Speed Management Action Plan to reduce speed-related crashes.
The Nevada Department of Transportation has installed new signage on two-lane highways advising drivers to "Turn on Headlights." Drivers are reminded to follow speed limits, adjust speed for weather conditions, maintain a safe following distance, and stay in their lane. The use of headlights or daytime running lights before the 2028 law takes effect is encouraged.
