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Nevada driving lesson · Special Driving Conditions

Night driving

A 3-minute lesson from the Nevada course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Special Driving Conditions
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
56

At night you can't see as far, as soon or as much, and glare from oncoming headlights makes it harder still. Nevada has exact rules for when headlights are required and when to dim your high beams.

Make night driving safer:

  • Always be able to stop within the range of your headlights
  • Keep your speed under control and within posted limits
  • Don't look into oncoming headlights — look down and to the right side of your lane
  • Use the road edge line or center line as a guide
  • Keep your windshield clean inside and out
  • Never wear sunglasses when driving at night
  • Watch for pedestrians — they're hard to see at night
Handbook p. 56 ↗

Headlights are legally required:

  • From a half hour after sunset until a half hour before sunrise
  • When there is insufficient light
  • Whenever people or vehicles can't be clearly seen at 1,000 feet
  • When directed by an official traffic control device
Handbook p. 56 ↗

Know the rule

It's advisable to use headlights when driving in rain, snow or fog.

Handbook p. 56 ↗

When to dim high beams

When to dim high beams
SituationSwitch to low beams
Oncoming vehicleAt least 500 feet before it
Vehicle you're followingAt least 300 feet behind it
Handbook p. 56 ↗

Know the rule

Use high beams in open country at night. You may flash your headlights to warn a driver ahead that you intend to pass.

Handbook p. 56 ↗

Know the rule

Keep your headlights clean, and don't drive with just your parking lights on.

Handbook p. 56 ↗
19%

Share of Nevada fatal crashes (2015–2019) that occurred between 6:00 PM and 8:59 PM — 276 crashes

Handbook p. 56 ↗

Put it into practice

Crossing the desert on high beams, you see headlights cresting a hill ahead. Switch to low beams when the car is at least 500 feet away, and look down and to the right edge of your lane until it passes.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

Headlights are legally required starting:
  1. At sunset exactly
  2. One hour after sunset
  3. Half an hour after sunset
  4. When it becomes fully dark

Answer: Half an hour after sunset

Headlights are required from a half hour after sunset until a half hour before sunrise.

Handbook p. 56 ↗
Headlights must be used whenever persons or vehicles cannot be clearly seen at a distance of:
  1. 500 feet
  2. 2,000 feet
  3. 300 feet
  4. 1,000 feet

Answer: 1,000 feet

Headlights are required whenever visibility of persons or vehicles is less than 1,000 feet.

Handbook p. 56 ↗
When driving at night, you should change from high beams to low beams at least how many feet before an oncoming vehicle?
  1. 500 feet
  2. 300 feet
  3. 1,000 feet
  4. 100 feet

Answer: 500 feet

Dim your high beams at least 500 feet before an oncoming vehicle.

Handbook p. 56 ↗
When following another vehicle at night, you should dim your high beams when at least how many feet behind them?
  1. 500 feet
  2. 300 feet
  3. 100 feet
  4. 50 feet

Answer: 300 feet

Dim your high beams at least 300 feet before any vehicle you are following.

Handbook p. 56 ↗
While driving at night, you should never:
  1. Use your low beams
  2. Use the road edge line as a guide
  3. Wear sunglasses
  4. Keep your windshield clean

Answer: Wear sunglasses

Never wear sunglasses when driving at night.

Handbook p. 56 ↗
It's safe to drive at night with just your parking lights if your headlights are working fine.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

Drivers should not drive with just the parking lights on.

Handbook p. 56 ↗
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