New NV law in 2028: Daytime headlight use required on rural two-lane highways

[roadfro]

This recent NDOT Facebook post alerted me to a recent law change that I hadn't heard anything about. Effective July 1, 2028, daytime headlight use will be required on all two-lane roadways in the state outside of urban areas.

More info via this NDOT webpage:

NDOT is installing 'daytime headlights required' signage in advance of an updated Nevada traffic law requiring daytime headlight use while driving on rural two-lane roadways.

Ultimately, NDOT will install or replace more than 50 daytime headlight signs on U.S. 95 and U.S. 6 in central Nevada.

The 108-by 36-inch tall signs are large to grab driver attention. The signs read "Turn on Headlights," noting the distance to the next major city where headlights are not required.

Current Nevada state law requires vehicle headlights to be on during nighttime hours from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, when raining or during any other time of limited visibility, and when directed to do so by traffic signage.

Effective July 1, 2028, headlights will also be required to be on at all times while driving two-lane rural highways in the state (NRS 484D.100). The law does not apply to two-lane urban streets or highways with more than one lane in each direction.

In preparation, NDOT is phasing in daytime headlight requirements on sections of highway to raise driver awareness and enhance roadway visibility.

Daytime headlight sections already exist on select areas of Nevada highways, including U.S. 6 in the Tonopah area and near the Nevada/California border, as well on U.S. 95 in Mineral County.

NDOT reminds motorists that using daytime running lights can provide enhanced visibility of your vehicle, even in areas where daytime headlights are not required.

With head-on crashes being one of the most frequent crashes on rural roads nationwide, the requirement is a safety precaution to enhance visibility for drivers on two-lane Nevada highways.   

[Max Rockatansky]

Why is that even necessary since most modern cars have DRL?

[pderocco]

And since DRLs are sometimes separate smaller lights, are they sufficient for this law?

[roadfro]

Here is the headlight law on the Nevada Revised Statutes site—subsections 2 & 4 are new, compared to the existing statute:

NRS 484D.100  When lighted lamps are required; when daytime running lamps or lighted lamps required. [Effective July 1, 2028.]

      1.  Every vehicle upon a highway of this State, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles as stated in chapters 484A to 484E, inclusive, of NRS, must display lighted lamps and illuminating devices as respectively required in this chapter for different classes of vehicles:

      (a) At any time from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise;

      (b) At any other time when, because of insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 1,000 feet ahead; and

      (c) When directed by an official traffic control device.

      2.  During a time or condition to which subsection 1 is not applicable, every vehicle upon a highway of this State that has one lane for traveling in each direction, except for a street, must display daytime running lamps or lighted lamps and illuminating devices while operating on such a highway.

      3.  Every vehicle upon a highway must be equipped with stop lights, turn signals and other signaling devices to be lighted in the manner prescribed for the use of such devices.

      4.  As used in this section, "daytime running lamps" has the meaning ascribed to it in 49 C.F.R. § 571.108.

      [Part 6:166:1925; A 1939, 316; 1945, 268; 1955, 40]—(NRS A 1969, 1211; 2001, 1507; 2023, 2415, effective July 1, 2028)

So it would appear DRLs are sufficient for this law. Some older incandescent DRLs aren't all that great for this purpose, but many LED DRLs are very effective for this purpose. 

I just drove Reno to Vegas before the holidays. US 95 is a daytime headlight section from the outskirts of Fallon all the way to Mercury. I'm still surprised by the number of drivers who ignore the signs and drive with headlights (and DRLs) off. But I do think gauging the distance to pass is much easier when oncoming cars have lights on. 

[kphoger]

Why is that even necessary since most modern cars have DRL?

We've only ever owned one car with daytime running lights, and our current car does not have them.  In the car that had them, I usually turned them off for daytime driving unless I was on a ... wait for it ... rural two-lane highway.  On rural two-lanes, I don't always turn my lights on, but I often do.

[Max Rockatansky]

Why is that even necessary since most modern cars have DRL?

We've only ever owned one car with daytime running lights, and our current car does not have them.  In the car that had them, I usually turned them off for daytime driving unless I was on a ... wait for it ... rural two-lane highway.  On rural two-lanes, I don't always turn my lights on, but I often do.

The first vehicle I owned with DRL was my 1997 C/K 1500 Silverado.  At the time I want to say DRL was mostly a GM thing?  They ran ads on TV about the feature:

[vdeane]

So it would appear DRLs are sufficient for this law.

Which is interesting, because this startment implied otherwise:

NDOT reminds motorists that using daytime running lights can provide enhanced visibility of your vehicle, even in areas where daytime headlights are not required.

But thank God, because anyone with an older car that adjusts the dash display illumination by the status of the lights would have had a really annoying time driving on rural two-lane roads otherwise.  I can't even see my speedometer if the lights are on and it's sufficiently bright out!  And given how many drivers rely on auto headlights and drive with lights off when they're not supposed to, I can't say the newer way of using light sensors to change screens to "dark mode" is better, because it means people no longer have any significant indication as to whether their lights are on or not.

Why is that even necessary since most modern cars have DRL?

We've only ever owned one car with daytime running lights, and our current car does not have them.  In the car that had them, I usually turned them off for daytime driving unless I was on a ... wait for it ... rural two-lane highway.  On rural two-lanes, I don't always turn my lights on, but I often do.

Which is interesting, because my Civic has then and I can't turn them off (not that I'm sure why anyone would want to, unless they stay on when the car is off or something).  I wonder if Honda is building all their vehicles to meet Canadian spec, since there's a law there requiring DRLs.

[SeriesE]

No objections since I usually turn on headlights in rural two lane highways anyway, but I do think they should permit DRL only instead of the full headlights.

Some states need the full headlights + tail lamps for the daylight headlight sections.

[pderocco]

No objections since I usually turn on headlights in rural two lane highways anyway, but I do think they should permit DRL only instead of the full headlights.

Some states need the full headlights + tail lamps for the daylight headlight sections.

I just want everything to be automatic, so I don't have to remember to do anything when I shut the car off.

In this century, all the cars I've had have either had a mode where the headlights were on full time while the car was running, which was marginally acceptable; or they had DRLs that could be on during the day and automatically switch to headlights at night, and turned off after a delay when the car was shut off. The latter seems to be what everything is converging on, given that it only involves one cheap sensor under the windshield, and a few lines of code.

I don't really like other people's headlights during the day, because occasionally they needlessly blind you a little, so I hope NV isn't going to require that.

[SeriesE]

No objections since I usually turn on headlights in rural two lane highways anyway, but I do think they should permit DRL only instead of the full headlights.

Some states need the full headlights + tail lamps for the daylight headlight sections.

I just want everything to be automatic, so I don't have to remember to do anything when I shut the car off.

In this century, all the cars I've had have either had a mode where the headlights were on full time while the car was running, which was marginally acceptable; or they had DRLs that could be on during the day and automatically switch to headlights at night, and turned off after a delay when the car was shut off. The latter seems to be what everything is converging on, given that it only involves one cheap sensor under the windshield, and a few lines of code.

I don't really like other people's headlights during the day, because occasionally they needlessly blind you a little, so I hope NV isn't going to require that.

My car turns off the lights automatically after ignition off+door close regardless of the switch position

[kphoger]

But thank God, because ...

I'm trying to track with your thinking here, but I'm having a hard time.  See below.

... anyone with an older car that adjusts the dash display illumination by the status of the lights ...

That's me.  My car is a 2002, and the dash display only lights up if the headlights are on.  This is how I remember dash displays being for my whole life:  turn the lights on, and the dash lights up;  turn them off, and the dash lights go off too.

It's a common feature that, if your tail lights stop lighting up when you turn the headlights on, then your dash stops lighting up too.  This is so you actually notice something's wrong and fix whatever is causing your tail lights to stop lighting up.

... would have had a really annoying time driving on rural two-lane roads otherwise.  I can't even see my speedometer if the lights are on and it's sufficiently bright out!

OK, wait.  What?  If it's "sufficiently bright out", then that makes no difference to my dashboard visibility.  I'm much less able to notice that the numbers and needles are lit up, but everything is just as visible with the lights on as with the lights off when it's bright outside.  I don't understand what you mean.

And given how many drivers rely on auto headlights and drive with lights off when they're not supposed to, I can't say the newer way of using light sensors to change screens to "dark mode" is better, ...

I agree that a lot of people rely on auto headlights too much, and that they drive with their lights off too much when they should have them on.  But...

... because it means people no longer have any significant indication as to whether their lights are on or not.

This depends, doesn't it? on whether the dashboard lights up or not when the auto headlights pop on.  If the dash lights up when the lights come on, then there's your indicator.

my Civic has then and I can't turn them off (not that I'm sure why anyone would want to, unless they stay on when the car is off or something).

The more you use a light bulb, the shorter its lifespan.

[Max Rockatansky]

My wife wonders why her headlights bulbs don't last all that long in her Forester.  The reason is because she always has her headlights on no matter what.  I'm honestly surprised they make it as long 60,000-80,000 miles.  I turn her headlights off when I'm driving. 

[Henry]

Why is that even necessary since most modern cars have DRL?

Could've asked the same question to Canada a few decades ago, since they beat America to it.

[Revive 755]

Why is that even necessary since most modern cars have DRL?

Because some drivers may have had previous vehicles with DRL's that kept switching to the full headlights for underpasses, got tired of it, and now disable the DRL's?

[Max Rockatansky]

Why is that even necessary since most modern cars have DRL?

Because some drivers may have had previous vehicles with DRL's that kept switching to the full headlights for underpasses, got tired of it, and now disable the DRL's?

That assumes most normals even know how to remove the DRL bulbs or find a way to disable them in a settings menu.

[vdeane]

OK, wait.  What?  If it's "sufficiently bright out", then that makes no difference to my dashboard visibility.  I'm much less able to notice that the numbers and needles are lit up, but everything is just as visible with the lights on as with the lights off when it's bright outside.  I don't understand what you mean.

My Civic is a 2014, so the speedometer and most of the instrument panel (everything except the tachometer) are fully digital.  There's no needle for the speedometer - just digital numbers that dim when the headlights are on (because their daytime brightness is blinding at night).  The same is true for the fuel gauge, odometer, etc.

I think my Accord did something similar, but it was no doubt a lot less dramatic since nearly everything was analog on it.  Might have just been the clock and the lights for things like the radio presets and HVAC system.  I don't remember if it affected things like the cruise control indicator, but probably.

Why is that even necessary since most modern cars have DRL?

Because some drivers may have had previous vehicles with DRL's that kept switching to the full headlights for underpasses, got tired of it, and now disable the DRL's?

That assumes most normals even know how to remove the DRL bulbs or find a way to disable them in a settings menu.

Some cars have separate options for those on the headlight controls.  IIRC the Prius has one somewhere between "off", "parking", "auto", and "on".

[kphoger]

My Civic is a 2014

Oh, so not "an older car".

[Scott5114]

My Civic is a 2014

Oh, so not "an older car".

2014 was 12 years ago.

The median age for a car in service in the US in 2023 was 12.5 years. So I guess technically in July it will be "an older car".

[Plutonic Panda]

This is just gonna be another law that's not gonna be enforced any a police officer that's extremely bored or somebody who wants to use it as a pretextual stop because they're racist.

And I say this to someone that do you think that daytime running lights are beneficial. But let's be real here.

[Max Rockatansky]

This is just gonna be another law that's not gonna be enforced any a police officer that's extremely bored or somebody who wants to use it as a pretextual stop because they're racist.

And I say this to someone that do you think that daytime running lights are beneficial. But let's be real here.

I can foresee the Esmeralda County Sheriff 's Office chomping at the bit to tag people without lights on departing Goldfield on US 95.  That is already a pretty well known speed trap.

[vdeane]

My Civic is a 2014

Oh, so not "an older car".

2014 was 12 years ago.

The median age for a car in service in the US in 2023 was 12.5 years. So I guess technically in July it will be "an older car".

Wow, I didn't realize it was that old!  I was figuring "older" since there have been a lot of paradigm shifts with respect to vehicles in the last decade, including the increase of screen sizes, movement to touch screens, shift to using dark mode when sensors detect low light rather than illuminated buttons and dimmed screens when the headlights are on, the nanny "driver assist" features, etc.  Aside from the digital displays and the backup camera, my car probably has more in common with kphoger's 2002 car than a modern one.  I know what driving my 1997 Accord was like is much closer to driving my 2014 Civic than DOT's 2024 or 2025 Prius, and not just because I'm comparing a Honda to a Toyota in that instance (or even a gas car to a plug-in hybrid).

[Road Hog]

I was told in the 1980s it was actually illegal to drive in daylight with either your headlights or running lights on in some states.

[pderocco]

That's me.  My car is a 2002, and the dash display only lights up if the headlights are on.  This is how I remember dash displays being for my whole life:  turn the lights on, and the dash lights up;  turn them off, and the dash lights go off too.

I remember almost the opposite. Sunlight could drown out indicator lights, so control panels are always shaded from the sun. But since your pupils are stopped way down during the day by the sun, the dash illumination is higher to make up for it. Originally, turning on the lights would dim the dash. Now, it's based on an outside light sensor, or knowledge of approximately when sunset and sunrise are for the present location. The last is what my Forester seems to have. It always dims the dash about 15 minutes before sunset, no matter where I am, San Diego, Vancouver, Bozeman, Boston.

[kphoger]

That's me.  My car is a 2002, and the dash display only lights up if the headlights are on.  This is how I remember dash displays being for my whole life:  turn the lights on, and the dash lights up;  turn them off, and the dash lights go off too.

I remember almost the opposite. Sunlight could drown out indicator lights, so control panels are always shaded from the sun. But since your pupils are stopped way down during the day by the sun, the dash illumination is higher to make up for it. Originally, turning on the lights would dim the dash.

I think we're talking about two different things.  You seem to be talking about indicator/warning lights, whereas I'm talking about the speedo/tacho numbers and needles.

[roadfro]

This is just gonna be another law that's not gonna be enforced any a police officer that's extremely bored or somebody who wants to use it as a pretextual stop because they're racist.

And I say this to someone that do you think that daytime running lights are beneficial. But let's be real here.

I can foresee the Esmeralda County Sheriff 's Office chomping at the bit to tag people without lights on departing Goldfield on US 95.  That is already a pretty well known speed trap.

It was probably 15+ years ago, but I had a colleague who was pulled over along US 95 for not having their headlights on in a daytime headlight section. I can't recall the exact location, but I'm pretty sure it was in Esmeralda County. (My only speeding ticket in 26 years of driving was also in Esmeralda County a little ways south of Goldfield...)

Incidentally, years ago, I'd see quite a few Esmeralda County sheriff vehicles whenever I'd make the drive between Reno and Vegas (which was a 3-4 times per year when I was in college). However, when I've made the drive lately (1-2 times per year), I see virtually no law enforcement in the county. During my recent drive down to Vegas before Christmas and yesterday coming back to Reno, they had a sheriff truck parked right at the 90° turn in Goldfield, but it's lights were off and nobody was inside it.