According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, about 65% of people living in Nevada have a valid driver’s license as of 2019. Each day millions of drivers use Nevada’s roads to conduct business, seek entertainment, or run errands. Many of these drivers may not be in the know regarding the most recent rules of the road in Nevada.
Traffic Rules to Know
Below are four traffic rules anyone driving in Nevada should know about before heading out for the daily commute.
- Expansion of Seatbelt Safety Laws: Beginning on January 1, 2022, child safety restraint and seat belt laws were expanded in Nevada. The changes include requirements that:
- Passengers ages 6 and younger, who are less than 57 inches tall, ride in an approved child safety restraint;
- Passengers 2 years of age and younger ride in the back of the vehicle in a rear-facing, approved child seat. If the car has no back seats or all back seats are occupied with children under 2 or with special needs, the car seat can be in the front as long as the front airbag is deactivated;
It is important to understand that as of January 2022, a child’s weight is no longer a factor when determining if a child must be in an approved child safety restraint.
- Move Over Law: Nevada, like other states across the country, has move over laws requiring drivers to give the right of way in situations that involve car accidents, slow-moving working vehicles, and emergency vehicles. As of January, 2022, those driving in Nevada must:
- Move their vehicle over to the shoulder or another location out of the way of traffic when they are involved in an accident that does not result in injuries;
- Lower their speed to less than the limit posted and be prepared to stop and/or move to another lane, if available, when coming toward an emergency vehicle that is stopped;
- Not drive in the far left lane when driving below the posted speed limit, so as not to be passed over by other cars.
- Cyclist’s Increased Rights: Under Nevada law, cyclists — as well as operators of mopeds and motorcycle riders — have the same rights and responsibilities when it comes to traffic laws as those driving passenger vehicles on the road. As a result, they must adhere to the same traffic rules, with some minor differences, including:
- Moped drivers must only use the far right lane unless on a single road, about to make a left turn, when it is unsafe to do so, or if a law enforcement officer directs them to do otherwise;
- If no bike lane is present, cyclists are also required to ride in the farthest right lane and use hand signals to alert others on the road of their next move.
Our Las Vegas Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help
For years, the attorneys at H&P Law have helped drivers in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada seek fair compensation for harm suffered due to accidents caused by other drivers. If you are in need of legal assistance after being involved in an accident, contact us today to schedule your initial case evaluation.
