Night Driving, Bad Weather and Skids

Key points

1. Headlights are required whenever people or vehicles cannot be clearly seen at 1,000 feet.

   Source: Handbook p. 56

   “Whenever persons or vehicles cannot be clearly seen at a distance of 1,000 feet.”
   Nevada Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 56

2. Switch to low beams 500 feet before oncoming vehicles and 300 feet before a vehicle you follow.

   Source: Handbook p. 56

   “Change to low beams when you are at least 500 feet before any oncoming vehicles and 300 feet before any vehicle you are following.”
   Nevada Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 56

3. Always make sure you can stop within the range of your headlights.

   Source: Handbook p. 56

   “Always make sure you can stop within the range of your headlights.”
   Nevada Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 56

4. In bad weather, slow down; stopping on slippery roads may take 2 to 10 times farther.

   Source: Handbook p. 57

   “The most important thing to do when driving in bad weather is slow down. Stopping distances on slippery roads may be 2 to 10 times greater than on dry pavement.”
   Nevada Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 57

5. Most cars can hydroplane between 35 and 55 mph in heavy rain.

   Source: Handbook p. 41

   “Most cars will begin to lose traction and hydroplane between speeds of 35 and 55 mph in heavy rainfall.”
   Nevada Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 41

6. Studded snow tires may be used only from October 1 through April 30.

   Source: Handbook p. 57

   “Studded snow tires may only be used from October 1 through April 30.”
   Nevada Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 57

7. Skidding means your tires have lost traction.

   Source: Handbook p. 57

   “Skidding means your vehicle’s tires have lost traction.”
   Nevada Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 57

8. Use headlights when driving in rain, snow or fog.

   Source: Handbook p. 56

   “It is advisable to use your headlights when driving in rain, snow or fog.”
   Nevada Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 56

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Nevada practice test

1. 1. Nevada law requires headlights when people or vehicles cannot be clearly seen from what distance?

   1. 300 feet
   2. 500 feet
   3. 1,000 feet
   4. 200 feet
   Show answer

   1,000 feet. Headlights are legally required whenever people or vehicles cannot be clearly seen at a distance of 1,000 feet. This rule covers poor visibility even when the driver is not yet in darkness, so waiting until objects are only 500 or 300 feet away is too late. The shorter figures are associated with other handbook distances, including low-beam timing and visibility rules, not this trigger. Use the ability to see other road users as the cue: if they fade from clear view at the required distance, turn on the headlights.

2. 2. What is the most important speed adjustment when driving in bad weather?

   1. Accelerate briefly whenever rain or snow reduces visibility
   2. Keep the posted speed so other drivers can predict your movement
   3. Slow down because slippery roads can greatly increase stopping distance
   4. Drive at the same speed as the vehicle immediately ahead
   Show answer

   Slow down because slippery roads can greatly increase stopping distance. Nevada places slowing down at the center of bad-weather driving. Slippery roads can make stopping distances two to ten times longer than on dry pavement, while fog, rain, and snow reduce what drivers can see. Keeping the posted speed may be unsafe when the surface is slick, and acceleration does not restore visibility or traction. Matching the vehicle ahead can simply reproduce another driver’s mistake. A concrete cue is to reduce speed before a curve, intersection, or sudden traffic change, then leave extra room for a longer stop.

3. 3. What speed-related danger does Nevada's handbook identify during heavy rainfall?

   1. Wet roads make stopping distances shorter
   2. Tires gain traction above 55 mph
   3. Hydroplaning occurs only below 15 mph
   4. Hydroplaning can begin between 35 and 55 mph
   Show answer

   Hydroplaning can begin between 35 and 55 mph. The handbook warns that many cars begin to lose traction and hydroplane between 35 and 55 mph in heavy rainfall. Once tires ride on water instead of gripping pavement, steering and braking control can disappear quickly. The higher-speed traction claim and the low-speed-only claim contradict that stated range. Wet pavement also lengthens stopping, rather than shortening it. When rain becomes heavy, lower speed before water gathers, avoid abrupt steering, and allow more space ahead so a loss of grip is less likely to become a collision.

Source: the Nevada Driver's Handbook, Chapter 5: Special Driving Conditions. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.