Nevada · Handbook chapter 4 · 4 min read

Chapter 4: Right-of-way, speed and stopping

Who must yield in Nevada, emergency vehicles, pedestrians and blind pedestrians, the Basic Rule for speed, typical speed limits, stopping distance, the 12-second and two-second rules, phones and police stops.

Why this chapter matters

Failure to yield is the leading cause of crashes in Nevada, and the rear-end crash is the most common crash type. This chapter covers who goes first, how fast is safe and how much space you need to stop.

Right-of-way

Nevada law does not give anyone the right-of-way; it says who must yield. Even when others should yield to you, do all you can to avoid a crash.

• At an intersection with no signs or signals, the vehicle on the right usually goes first.
• A vehicle already in the intersection goes before one just arriving.
• A driver turning left yields to oncoming traffic going straight.
• Traffic entering from a driveway, private road or minor road yields to all traffic and pedestrians on the main road.
• At a four-way stop, the first to arrive goes first.
• Entering a freeway, yield to traffic already on it.
• Yield to bicyclists on a bike path or in a bike lane.
• Let a funeral procession pass as a group.

Emergency vehicles

When a police car, fire engine or ambulance approaches from any direction with a siren or flashing lights, pull to the right edge of the road, clear of any intersection, and stop until it passes. Never stop in an intersection.

Pedestrians

Pedestrians in crosswalks and at intersections have the right-of-way. A crosswalk exists at every intersection, marked or not. A person who is blind or visually impaired with a white cane or guide dog has the right-of-way at all times; stop if necessary.

Controlling speed: the Basic Rule

Nevada's Basic Rule says you must drive at a reasonable and proper speed. Besides the posted limit, think about the amount of traffic, the weather and how far you can see, the road surface and the type of road. The safe speed may be well below the limit.

Driving too slowly is also dangerous. With two or more lanes going your way, slower traffic must move right.

Stopping distance

Stopping takes perception (seeing the hazard), reaction (moving your foot) and braking. Normal reaction time is 2 to 2.5 seconds.

• Double your speed and your braking distance becomes four times as long.
• On a wet road, stopping distance can be more than double. The first rain of the season is the most slippery, as oil mixes with water.
• At 30 mph on ice, stopping can take about 373 feet.
• In heavy rain most cars start to hydroplane between 35 and 55 mph.

Defensive driving

• Look ahead at least 12 seconds; at freeway speeds, 20 to 30 seconds. At 30 mph, 12 seconds is a little over a block.
• Following distance: at 40 mph or less, stay at least two seconds behind. Two seconds is a minimum; many instructors suggest up to four. Count from when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object.
• Leave room to maneuver and avoid clusters of traffic.
• At intersections, look left, right and left again.

Phones

Using a handheld phone for calls is illegal unless you use a hands-free accessory. Texting, reading or sending messages and browsing the internet on a handheld device are banned. You may use a phone to report an emergency when stopping would be unsafe.

If police stop you

Pull over as far out of traffic as you can and stay in the vehicle. At night, turn on the interior light. Keep your hands in view, ideally on the wheel, and wait for the officer to ask for your license, registration and proof of insurance. Do not argue: challenge a ticket in court.