Give Everybody Room to Get where They Are Going
With new development sprouting up throughout Las Vegas and across Nevada, state officials are constantly needing to adapt roads and highways to accommodate traffic. Even on multi-lane interstates, lane space is likely to be tight. It is important to stay in your own area and to avoid weaving in and out of traffic to prevent car accidents from occurring. While this often involves unwritten and forgotten rules, there are some guidelines that are important to remember.
Keeping in Your Own Lane and Knowing When to Pass
Las Vegas sits at the intersection of three separate interstates, along with numerous state roads that are regularly filled with traffic. Even if you drive these roads infrequently, you have likely encountered drivers weaving in and out of lanes. This can have serious repercussions on traffic conditions, causing drivers to slam on the brakes and making car accidents and injuries more likely. In some cases, this behavior is simply rude. In others, it verges on being illegal.
The Nevada Driver’s Handbook reviews highway markings, which are a common part of the state licensing tests. If it has been years since you actually took this exam, you may have forgotten some of the meanings and what the different lines mean. Consider the following as a refresher:
- Broken or dashed white lines: Indicate traffic moving in the same direction. While you are required to drive within these lines, passing is permitted.
- Solid white lines: These may indicate traffic lanes moving in the same direction, but you must remain in your lane and are prohibited from passing. These may also be used to mark the end of the highway lane and the shoulder, which you should use for emergency purposes only.
- Yellow lines: These separate traffic moving in opposite directions. You are not permitted to cross these lines and anytime you do, you risk potentially deadly head-on collisions.
- Broken or dashed yellow lines: While indicating opposing traffic, you may cross them when making a turn.
- Dashed yellow lines followed by a solid yellow line: These indicate turning lanes and should only be entered when attempting to cross traffic. Be aware when using them that cars may also be approaching from the opposite direction.
Protecting Yourself and Other Drivers
Under the Nevada Revised Statutes, there are some written laws that pertain to remaining in your lane. These include laws that require you to signal before passing, as well as violations for crossing solid yellow lines. One of the biggest dangers of weaving in and out of your lane is the chance of chain reaction car accidents. Swerving out of your lane to avoid hitting a pothole or inadvertently due to reaching for items or talking to passengers in your vehicle can cause an emergency response in other drivers, setting off multiple collisions. Remember at all times when you are on Nevada roads: your actions have the potential to have a serious impact on you and your passengers, as well as for other drivers on the road. And if you do happen to be involved in a wreck, make sure to reach out to a Las Vegas car accident attorney for immediate help.