Earlier sunsets bring awareness to headlight law

Besides the obvious advantage of living in sunny Southern Nevada’s mild winter climate, we don’t have to use our headlights as much in the winter months.

In Fairbanks, the sun will rise at a minute before 11 a.m. on Christmas Day and set at 2:43 p.m. Of course, it all evens out in the summer when you can drive almost all day without headlights in the middle of June.

That leads to Warrior reader Eileen’s question about when we have to turn our headlights on here:

“Since it gets darker earlier this time of the year, why do so many drivers not put on their headlights?

“Tonight between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on U.S. Highway 95 north, I saw three cars and a Fire Department vehicle driving without any lights. I almost changed lanes into a vehicle without its headlights on as I didn’t see it. What is the law regarding when headlights must be turned on? Thank goodness for automatic ones.”

Lucky you, Eileen. The Warriormobile doesn’t have automatic headlights, so it’s up to me to get it right on when to turn them on.

According to Nevada law, headlights must be used from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise and whenever conditions make it impossible to see clearly at least 1,000 feet ahead.

On a side note, high beams should not be used within 500 feet of approaching traffic or 300 feet of trailing traffic.

I can’t answer why so many motorists neglect to turn their lights on at the proper time. It seems they’re all a little dim.

This week in Las Vegas, the sun sets at the earliest time on the calendar, at 4:26 p.m. That means, technically, you’d have to have your lights on by 4:56 p.m.

On the so-called “shortest day of the year,” Dec. 21. the sun will rise in Las Vegas at 6:48 a.m., and set at 4:30 p.m. So on that day, headlights are required before 6:18 in the morning and after 5 p.m.

But don’t forget that other requirement: If it’s impossible to see clearly at least 1,000 feet ahead, you should have your lights on.

Thanks, Eileen. You’ve inspired me to plan a trip to Fairbanks in June to play a 10 p.m. round of golf.

Misery in the Northwest

Warrior reader Dennis say his neighbors are running out of patience with a long-running sewer-line project:

“Living in the area at Cheyenne Avenue and Rampart Boulevard where it meets Durango Drive, we have endured horrible road construction and sewer-line improvements since March. We were told it would last ‘through December.’ December is almost here and the lanes are still narrowed and we rarely see road crews working. It’s been a nightmare. Any information on when this will be completed?”

When this project was announced in the middle of January, city officials estimated it would take 11 to 12 months to complete, so it’s running on schedule and “through December” is accurate.

It’s a 1.1-mile installation of new 30- and 36-inch sewer pipes extending from the Cheyenne-Rampart intersection to Durango Hills Water Resource Center.

Lake Mead Boulevard is recommended as an alternate east-west travel route and Buffalo Drive may be better for north-south travelers.

Until everything is wrapped up in January.

Heavy traffic

Hang on to your 10-gallon hats, the Wranglers National Finals Rodeo is coming to town this week and 10 performances are on tap beginning Thursday night.

That means you’re bound to run into heavy traffic at various times and locations around town as more than 100,000 competitors and fans jam the city for the last major event in town before New Year’s Eve.

A vehicular stampede is likely around Thomas & Mack Center for every performance, which begin at 6:45 p.m., Dec. 3-12. The event is a sell-out, so count on traffic along Tropicana Avenue, Swenson Street and Paradise Road to get uglier than normal around 6 p.m.

Traffic around many local resorts will also be heavy at that time because 42 Southern Nevada properties are getting satellite feeds of the rodeo broadcast.

The 29th annual Downtown Hoedown, kind of an entertainment-filled pre-rodeo tailgate party, is scheduled from 4:30 to 11:30 p.m. Wednesday at Fremont Street Experience.

There are several events related to NFR all around town, including Cowboy Christmas, Cowboy Corral, Country Christmas and Western Gift shows and the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. The busiest areas will be the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Sands Expo and Convention Center, the MGM Grand Convention Center and the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center.

Stay clear unless you’re planning to go.

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