Quick Summary:
- Switch headlights on, avoid hazard lights while moving, and stay visible.
- Slow smoothly, increase following distance, and avoid sudden braking or lane changes.
- If visibility collapses, exit the roadway fully, stop, and set parking brake.
- Keep seatbelt on, windows up, and call 911 after any crash.
Dust storms, often called haboobs, can sweep across Interstate 15 with little warning, especially around open desert stretches between Las Vegas and the California state line. In seconds, visibility can drop from miles to a few car lengths. In a hired car, the priorities are the same as in your own vehicle, protect life first, prevent a multi-vehicle pile-up, and avoid actions that can lead to citations or insurance complications.
This guide gives step-by-step actions you can follow the moment you see a dust wall, plus what to do if you must stop, and what to record afterwards for your car hire paperwork. If you are collecting from the airport area, the local driving notes on car hire at Las Vegas airport can be useful for familiarising yourself with signage and freeway access before you hit I-15.
Recognise a haboob early, and decide before you are in it
The safest dust-storm drive is the one you do not attempt. If you notice a brown or grey wall across the horizon, blowing dust across the carriageway, or sudden gusts rocking high-sided vehicles, treat that as your early warning. On I-15, dust can form rapidly near construction zones, dry lake beds, or after a thunderstorm outflow.
Early decision points matter. If you still have good visibility, consider exiting at the next off-ramp and waiting it out at a service area, petrol station, or large car park. A dust storm can last minutes or hours, but the worst visibility often comes in short bursts. If your plans are flexible, it is safer to pause than to press on.
Before any trip, it helps to know your vehicle’s basic controls: headlights (not just daytime running lights), windscreen washers, and how to disable automatic high beams if fitted. When arranging car hire in Las Vegas, take a moment at pick-up to confirm where the light controls are, especially if you are new to US vehicles.
Step-by-step actions while you are still moving
If you cannot avoid driving into blowing dust, your goal is to reduce speed without triggering chain-reaction braking behind you, stay in your lane, and give yourself room to react.
1) Turn on low-beam headlights immediately. Do not rely on daytime running lights. Low beams make you visible from the rear as well as the front. Avoid high beams, they reflect off dust and reduce your ability to see.
2) Do not use hazard lights while you are still moving. Many pile-ups start when drivers misread flashing hazards and lose track of which vehicles are stopped. Keep steady rear lights with low beams on. Use hazards only when fully off the travel lanes and stopped, or if you are stopped in a true emergency and cannot move.
3) Slow down smoothly. Ease off the accelerator, brake gently, and avoid sudden inputs that invite rear-end collisions. If you have cruise control engaged, cancel it. In a dust storm, traction can also be reduced by sand and debris, which lengthens stopping distance.
4) Increase your following distance drastically. In clear conditions you may follow at a few seconds. In blowing dust, expand that as much as traffic allows. The objective is to avoid being the middle car in a chain collision.
5) Stay in your lane using road markings, not the vehicle ahead. Drivers ahead may drift or stop. Use the white edge line and lane reflectors as your reference. Do not “chase tail lights” if visibility is fluctuating.
6) Avoid lane changes. Changing lanes in low visibility is risky because you cannot confirm another vehicle’s position. If you must change lanes to reach an exit, signal early, move gradually, and only do so when you can clearly see the adjacent lane.
7) Keep vents on recirculate, windows up. This limits dust in the cabin and helps you maintain visibility. Use windscreen washers sparingly if mud or grit is present, and do not let a smeared windscreen become your new visibility limit.
8) Expect sudden stops. When visibility drops to near zero, some drivers panic-brake and stop in a live lane. This is one of the most dangerous situations on I-15. Your increased distance and gentle braking are your best protection.
When visibility collapses: the correct way to pull off
If you cannot see far enough to drive safely, you should get completely off the travel lanes. The key word is completely. Many severe crashes occur because drivers stop partially on the shoulder or, worse, in a live lane.
1) Choose the safest exit route. If an off-ramp is immediately available and you can reach it safely, take it. If not, aim for a wide paved shoulder or an emergency pull-out. Avoid stopping under overpasses where other drivers may also crowd in, reducing space and increasing collision risk.
2) Signal early and move gradually to the right. Make a smooth transition to the shoulder. Do not cut across multiple lanes at the last second.
3) Pull as far off the roadway as possible. Ideally, get beyond the shoulder into a parking area, frontage road, or any safe area where your car is not a hazard. If you must use the shoulder, put as much distance as you can between your vehicle and the rightmost lane.
4) Stop, set the parking brake, and keep your foot off the brake pedal. Keeping your brake lights on can mislead drivers behind into thinking you are still in the lane. Once you are safely off the roadway and stationary, release the brake pedal.
5) Turn off your lights if you are on the shoulder and stopped. This sounds counterintuitive, but lit tail lamps can attract other drivers who are following lights rather than lanes. If you are fully off the roadway, switching off lights reduces the chance that a disoriented driver steers towards you. If you are not fully off the travel lanes, keep lights on and use hazards to warn others, then do everything possible to move farther off.
6) Use hazard lights only when stopped. Hazards help indicate a stationary vehicle in an abnormal location. Do not use them while rolling along the shoulder unless you are actually coming to a stop.
7) Stay in the vehicle with seatbelts fastened. In near-zero visibility, being outside is dangerous. Other vehicles can leave the roadway without warning. Stay put until the dust clears enough to see traffic conditions.
8) Restart only when visibility is clearly improving. Check mirrors, look for vehicles drifting onto the shoulder, and merge only when you can see well enough to judge speed and gaps.
Avoid common mistakes that cause pile-ups and citations
Some dust-storm behaviours increase crash risk and can be viewed as negligent driving. Avoid these common errors:
Stopping in a travel lane. Even if you cannot see, stopping in-lane turns your car into an obstacle for faster-moving traffic. Your first priority is to get off the roadway.
Overdriving your visibility. If you can only see a few car lengths, you must be going slow enough to stop within that distance. In practice, that may mean pulling off rather than continuing.
Using high beams. High beams reflect off dust particles and reduce contrast, making the road harder to read.
Following another car’s tail lights. If the lead driver leaves the road, stops in a lane, or changes lanes suddenly, you may follow them into danger.
Parking too close to the lane on the shoulder. Large trucks and RVs may drift onto the shoulder. Leave maximum space.
Local conditions vary across Nevada, so a quick read of Hola Car Rentals’ broader car rental Nevada information can help you understand typical highway environments and distances between services before you set out.
What to do if there is a crash or damage in a dust storm
If you are involved in a collision, prioritise safety and documentation. Dust storms make secondary collisions more likely, so scene management matters.
1) Check for injuries and call 911. If anyone is injured, or if the crash is blocking traffic, call emergency services. If your phone has low signal, try moving it near a window, but remain belted if conditions are dangerous.
2) Move vehicles out of the travel lanes if it is safe. If your car can move, and you can do so without causing another crash, relocate to a safe area off the roadway. If it cannot move, keep seatbelts on, turn on hazards, and stay inside unless there is an immediate threat like fire.
3) Photograph safely once visibility improves. Take photos of vehicle positions, damage, road conditions, and any relevant signage or mile markers. Do not stand in the road or on the shoulder with traffic nearby.
4) Exchange details and note witnesses. Record names, phone numbers, number plates, and insurance details. In low visibility, witnesses can be crucial because drivers may disagree about speed and spacing.
5) Notify your car hire provider as soon as practical. Follow the instructions in your rental agreement for reporting incidents. Prompt reporting protects you if further damage is discovered later.
Pre-trip preparation for I-15: reduce risk before the dust hits
Preparation is not about special equipment, it is about planning and awareness.
Check forecasts and alerts before you depart. Wind advisories, thunderstorm outflow, and dust warnings should change your timing. In the desert, conditions can deteriorate quickly even when Las Vegas looks calm.
Keep your fuel level healthy. If traffic slows or you decide to exit and wait, you want enough fuel for idling and detours. On long stretches, services can be spaced out.
Know your vehicle type’s stability. High-profile vehicles such as vans and SUVs can be pushed by gusts. If you are travelling with a group in a larger vehicle, read up on options like minivan rental in Nevada and drive with extra caution in crosswinds.
Carry water and charge your phone. If you must stop for an extended period, basic supplies reduce stress and help you make better decisions.
Leave extra time. Rushing is a major factor in poor choices like pressing on into near-zero visibility.
How this affects your car hire responsibilities
Dust storms can cause paint abrasion, cracked windscreens from debris, and clogged air filters. Most of the time, the biggest issue is collision risk from reduced visibility rather than dust damage itself. Drive defensively, document any incident, and stick to the rental agreement’s reporting steps.
If you chose a branded supplier through Hola, it can help to familiarise yourself with their roadside and claims steps ahead of time, for example via Alamo car rental in Las Vegas. Knowing where to find assistance numbers before you need them is valuable when conditions are stressful.
FAQ
Should I put my hazard lights on while driving in a dust storm? No. Keep low-beam headlights on while moving, and avoid hazards until you are fully stopped off the roadway. Moving with hazards can confuse other drivers and increase pile-up risk.
Is it safer to stop under an overpass on I-15 during a haboob? Usually no. Overpasses can attract multiple vehicles, reduce manoeuvring space, and create sudden obstacles. If you must stop, aim to exit the motorway or pull fully off the roadway in a safer open area.
What if I cannot see the shoulder and I’m afraid to pull off? Slow smoothly, maintain your lane using road markings, and look for the next exit or a wide, clearly defined shoulder area. If you choose to stop, do everything possible to get completely out of the travel lanes.
Can I be fined for driving too fast in a dust storm even if the speed limit is higher? Yes. Nevada expects drivers to travel at a safe speed for conditions. If visibility is limited, the safe speed may be far below the posted limit, and crashes can lead to citations for unsafe driving.
What should I do after the dust clears and I rejoin traffic? Accelerate gradually, keep extra following distance, and watch for stalled vehicles or debris on the roadway. If your windscreen is dusty, clean it at the next safe stop to restore full visibility.
