Driving tips for those new to Las Vegas
All Las Vegas drivers should know that even street numbers are on the North and West sides of the street, while odd street numbers are on the South or East sides. Mostly.
Schools zones are sacred. Speed through one while it's active, and you are looking to get a ticket. Many new arrivals do not realize that Las Vegas has many 12 month schools. That means the school zones remain active in the summer.
Las Vegas is a little stingy with it's speed limit signs. In most cases, there is one sign per block, posted a short distance from the intersection. If you miss it, you have to wait until you get to the next block to see how fast you can go. Don't make the assumption that because the limit was 45 on the last block, it is 45 on this block. Be especially careful if you see any residential buildings such as apartments. The limit almost always drops to 35 in those areas. Until you know an area, make it a point to check the sign at the beginning of each block.
On city streets, if you are planning to turn right or left, get in the appropriate lane well ahead of time. Otherwise you may find you can't get there at all when the time comes. In some older sections, the right lane will suddenly become right turn only. Waiting through an entire light cycle behind someone who doesn't realize this can be annoying. The center lane on most city streets is for turning at mid-block cross streets. Be nice to the drivers behind you. Try to get into that lane before slowing down.
Once you are a little ways out of town on the highway, traffic moves very fast. I once had a rental car that didn't feel too stable over 80. I didn't dare get out of the right lane. Be ready.
Highway 95 is supposedly a north-south route. Like some new arrivals, I found it confusing that it is laid out due east-west through a major portion of the valley. Except for a couple of sections in the southeast and northwest, I cannot find a true north-south stretch.
During the really hot months, don't grab the first parking space you see. Find one that puts your car facing away from the sun. Your butt will thank you when you get back in and sit on shaded seats. Tires in Las Vegas rot out rather than wear out. I am told two to three years is about the average tire life. Batteries don't like extreme heat any better than they like extreme cold. A good reason to keep your car shaded whenever possible.
Experienced Las Vegas drivers (anyone who has been here more than a few months) love to joke about the continuing construction that makes Las Vegas driving less fun than it might be. Having come from the Northeast, where they dig the roads up as quickly as possible, and put them back down in the slowest possible manner, I am amazed at how fast the work actually gets done. Drive Safe!
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