Vehicles either need to have tire chains, or have snow tires and be four-wheel or all-wheel drive in order to traverse certain passes when chain requirements are in place.
CARSON CITY, Nev. — Motorists traveling over Tahoe-area passes in Nevada will need more than snow tires this winter season.
Under changes enacted by the Nevada Department of Transportation, vehicles will either need to have tire chains, or snow tires and be four-wheel or all-wheel drive, in order to traverse certain passes when chain requirements are in place.
Previously, all vehicle types were permitted during chain requirements as long as they had chains or snow tires.
The change, according to NDOT, is aimed at enhancing mobility and safety on roughly 50 miles of highway in the Tahoe area. The new policy applies to: U.S. 50 (between Glenbrook and Carson City); Nevada Route 431 (Mt. Rose Highway); and Nevada Route 207 (Kingsbury Grade).
The change — intended to help ensure all vehicles on the road are prepared for winter driving — does not apply to other highway corridors in the state.
Twenty roadside chain restriction signs have been updated to reflect the change, according to NDOT. The revised requirements also will be reflected on the nvroads.com road conditions website.
More than 300 crashes occurred on mountain highways over the course of three recent winters, according to NDOT. Statewide, as many as 2,000 crashes occur every year due to unsafe driving in snow, ice and other wet conditions, such as driving too fast for conditions or following too closely.
Updated state road conditions, including winter road closures and incidents, are available by dialing “511” or visiting nvroads.com.
In California, there are three different levels of chain requirements. Visit dot.ca.gov/cttravel/chain-controls for information.
