Blinded by the Light
One of the quirks of living in Las Vegas this time of year is the blinding sun over the western horizon each day. This makes safe driving difficult, if not impossible. Around 5 pm daily above the mountains, once the sun begins to set, glare hits city haze and turns drivers into a giant pack of deer caught in the headlights.
Unfortunately, Las Vegas’ street grid system means driving due west for a large number of residents — so we get blasted by sun rays. Worse, it’s usually smack dab in the middle of rush hour when traffic leaves the Strip and heads west.
Forget about obeying traffic lights. Nobody can see a damned thing. As evidence, I took this photo today while waiting an in intersection. The photo is untouched. Yes, it really is THIS BAD. Can anyone even see the stoplight? It’s there. Somewhere. Someplace. Good luck figuring out red versus green. Flip a coin. This is real gambling. Can I get odds on my hard way?
That said, I’m here to help. I figured out the secret. The trick to driving “blind” is actually easier than you think. Who needs to see stop lights? You simply *GO* when the the other cars start driving. Kinda’ like a herd. Another indication the light has turned green is when the cars behind you start honking. That’s when it’s time to pound the gas pedal. Helpful Hint: Don’t bother shooting anyone the finger. They won’t be able to see it. Reserve your obscene gestures for other hours of the day when visibility is much better.
As for hitting the breaks and stopping at intersections for *RED* lights, well now, that’s the tricky part. Best advice is to watch for tail lights of the car in the lane in front of you. When tail lights come on, do not proceed. Come to a full stop. I cannot stress the important of this safety tip. Just because you can’t see the red light doesn’t mean it’s not RED. Then, as before, wait for until you hear honking again. Time to go. Smash the gas. The light is Green. Repeat this process until you reach your home destination, or the nearest Happy Hour special.
Note: During the clusterfuck known as the F1 race (every Sept.-Dec.) none of these guidelines apply since everyone around the Strip is trapped in what amounts to a giant parking lot. Add 45-55 minutes for any commute during F1 construction. Use obscene gestures liberally.
Welcome to driving in Las Vegas 2026.
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