Michigan Permit Test cheat sheet

Octagon = stop; inverted triangle = yield; diamond = warning; pennant = no-passing zone; round = railroad advance warning; crossbuck = railroad crossing.

Red means stop or prohibit, yellow warns, orange marks construction and maintenance work, fluorescent yellow-green marks school and pedestrian areas, blue is motorist service, brown is recreation, green is guide.

A flashing red signal is treated as a stop sign: stop completely, then proceed when safe. A flashing yellow means slow down and proceed with caution.

A steady green arrow gives a protected turn with oncoming traffic stopped. A solid green circle means yield to vehicles and pedestrians already lawfully in the intersection.

Double solid yellow lines prohibit passing in both directions; a solid yellow line on your side prohibits passing from your side; a broken yellow line allows passing when clear.

Broken white lines separate lanes traveling the same direction and may be crossed when safe; a solid white line marks the right edge of the roadway or a lane boundary not to be crossed.

A solid yellow line on the left edge of pavement marks the left edge of a divided highway or one-way road.

At a railroad crossbuck, yield to trains, never stop on the tracks, and stop at the stop line when one is painted.

Right turn on red is permitted after a complete stop unless a sign prohibits it; in Michigan a left turn on red is permitted only from a one-way street onto another one-way street after stopping.

At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to stop goes first; if two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.

A driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians in the crosswalk; a vehicle entering from a driveway or private road yields to all traffic.

Michigan speed limits unless otherwise posted: 70 mph maximum on freeways, 55 mph on other state highways, 25 mph in residential and business districts.

Use the three-second following rule in good conditions; add at least one second for rain, night, or heavy traffic, and more for snow or ice.

Signal at least 100 feet before a turn or lane change, and cancel the signal once the maneuver is complete.

When a school bus flashes red lights, stop at least 20 feet away and remain stopped until the lights stop; on the opposite side of a divided highway with a median, stopping is not required.

Michigan's Move Over law requires moving at least one lane away from a stopped emergency, tow, or maintenance vehicle with flashing lights, or slowing down when a lane change is not possible.

Passing is prohibited at a hill crest, on a curve, at a railroad crossing, at an intersection, and anywhere a solid yellow line is on your side.

Michigan prohibits holding or using a phone while driving; hands-free and voice-activated features are the only permitted use.

Defensive driving follows the IPDE cycle: Identify hazards, Predict what may happen, Decide on a response, Execute it.

Total stopping distance = perception distance + reaction distance + braking distance; braking distance grows with the square of speed, so doubling speed roughly quadruples it.

Hydroplaning can begin at about 35 mph on wet pavement; ease off the accelerator and hold the wheel straight rather than braking hard.

In a skid, look and steer where you want the front of the vehicle to go, ease off the accelerator, and avoid hard braking.

With ABS, apply firm continuous pressure and hold it; pedal pulsing is normal, and pumping the pedal defeats the system.

Low beams show roughly 160 feet ahead; if you cannot stop within the distance you can see, you are overdriving your headlights.

Distractions are visual (eyes off road), manual (hands off wheel), and cognitive (mind off driving); texting involves all three at once.

When an aggressive driver tailgates, increase the space ahead, allow the pass, and avoid eye contact or gestures.

A tire blowout is handled by gripping the wheel firmly, easing off the accelerator, staying straight, and braking gently once controlled.

Michigan requires at least 3 feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist; bicycles are vehicles with the same rights and duties as motor vehicles.

Large trucks have no-zones of roughly 20 feet in front, 30 feet behind, and one lane along each side; if you cannot see the driver's mirror, the driver cannot see you.

A motorcycle is entitled to a full lane; never share a lane with a motorcycle or pass within the same lane.

A pedestrian using a white cane or guide dog has the right-of-way at all intersections and crosswalks, marked or unmarked.

When an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren, pull to the right edge and stop; if already in an intersection, clear it before stopping.

Never pass a snowplow on the right, and stay far enough back that thrown snow or salt does not strike your vehicle.

At a roundabout, yield to traffic already circulating from your left, enter when a gap opens, and never stop inside the circle.

Horse-drawn buggies and farm equipment travel well below traffic speed; slow early and pass only with a clear sight line and enough room.

In fog, use low beams aimed at the pavement; high beams reflect off moisture and reduce visibility.

Michigan requires headlights whenever windshield wipers are in continuous use because of rain, snow, sleet, or fog.

The legal minimum tire tread depth is 2/32 inch; the penny test works because Lincoln's head is covered until tread wears to that limit.

Headlights are required from sunset to sunrise and whenever visibility is too poor to see people or vehicles clearly at 500 feet.

If a vehicle stalls on railroad tracks, occupants should exit, move away from the tracks in the direction of an approaching train, and call 911.

Bridges and overpasses freeze before the rest of the roadway because cold air circulates both above and below their surfaces.

On flooded roads, moving water about 12 inches deep can float a car and 6 inches can sweep a person off their feet.

A brake failure is managed by pumping the pedal, downshifting to a lower gear, and applying the parking brake gradually while steering to a safe stop.