Mississippi DMV Permit Test cheat sheet

Sign shapes carry meaning: octagon = stop, inverted triangle = yield, horizontal rectangle = regulatory guidance, diamond = warning, pennant = no-passing zone, round = railroad advance warning, pentagon = school zone.

Sign colors: red = stop/prohibition, yellow = warning, white with black text = regulatory, orange = construction/work zone, green = guide/distance, blue = services, brown = recreation and cultural areas, fluorescent yellow-green = school and pedestrian warning.

A steady red light means stop before the stop line or crosswalk and remain stopped; a right turn on red is permitted only after a full stop and only where not prohibited by sign.

A flashing red signal is treated as a stop sign; a flashing yellow signal means slow down and proceed with caution; a yellow arrow means the protected turn is ending.

Solid white lines separate lanes of traffic moving in the same direction; solid yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions; broken lines permit crossing.

A double solid yellow line means no passing or crossing in either direction; one solid plus one broken yellow line permits passing only for traffic on the side of the broken line.

Edge lines: solid white marks the right edge of the roadway, solid yellow marks the left edge of a divided highway or one-way road.

A white stop line or crosswalk marks where vehicles must stop for a signal, stop sign, or pedestrian crossing.

At an uncontrolled intersection, the vehicle arriving first has the right-of-way; if two arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right.

At a four-way stop, vehicles proceed in order of arrival; simultaneous arrivals resolve by yielding to the right.

A vehicle turning left must yield to oncoming traffic going straight or turning right, and to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

A driver entering a roadway from a driveway, alley, or private road must yield to all traffic already on the roadway and to pedestrians.

When two vehicles approach each other and one wants to turn left across the other's path, the left-turning vehicle yields.

Yielding means slowing or stopping to let another road user proceed; having the right-of-way never removes the duty to avoid a collision.

At a T-intersection without signs, traffic on the terminating road yields to traffic on the through road.

Emergency vehicles using lights and siren have the right-of-way; other drivers must pull to the right edge and stop until the vehicle passes.

Use the three-second rule: pick a fixed object ahead, and when the vehicle ahead passes it, count seconds until your front bumper reaches it; fewer than three seconds means following too closely.

Add one second to the following gap for each adverse condition: rain, wet roads, night driving, or heavy traffic; add more for ice, snow, or fog.

A safe following distance at highway speed should increase to at least four seconds; large trucks and motorcycles require more space.

Speed must be reasonable and prudent for conditions regardless of the posted limit; the basic speed law caps speed at what is safe for weather, visibility, and traffic.

Speed limits are posted as maximums, not minimums; driving substantially below the flow of traffic can itself be unsafe and is subject to minimum speed rules on some highways.

Stopping distance equals perception distance plus reaction distance plus braking distance; total stopping distance rises with the square of speed.

Reduce speed before entering a curve, work zone, school zone, or railroad crossing, and when approaching the crest of a hill.

In a work zone with workers present, fines for speeding are commonly increased and posted limits may be lowered.

For drivers 21 and older, a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher constitutes per se intoxication while operating a vehicle.

For drivers under 21, a BAC of 0.02% or higher is a violation under zero-tolerance rules.

For commercial motor vehicle drivers, the per se limit is 0.04% BAC.

Alcohol impairs judgment, reaction time, and coordination before the legal limit is reached; impairment begins with the first drink.

Implied consent laws require a driver lawfully arrested for DUI to submit to a chemical test; refusal typically results in license suspension.

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including antihistamines and sleep aids, can impair driving and are treated like alcohol when they affect the ability to drive safely.

Marijuana and other controlled substances impair driving; driving under their influence is illegal regardless of medical authorization.

A DUI conviction can result in license suspension, fines, mandatory education or treatment, and possible jail time; penalties escalate with repeat offenses.

Drivers must yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, whether marked or unmarked, and must not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk for a pedestrian.

When passing a bicyclist, leave at least three feet of clearance where required, and do not crowd the cyclist when oncoming traffic prevents safe passing.

Motorcycles are entitled to a full lane; a motorcycle's small profile makes speed and distance harder to judge, so allow extra following distance.

Large trucks have large blind spots (no-zones) at the front, rear, and both sides; if you cannot see the truck driver's mirror, the driver cannot see you.

Trucks need extra distance and a wide swing to turn right; never pass a truck on the right when it is turning or signaling a turn.

When a school bus displays flashing red lights and an extended stop arm, traffic in both directions must stop; on a divided highway, oncoming traffic on the opposite side need not stop.

When a school bus displays flashing yellow lights, drivers should slow and prepare to stop.

Pedestrians using a white cane or guide dog have the right-of-way at all times; drivers must stop and yield.

Parking is prohibited within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, and within 30 feet of a stop sign or traffic signal.

Parking is prohibited within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing and on a bridge, in a tunnel, or on a highway shoulder where signs prohibit it.

Park at least 20 feet from a fire station driveway on the same side and 75 feet on the opposite side where posted.

When parallel parking, set the parking brake and turn the front wheels toward the curb when facing downhill; turn wheels away from the curb when facing uphill without a curb.

When backing, check behind the vehicle before entering, back slowly, and use mirrors and a spotter where available; do not rely on mirrors alone.

Do not back a vehicle on a controlled-access highway or where backing would interfere with traffic; backing is permitted only when it can be done safely.

Parking on the left side of a two-way street facing against traffic is illegal; park facing the direction of traffic flow.

A stopped vehicle must be visible; use hazard lights when stopped on a roadway for an emergency.

Keep right except when passing, preparing to turn left, or when the right lane is closed; slower traffic stays in the right lane.

Passing on the left is the standard; passing on the right is allowed only when the vehicle ahead is turning left, when there are two or more lanes in the same direction, or on a one-way street with room.

Passing is prohibited on a solid yellow line, on a hill crest, in a curve with limited sight distance, at a railroad crossing, and at an intersection.

Before passing, check mirrors and blind spots, signal, and ensure enough clear roadway to complete the pass and return to the lane safely.

A left turn is made from the leftmost lane available to traffic moving in your direction; a right turn is made from the rightmost lane, staying close to the right curb.

Signal at least 100 feet before turning or changing lanes in normal traffic; signal earlier at higher speeds.

When turning, yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and to oncoming traffic when turning left.

A center left-turn lane is for turning left only; it is not a passing or travel lane.

A round yellow sign with a black X and RR marks a railroad crossing ahead; a crossbuck sign marks the crossing itself and means yield to trains.

Flashing red lights at a railroad crossing mean stop and remain stopped until the lights stop flashing and the way is clear; never drive around a lowered gate.

Trains cannot stop quickly; a train's stopping distance can exceed a mile, so never try to beat a train at a crossing.

If a vehicle stalls on the tracks, get everyone out and away from the tracks immediately, then call for help.

When an emergency vehicle approaches with lights and siren, pull to the right edge of the roadway and stop until it passes; do not stop in an intersection.

Do not follow an emergency vehicle closer than 500 feet when it is responding to an emergency.

Do not park within 500 feet of a fire truck or emergency vehicle stopped at an emergency scene.

Move over for stopped emergency, tow, or utility vehicles with lights flashing by changing lanes if safe or slowing down where a move-over law applies.

Seat belts must be worn by the driver and all passengers; children under a specified age and size must use an approved child safety seat or booster.

Headlights must be used from sunset to sunrise, during rain, fog, or other conditions when visibility is reduced, and whenever windshield wipers are in continuous use.

Use low beams in fog, rain, or snow; high beams reflect off precipitation and reduce visibility.

Turn on headlights when visibility is limited; if you cannot see clearly, other drivers cannot see you.

Tires must have sufficient tread depth and correct pressure; check pressure when tires are cold, and rotate tires per the owner's manual.

Brake lights, turn signals, and headlights must be working; a broken light reduces visibility and is a safety violation.

Windshield must be kept clear; wipers and defrosters must function, and cracked or obscured glass can obstruct the view.

If a tire blows out, hold the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, and steer to a safe stop; do not brake hard.

A learner's permit allows driving only with a licensed supervising driver in the vehicle and is subject to restrictions on hours and passengers.

Graduated licensing stages typically impose passenger limits and nighttime driving restrictions for new drivers.

A driver must carry a valid license when operating a vehicle and must show it on request by law enforcement.

Driving with a suspended or revoked license is a separate offense that can result in further suspension, fines, and possible jail time.

Points accumulate for moving violations; enough points within a set period results in suspension or required driver improvement action.

Traffic convictions must be reported; failing to appear for a citation can result in license suspension.

A driver must notify the licensing agency of a change of address within the time required by state law.

A driver involved in a collision must stop, exchange information, render aid where possible, and report the crash as required by law.