Nebraska DMV Permit Test cheat sheet

Steady red: stop before the stop line, crosswalk, or intersection edge; a right turn on red is allowed only after a full stop and only where no sign prohibits it.

Flashing red is treated as a stop sign; flashing yellow means slow down and proceed with caution - it never grants the right-of-way.

Solid yellow light means the signal is about to turn red; stop if you can do so safely, otherwise clear the intersection.

Red arrow: no movement in that direction until the arrow changes; a green arrow gives a protected turn in that direction only.

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

Sign colors carry meaning: yellow = warning, orange = construction/work zone, white = regulatory, green = guide/distance, brown = recreation and points of interest, blue = services.

Solid white lines separate lanes of traffic moving the same direction; a solid white line at the edge marks the right shoulder - crossing it is discouraged and often unlawful.

Double solid yellow lines mean no passing in either direction; a broken yellow line on your side permits passing when the way ahead is clear.

Painted curb colors: red = no stopping or parking, yellow = loading only, white = passenger pickup/drop-off only, blue = disabled parking permit required.

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

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

At a four-way stop, first arrival goes first; simultaneous arrivals are resolved right-of-way first, then straight-ahead over turning.

When entering a highway from an on-ramp, yield to traffic already on the highway; the ramp does not confer the right-of-way.

Emergency vehicles with lights and siren have the right-of-way: pull to the right edge and stop until they pass, and do not follow within 500 feet.

Nebraska's Basic Speed Rule requires driving at a speed reasonable for conditions; posted limits are maximums for ideal conditions, not targets.

Passing is prohibited within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing, on hills or curves with limited sight distance, and where a solid yellow line is on your side.

A school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm requires traffic in both directions to stop; a divided highway with a median separates the directions, so oncoming traffic need not stop.

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

Total stopping distance = perception distance + reaction distance + braking distance; speed increases braking distance with the square of the speed.

The legal blood-alcohol threshold for drivers 21 and older is .08%; Nebraska's zero-tolerance law sets .02% for drivers under 21.

Implied consent: a lawfully arrested driver must submit to a chemical test, and refusal can result in license revocation independent of the DUI case.

Use the IPDE process - Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute - scanning 12-15 seconds ahead in the city and farther at highway speed.

Headlights are required from sunset to sunrise, when visibility is reduced, and whenever wipers are in continuous use due to weather.

Space cushion: keep at least one car length per 10 mph of speed as a minimum buffer, and avoid riding in other drivers' blind spots.

Distracted driving: texting or using a handheld phone while driving is prohibited in Nebraska; even legal hands-free use multiplies crash risk.

Motorcycles are entitled to a full lane; never share a lane with a motorcycle, and allow extra following distance because they can stop faster than cars.

Bicycles on the roadway generally follow the same rules as vehicles; Nebraska requires passing cyclists with at least three feet of clearance.

Pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk have the right-of-way; a driver must yield and may not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.

Large trucks have large blind spots (No-Zones) on both sides, directly behind, and 20 feet ahead; if you cannot see the driver's mirrors, the driver cannot see you.

Trucks need far more distance to stop and swing wide when turning right; never pass a truck on the right as it prepares to turn.

School zones: obey the posted lower limit whenever children are present or the beacon is flashing, and stop for a school patrol guard's signal.

When a school bus displays flashing yellow lights, prepare to stop; the red lights and stop arm are what require a full stop.

Share the road with farm equipment and horse-drawn vehicles: slow down, pass only when safe, and give them room since they travel well below highway speed.

Nebraska's seat belt law is primary enforcement: an officer may stop a vehicle solely for an unbelted occupant, and all front-seat occupants must be buckled.

Children under age 8 must ride in a federally approved child safety seat or booster; children under 2 must be rear-facing unless they exceed the seat's height/weight limit.

The back seat is the safest place for children under 13 because of front passenger airbag risk.

Check tire pressure when tires are cold; underinflation causes heat buildup, poor handling, and blowouts, and pressure drops roughly 1 psi per 10°F of temperature drop.

Nebraska requires a safety inspection and emissions inspection in certain counties before registration; a vehicle must also carry liability insurance to be registered.

Headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, and a horn must be in working order; burned-out lights are a common equipment violation and a crash risk.

If your accelerator sticks, shift to neutral, brake firmly, and steer to a safe stop; do not pump the brake or turn the engine off while moving at speed.

Tire tread depth of 2/32 inch or less is legally worn out; use the penny test - Lincoln's head fully visible means replace the tire.

If your vehicle begins to skid, ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go; do not slam the brakes.

If you drive off the pavement onto the shoulder, slow gradually, hold the wheel straight, and steer back on only after reducing speed.

In fog, use low beams - high beams reflect off the moisture and reduce visibility; slow down and increase following distance.

Hydroplaning occurs when tires ride on a film of water; ease off the gas, avoid hard braking, and hold the wheel steady until traction returns.

At a railroad crossing with flashing lights, gates, or a passing train, stop and wait; never drive around lowered gates, and if your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get everyone out and move away from the tracks.

If a traffic signal fails and the intersection becomes uncontrolled, treat it as a four-way stop and yield by arrival order and to the right.

When an emergency vehicle approaches from behind, pull to the right and stop; if you are in an intersection, clear it first, then pull over.

In a work zone, fines for speeding are doubled when workers are present, and flaggers' directions override signals and signs.

If your brakes fail, pump them, downshift to a lower gear, and use the parking brake gradually; steer toward an escape ramp or open area if available.