NV Driving Instructor cheat sheet

Nevada's basic speed law requires drivers to never exceed a speed that is safe for conditions; posted limits are maximums, not targets.

Default statutory limits are 25 mph in business or residential districts and 55 mph on open highways unless posted otherwise; posted signs control.

Seat belts are required for the driver and all passengers; children under 6 years old and under 60 pounds must use an appropriate child restraint.

Adult DUI is 0.08% BAC, commercial drivers 0.04%, and drivers under 21 are impaired at 0.02% under Nevada's zero-tolerance law.

Nevada prohibits texting and handheld cell phone use while driving; hands-free use may be permitted for adults but not for novice drivers.

The Move Over law requires drivers to move out of the lane adjacent to stopped emergency, tow, or maintenance vehicles with lights activated, or slow down if unable to move over.

A right turn on red is permitted after a complete stop unless a sign prohibits it; pedestrians and cross traffic retain the right of way.

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

When passing a bicyclist, Nevada drivers must leave at least three feet of clearance and may not return to the lane until safely clear.

An octagonal red sign means stop; an inverted triangle means yield; a diamond indicates a warning; a pennant marks a no-passing zone.

A round yellow sign marks a railroad crossing advance warning; a pentagon-shaped sign marks a school zone or school crossing.

Red signs and signals prohibit or require a stop; yellow warns; orange marks construction; green gives guidance; blue indicates services; brown indicates recreation.

A flashing red signal requires a complete stop and yield before proceeding; a flashing yellow signal requires caution and reduced speed.

A steady yellow signal warns that the light is changing to red; drivers should stop if they can do so safely rather than accelerate.

A green arrow gives a protected turn; a plain green light requires left-turning drivers to yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.

Double solid yellow center lines prohibit passing in both directions; a solid yellow line with a broken yellow line allows passing only from the broken-line side.

White lines separate lanes traveling in the same direction; yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions.

A stop bar or crosswalk line marks where a vehicle must stop; drivers stop behind the line, not over it or inside the crosswalk.

The three-second following rule is the minimum gap in good conditions; add at least one second for rain, darkness, or heavy traffic.

Drivers should scan 12 to 15 seconds ahead and check mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds to maintain situation awareness.

SIPDE is a defensive-driving process: Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, and Execute.

Maintaining a space cushion means avoiding blind spots and keeping an escape route open on at least one side.

With ABS, the correct emergency technique is firm continuous brake pressure while steering; pumping the pedal defeats the system.

Hydroplaning occurs when tires ride on water; the driver should ease off the accelerator, avoid hard braking, and keep steering steady.

In a skid, the driver should look and steer where the vehicle should go, ease off the accelerator, and avoid sudden braking or steering.

At 55 mph, two seconds of eyes-off-road distraction covers about 160 feet, roughly half a football field.

Fatigue causes microsleeps and slowed reaction time; the safe response is to stop and rest, not to rely on coffee or open windows.

A complete lesson plan states the objective, materials, procedure, practice activity, and assessment method.

The EDPE sequence is Explain, Demonstrate, Practice, Evaluate; it moves the student from observation to supervised performance.

Specific, positive feedback identifies the exact behavior to keep or change; correcting one behavior at a time reduces overload.

Spaced practice across multiple sessions improves long-term retention and transfer compared with a single massed lesson.

Scenario-based and hazard-perception training helps students predict risk rather than only memorize rules.

Behind-the-wheel instruction uses a dual-control vehicle so the instructor can brake or intervene if the student fails to respond.

Nevada applicants under 18 must document 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night, before advancing.

Route planning should begin in low-risk areas and progress to complex traffic, highway merging, and night driving.

Assessment rubrics and driving checklists make evaluation consistent and provide evidence of specific skill gaps.

A pre-trip inspection checks tires, tire pressure and tread, headlights, brake lights, turn signals, fluids, wipers, horn, mirrors, and seat belts.

Tire pressure is checked cold against the vehicle placard or owner manual, not against the maximum pressure molded on the tire sidewall.

Before moving, the driver adjusts the seat, steering wheel, head restraint, and mirrors, then fastens the seat belt and confirms the path is clear.

Backing requires a walk-around check, slow speed, use of mirrors, and a spotter when available; stop if visibility is unclear.

A lane change requires signal, mirror check, shoulder check for the blind spot, and enough space before moving.

A common steering grip is 9 and 3 o'clock or 8 and 4 o'clock; hand-over-hand steering is used for sharp low-speed turns.

When merging onto a highway, the driver signals, checks mirrors and blind spots, and matches the speed of traffic before entering.

ABS threshold braking requires firm pedal pressure and steering around the hazard while maintaining pressure.

A vehicle should be secured before leaving it: transmission in Park or gear, parking brake set, wheels turned appropriately on hills.

In fog, use low-beam headlights, reduce speed, and increase following distance; high beams reflect off moisture and worsen visibility.

In rain, reduce speed to avoid hydroplaning, use headlights and wipers, and increase the following gap.

On snow or ice, use gentle accelerator, brake, and steering inputs; increase following distance and use chains or traction devices where required.

During a tire blowout, grip the wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, avoid hard braking, and steer straight before pulling off.

If the accelerator sticks, shift to neutral, brake firmly, steer to a safe place, and shut off the engine only after the vehicle is controlled.

If brakes fail, downshift, apply the parking brake gradually, and use an escape route; do not suddenly yank the parking brake.

If a vehicle enters deep water, occupants should unbuckle and escape through a window rather than wait for the door to open against water pressure.

In a dust storm, pull well off the roadway, turn off lights, and keep feet off the brake pedal so following drivers are not guided into the vehicle.

Never drive through a flooded roadway; moving water can stall or sweep away a vehicle, and depth is difficult to judge.

A Nevada instruction permit may be issued at age 15 years and 6 months after passing the knowledge test and meeting DMV requirements.

A permit holder must be accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21 years old in the front passenger seat while driving.

Applicants under 18 must complete a DMV-approved driver education course and document 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 night hours.

Nevada's graduated licensing program requires a permit hold period and imposes initial night and passenger restrictions on novice drivers.

Nevada DMV assigns demerit points for traffic violations; accumulating 12 or more points in 12 months can lead to license suspension.

A driving instructor must hold a valid Nevada driver's license, meet DMV certification and background requirements, and comply with licensing rules.

A behind-the-wheel training vehicle must be registered, insured, and equipped with dual controls so the instructor can intervene.

Instructors must keep accurate lesson records, supervised-driving logs, and completion certificates; falsifying records violates legal and ethical requirements.

The DMV administers licensing, approves driver education courses, and may suspend or revoke licenses for violations or administrative actions.