Sharing the road in Nebraska

By the end of this topic you can

• You can pass bicyclists and pedestrians with legal clearance.
• You can leave motorcycles enough room and following distance.
• You can stay out of a truck's No-Zones.
• You can cross railroad tracks safely and know what to do if you stall.
• You can react safely to a deer in the road.

What you need to know and understand

• Leave at least three feet when passing a bicyclist, and keep that space until you are safely past.
• Motorists should also leave at least three feet of clearance from pedestrians on the roadway.
• Under Nebraska law, a bicyclist has the same rights and duties as a driver of a motor vehicle.
• Give a motorcycle a full lane and follow it by three or four seconds.
• A loaded truck at 55 mph needs at least 340 feet to stop on a clear, dry road.
• Stay at least 100 feet behind snowplows and maintenance vehicles that are working, except to pass.
• At a railroad crossing, stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail if there is no stop line.
• If a deer is about to hit, brake firmly, steer to keep control and stop; do not swerve.

People on foot and on bikes

Expect pedestrians anywhere, especially near schools, parks and homes. Yield when turning, stop behind crosswalks, and never pass a vehicle that has stopped for someone crossing, because it may hide them. Stop and stay stopped for a person with a white cane or guide dog.

Since September 3, 2025, Nebraska's Move Over law also protects vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, bicyclists, road workers and farm equipment on every highway: move into a lane away from them when you safely can, or slow down and pass with care. Bicyclists usually ride as far right as practical but may take the lane when it is too narrow to share, and may move left to turn. Merge behind them before a right turn rather than cutting across. Do not blast your horn at them, check for bikes before opening your door, and if you cannot leave three feet, slow down and wait.

Motorcycles, trucks and working vehicles

• Motorcycles: look twice at junctions; many crashes happen when a car turns left in front of a rider. Do not trust a motorcycle's turn signal, as many do not cancel themselves.
• Trucks and buses: avoid the No-Zones beside, close behind and just in front. Do not cut in after passing until you see the whole front of the truck in your mirror. Give them room on wide right turns and never squeeze past.
• Air brakes on large vehicles do not act instantly, so never brake suddenly in front of one.
• Snowplows: they throw snow, sand and ice and may block your view. Stay back at least 100 feet and only pass when you can see well ahead.
• Farm equipment and horse-drawn vehicles move slowly. Watch for the slow moving vehicle emblem and pass only where it is legal and clear.

Trains and wildlife

Deer are most active from dusk to dawn, in spring and fall, near water and woods. They travel in groups, so when you see one, expect more. Nebraska's advice is 'Don't veer for deer': swerving off the road or into oncoming traffic is often more dangerous than the hit itself.

1. Approach railroad crossings at a steady speed you can stop from, and expect a train on any track at any time.
2. Stop for flashing signals, lowered gates, a flagger or a visible or audible train. Never go around gates.
3. Cross only when all tracks are clear and there is room for your car on the far side. Do not change gear on the tracks.
4. If you stall on the tracks, get everyone out at once and move away toward the direction the train is coming from, then call the emergency number on the blue crossing sign.

Common mistakes

• Squeezing past a bicyclist on a narrow road without three feet of space.
• Pulling back in right in front of a truck after passing.
• Swerving hard to miss a deer and leaving the road.
• Stopping on the tracks in heavy traffic. Wait until there is room on the other side before you cross.

Test yourself: Sharing the road in Nebraska

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Learning to Drive in Nebraska
• Nebraska 50-Hour Driving Certification Form
• Nebraska Driving Test