Nebraska Graduated Drivers License
The graduated drivers license system in Nebraska is rather complicated, mostly due to the fact that there are four different types of permits involved, one can easily get confused. However, in its core, the Nebraska graduated drivers license system is very similar to graduated license programs of other states and it pursues the same goal - reducing the number of casualties on public roads. Nebraska graduated drivers license laws target young drivers under the age of 18 and it features a number of additional restrictions and requirements that must be met before a full drivers license can be achieved. Failure to observe the graduated license requirements may result in your driving privileges being suspended or revoked.
In order to understand the requirements that are presented before Nebraska drivers license applicants, let's take a look at the underlying reasons that led to development of the graduated license program.
If you were to name the main causes of traffic accidents, lack of driving experience would probably assume the number one position. In some cases, lack of driving experience acts directly, for example, when the driver is unable to judge the stopping distance correctly. Other cases are not as straight forward, when a driver could have avoided an accident by applying some defensive driving tactics. Anyhow, lack of driving experience is probably the number one contributing factor in the majority of traffic collisions.
This is especially true when newly licensed drivers are in question. Those who just received a drivers license simply did not have enough time to acquire the skills required for operating a motor vehicle safely and that is why the Nebraska graduated drivers license system was introduced - to allow new drivers gain the essential driving skills without placing themselves and others who surround them in danger. The graduated license laws surround new drivers with a relatively safe driving environment until they are able to deal with the challenges of the road.
You may be asking yourself a question why do the Nebraska graduated license laws apply only to teenage drivers if it's all about driving experience and safety, shouldn't the program apply to all new drivers? In an ideal world, it should, and it is definitely a great idea some states already follow, but at the moment, most states only have teenagers go through the graduate license programs. This is partially explained by the fact that teenage drivers are much more likely to be involved in a traffic accident than older drivers. In fact, traffic accidents are the number one cause of death for people between 15 and 20 years of age. It turns out that teenagers display a number of behavioral flaws that are not usually attributed to older drivers. Teens are more likely to speed, be distracted by such things as cell phone or a stereo and they are less likely to wear a seat belt, which can be a deadly combination. That's why right now, most of the states, including Nebraska, only have younger drivers follow the graduated license requirements.
Nebraska Graduated License Stages
The way the system works is that the licensing procedure is divided into a number of phases. Teenage drivers license applicants are not granted a full drivers license right away, instead, they are granted with very limited privileges at the start and then have to earn additional driving privileges as they gain experience and master new driving skills. The graduated license system is Nebraska is somewhat overcomplicated by presence of additional stages that are available only to drivers under the age of 15 who live in rural areas and who may require to drive in order to be able to get to school or work.
The stages of the Nebraska graduated drivers license system are as following:
- Learners permit - Type LPE
- School permit - Type SCP
- Learners permit - Type LPD
- Provisional operator's permit - Type POP
- Operator's license - Type O
You will be able to apply for a school permit if you are under 15 years of age, live at least one and a half miles from the school you are attending and reside outside a city of 5000 or attends attends a school outside a city of 5000 or more. If you don't satisfy these requirements, you will start at the type LPD learners permit stage.
Remember: if you are at least 18 years of age, the graduated license laws do now apply to you and you do not have to follow these procedures. However, you must still take the Nebraska permit test and a driving exam at one of the testing stations before you can be issued with a drivers license. If you want to see what the permit test questions are like, you are welcome to the Nebraska practice permit test that is offered free of any charge.
Learner's Permit - Type LPE
The minimum age for obtaining this type of Nebraska learners permit is 14. Please note that this type of permit is only required for those who are eligible for a school permit and is a prerequisite step for applying for a school learners permit. If you are not eligible for a school permit, there is no reason for you to apply for a type LPE permit either.
Once you are at least 14 years of age, you can go ahead and take the permit test. If you pass, you are issued with a learners permit that allows you to start practicing for your Nebraska drivers license test. While driving with an LPE permit, you have to observe the following restrictions:
- No driving alone. You must have a licensed driver at least 21 years of age seated next to you at all times while you are driving.
- No cell phones. You cannot use any communication or entertainment device while driving.
- Seat belts. Everyone present in the vehicle must wear a seat belt.
You must hold your LPE permit for at least two months before you can take a drivers test and apply for a school permit. During these months, you must either complete a state-approved Nebraska drivers safety course or take at least 50 hours of supervised driving hours with a parent, legal guardian or any other licensed driver 21 years of age or older. If you choose to complete a drivers education course, you will need to get an official certificate of completion. Those who went through the supervised driving option will need to present a 50 hour certification form. The official Nebraska driver handbook has more information about driver safety courses and the advantages of participating in one of these programs.
School Permit
School permit is the second step of the Nebraska graduated drivers license program. The minimum age for a school permit is 14 years and 2 months. You must fulfill all LPE permit requirements, keep the permit for at least two months and pass the driving skills test before you become eligible for a school permit.
Your school permit allows unsupervised driving if you are traveling to or from school over the most direct and accessible route. At all other times, a supervising driver at least 21 years of age must be seated next to you. Everyone in the vehicle must wear seat belts and you cannot use a cell phone or any other communication device while driving.
Your Nebraska school learners permit is valid until you are 16 years, 3 months old and you are expected to exchange it for a provisional operator's permit on your 16th birthday.
Learners Permit - Type LPD
If you were not eligible for a school permit or chose not to apply for one, you can go ahead and apply for a regular Nebraska learners permit (type LPD) when you are at least 15 years of age. You will have to pass a vision exam and the permit test at the DMV before you can be issued with your permit. While driving, make sure to observe the following Nebraska permit restrictions:
- No driving alone. You must have a licensed driver at least 21 years of age seated next to you at all times while you are driving.
- No cell phones. You cannot use any communication or entertainment device while driving.
- Seat belts. Everyone present in the vehicle must wear a seat belt.
According to the Nebraska graduated license requirements, you must hold this permit for at least six months before you can proceed on to the next stage. During this time, you are to complete either an approved drivers education course or at least 50 hours of supervised driving with a licensed driver at least 21 years of age.
Once the six months are up, you can take a drivers test and proceed to the next stage - the provisional operator's permit.
Provisional Operators Permit
Hold on, you are almost there. The provisional operators permit is almost as good as a drivers license, it finally allows you to start driving without a supervising driver seated next to you. The minimum age for the operator's permit is 16 and you must fulfill the requirements of the previous stages of the graduated license program.
You can drive wherever you want, as long as you observe the following provisional permit restrictions:
- Curfew. The nighttime driving restriction does not allow you to drive between midnight and 6 a.m. unless you are traveling to or from an employment or school-related activity. The restrictions may also be ignored if you have a licensed driver at least 21 years of age seated next to you.
- Passenger restrictions. No more than one passenger under the age of 19 who is not a member of the drivers immediate family.
- Seat belts. Safety belts must be worn by everyone in the vehicle.
- Cell phones. You cannot use a cell phone or any other communication device while driving.
You must hold your operator's permit for the minimum of 12 months before you can apply for an operator's license. During the application, you will only be required to take a vision test, no additional testing will be conducted.
