Maine BMV Driver’s License & Permit Practice Tests

You need skill and caution to enter a freeway safely from an access lane, and merge smoothly with the fast-moving traffic. Look for a gap, then increase speed in the entrance lane and enter the gap at highway speed.

Do not impede the flow of traffic by pulling into the lane before you have built up some speed.

An operator who fails to yield the right-of-way to a visually impaired pedestrian is liable for a traffic infraction with a minimum $50 and maximum $1,000 fine. (Failure to yield to a pedestrian will result in four points on your record.)

Be alert for buses, school buses, tank trucks, etc. that must stop at all railroad crossings.

Buses transporting passengers, including school buses, and tank trucks carrying flammable liquids must always stop at railroad crossings. So expect the stops and slow down early to allow plenty of room.

Remember, speed limits are based on the condition of the road, how far you can see, and what typical traffic is like. Posted speed limits do not tell you at what speed to drive. They only say you cannot go faster than the speed shown. If road and weather conditions make the posted speed unsafe, you must slow down. This is known as the basic speed law.

An operator shall operate a vehicle at a careful and prudent speed not greater than is reasonable and proper having due regard to the traffic, surface, and width of the way and of other conditions then existing.

Besides alcohol, there are many other drugs that can affect a person’s ability to drive safely. Some allergy remedies, cough syrups and cold pills which you can buy without prescription contain codeine, alcohol, antihistamines, or bromides which can affect driving.

Special overhead lights are sometimes used to indicate which lanes of a highway may be used at certain times:

• Steady Red X: Do not drive in this lane.
• Steady Yellow X: Clear this lane, signal is about to change to red.
• Flashing Yellow X: This lane may only be used for a left turn.
• Green Arrow: You may use this lane.

A stop sign is red with white letters and has eight sides (octagon).

When coming to one, stop before the crosswalk or stop line and do not cross it. If there is no crosswalk or stop line, stop at the point nearest the intersection to enable you to see approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway. The stop must be made before any portion of your vehicle has entered the intersection.

You should learn to recognize road signs by color and shape as well as the messages or symbols they carry.

When approaching an intersection, always yield the right-of-way to vehicles which have already entered the intersection. If two cars enter an uncontrolled intersection at about the same time, yield to the car on your right.

If there is an oncoming car in your lane, blow your horn and flash your lights to warn the other driver. Brake quickly, but not so fast that you lock your wheels and lose control. Keep to the right. If necessary, quickly pull off into the right shoulder or ditch. Do not drive into the left lane.

Remember, if you swerve left and the other driver corrects at the last instant, you will still crash.

If you disagree with the officer’s decision to issue a traffic ticket, don’t prolong the contact by arguing with the officer. If you wish to contest the ticket, you will have the opportunity to explain your point of view of what happened in court. Your acceptance and signature on a traffic ticket is not an admission of guilt however, the refusal to sign a traffic ticket may result in your arrest,

Divided highway ahead. The highway ahead is divided into two one-way roadways. Opposing flows of traffic are separated by a median or other physical barrier.

People cannot see you unless they are looking your way. The horn can get their attention. Use it whenever it will help prevent an accident. If danger is near, do not be afraid to sound a sharp blast.

Horns can be wrongly used. You should NOT use them without cause or to make an unreasonably loud noise.

Tap the horn lightly, well in advance, to warn others you are there. Try to avoid using the horn around bicycles or horses because the riders may lose control if startled.

If you wear a lap belt your chances of coming out of a collision alive are about twice as good as if you do not. If you are wearing both lap belt and shoulder strap your chances are three to four times as good.

Regardless of the nature of the accident it is considerably more dangerous to be unrestrained in a crash.

Statistically, every citizen has a one in three chance of being in a serious accident in his or her life.

If the road ahead is slippery, it does not provide the grip your tires need. You have to drive slower than you would on a dry road. Here are some guidelines for how much to slow the car:

• Wet road: Slow down 5 to 10 mph.
• Packed snow: Slow down to half speed.
• Ice: Slow to a crawl.

The two-second rule refers to a following distance. If you are driving a car, stay at least two seconds back from the vehicle ahead. The two-second following distance rule is simple to use and works at all speeds.

Check behind the car before you get in. Children or small objects are hard to see from the driver’s seat. Turn your shoulders and head to the right so that you can look directly through the rear window. Do not depend solely on your mirrors. Back slowly. Your car is much harder to control and to stop while you are backing. Back no faster than a slow walk.

Some people think that if they drink beer, they are consuming less alcohol than those who drink mixed drinks. They are wrong! There is approximately the same amount of alcohol in a 12 oz. can of beer as there is in a 1 oz. shot of 100 proof hard liquor or 4 oz. glass of table wine (or a 10 oz. wine cooler).

A circular yellow signal means caution and indicates that the signal is about to turn red. Stop for a yellow signal unless you are too close to the intersection to stop safely, in that case, drive cautiously through the intersection. Never speed up for a yellow signal to beat the red signal.

If a parked car is damaged, try to find the owner. Leave a note in a place where the owner can find it. The note should contain:

• Your name and address.
• Driver’s license number.
• License plate number.
• Date and time of accident.
• A description of property damage.

You must also notify police if the damage was more than $1,000 or someone was injured.

Unless otherwise posted, the legal speed limit is 25 mph in a business, or residential district, or built-up area of the state.

If you are the operator of a motor vehicle and are driving with an alcohol level of 0.08 grams per 100 milliliters of blood or 210 liters of breath, you are guilty of a criminal offense of operating under the influence.

However, any amount of alcohol is likely to impair your driving ability. A testimony of the arresting police officer regarding your driving performance can result in an OUI conviction even without the alcohol test results to back it up. This means that your alcohol level can be less than .08 and you can still be convicted.

Cover the victim with a blanket or a coat to maintain body temperature and help prevent shock.

Alcohol interferes with the brain’s ability to react and to concentrate. A person who has been drinking is more likely to:

Drinkers also have less control of emotions. They tend to become less and less rational, more easily saddened, upset or angry and thus more likely to take risks while driving.

Check your mirrors. Drivers of trucks and buses often try to build up speed so that they can make it to the top of the next hill. If you see them early, you can change lanes.

Air bags do not replace safety belts.

Airbags give you extra protection when the front of your vehicle hits, or is hit by, an object. You must also use your safety belts to give you full protection.

If your name or address changes from that given on your license, Maine law requires that you notify the Bureau of Motor Vehicles within 30 days of change.

Tires must have 2/32 of an inch tread and be free of cuts, tears, or other dangerous conditions.

If tires have less than 2/32 of an inch, they are worn out, unsafe, and illegal.

Remember, if your tires are not in good shape, you will have less control, use more gas, and risk a blow-out.

Wet roads can be as dangerous as icy roads, so always drop your speed in wet weather. You will need more distance for stopping, and you may skid on quick turns.

Avoid traffic. Get out of your car on the curb side if you can. If you have to use the street side, check for traffic behind you, especially bicycles, before you open the door.

If a crash with an animal is imminent, apply the brakes and steer straight. Let up on the brakes just before impact to allow the front of your vehicle to rise slightly and aim to hit the tail end of the animal. This can reduce the risk of the animal striking the windshield area and may increase your chances of missing the animal. Duck down to protect yourself from windshield debris.

Regretfully, the safest alternative may be hitting the animal.