Vision, fatigue and distractions

Key points

1. Do not wear sunglasses or tinted glasses at night.

   Source: Handbook p. 3-1

   “Do not wear sunglasses or tinted glasses at night as they will reduce your, critical, nighttime vision.”
   Maine Driver's License Manual, Handbook p. 3-1

2. NHTSA estimates as many as 240,000 crashes a year are related to sleepiness at the wheel.

   Source: Handbook p. 3-2

   “The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that each year as many as 240,000 accidents are related to sleepiness at the wheel.”
   Maine Driver's License Manual, Handbook p. 3-2

3. Micro-sleeps last only 4 to 5 seconds, but at 55 mph even that can be fatal.

   Source: Handbook p. 3-2

   “these "micro-sleeps" or brief naps last only four to five seconds but when you're cruising along at 55 miles an hour, the tiniest nap can be fatal.”
   Maine Driver's License Manual, Handbook p. 3-2

4. Plan to rest between midnight and 6 a.m., your body's downtime.

   Source: Handbook p. 3-2

   “Avoid driving during your body's "downtime". Take that needed break and find a safe place to sleep between midnight and 6 a.m.”
   Maine Driver's License Manual, Handbook p. 3-2

5. Take a break every 2 hours or 100 miles, and a 15 to 20 minute nap if you feel danger signs of fatigue.

   Source: Handbook p. 3-3

   “Schedule a break every two hours or 100 miles but stop sooner if you're experiencing any of the danger signs of fatigue and take a short 15 to 20-minute refresher nap.”
   Maine Driver's License Manual, Handbook p. 3-3

6. Truck drivers who texted had 23 times the risk of a crash or near crash.

   Source: Handbook p. 3-4

   “The study revealed that truck drivers who texted while driving had 23 times the risk of being involved in a crash or a near-crash incident.”
   Maine Driver's License Manual, Handbook p. 3-4

7. Distractions are visual, manual or cognitive, and nearly all crashes involve two or even all three types.

   Source: Handbook p. 3-4

   “Nearly all accidents involve a combination of two or even all three types of distractions!”
   Maine Driver's License Manual, Handbook p. 3-4

8. Short glances at instruments or mirrors are safe only if kept to less than one second.

   Source: Handbook p. 3-4

   “Short glances at vehicle instrumentation, mirrors, installed communication devices, or other technology can be done safely if these scans are limited to less than one second”
   Maine Driver's License Manual, Handbook p. 3-4

9. Drivers under 18 are prohibited from using a phone or handheld device while driving.

   Source: Handbook p. 3-5

   “A person who has not attained the age of 18 years is specifically prohibited from operating a motor vehicle while using a mobile telephone or handheld electronic device.”
   Maine Driver's License Manual, Handbook p. 3-5

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Maine practice test

1. 1. How many crashes each year does NHTSA attribute to sleepiness at the wheel, according to the Maine handbook?

   1. About 1,000
   2. About 10,000
   3. About 5 million
   4. As many as 240,000
   Show answer

   As many as 240,000. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that each year as many as 240,000 accidents are related to sleepiness at the wheel. The only cure for a sleep debt is more sleep; coffee, a cold shower or exercise do not work. At the first sign of drowsiness you must act rather than fight it: pull off and rest, or switch drivers if you can.

2. 2. According to a study cited in the Maine handbook, how much did texting raise crash risk for truck drivers?

   1. Twice the risk
   2. 23 times the risk of a crash or near crash
   3. No change
   4. Half the risk
   Show answer

   23 times the risk of a crash or near crash. The study revealed that truck drivers who texted while driving had 23 times the risk of being involved in a crash or a near crash incident. The handbook notes that 91 percent of Americans have a cell phone and that text messaging has grown enormously, which is why Maine bans handheld use and texting. A text takes eyes, hands and mind off the road at once.

3. 3. Why should a driver keep scanning the road instead of staring at one spot?

   1. To avoid checking mirrors while traveling straight
   2. To make the vehicle use less fuel at every speed
   3. To notice hazards early and gain time to change speed or direction
   4. To replace the need for turn signals near intersections
   Show answer

   To notice hazards early and gain time to change speed or direction. The manual connects continual searching with early hazard detection. Seeing a problem sooner gives you time to alter speed or direction before the situation becomes urgent. The fuel-saving claim is unrelated, and scanning does not eliminate mirror checks or signaling duties. A useful driving cue is to keep your eyes moving through the space ahead, then check the sides and rear as traffic conditions change. This search pattern is especially valuable near intersections, parked vehicles, curves, and places where another road user could appear suddenly.

Source: the Maine Driver's License Manual, Section 3: Ready to Drive. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.