ME Permit Practice Test 1

All 20 questions in test 1

Every question below comes from the Maine question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. What does this yellow warning sign with two opposing arrows tell you?

   
   1. Two lanes ahead merge into one
   2. Two-way traffic is ahead
   3. A one-way street begins ahead
   4. The divided highway begins ahead
   Show answer

   Two-way traffic is ahead. In Maine's list of common warning signs, the sign with two arrows pointing in opposite directions means there is two-way traffic. Vehicles coming toward you will share the road, so you are no longer separated from oncoming traffic. The divided highway begins sign is a separate warning, and a merge sign warns of traffic joining your lane rather than traffic coming toward you. A one-way street is shown by its own regulatory sign with a single arrow. After this sign, stay in your lane and watch carefully for oncoming vehicles.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and school zones

2. 2. When changing lanes is unsafe near a stopped emergency vehicle, what must the driver do?

   
   1. Slow down and use caution while passing
   2. Maintain normal speed to avoid delay
   3. Stop in the travel lane beside the vehicle
   4. Pass on the shoulder without reducing speed
   Show answer

   Slow down and use caution while passing. The move-over rule does not make an unsafe lane change acceptable. When the adjacent lane cannot be entered safely, the driver should slow down and use caution while passing the stopped emergency vehicle. Normal speed leaves less time to react, and passing on the shoulder at speed is not the instruction. Look well ahead, reduce speed early, maintain control of the vehicle, and give the roadside activity as much clearance as the available lane permits.

   Study this in the handbook: Emergency vehicles, move over and traffic stops

3. 3. How does Maine decide where to put its moose and deer crossing signs?

   1. Wherever residents have reported seeing animals
   2. Along roads that border hunting areas
   3. Where wildlife is concentrated and collisions are a problem
   4. On roads that pass near wildlife refuges
   Show answer

   Where wildlife is concentrated and collisions are a problem. Under the heading Warning Signs Mean Business, Maine says the locations for its moose and deer crossing signs are chosen based on where there are high concentrations of wildlife and where collisions are a problem. The signs are not posted for a single sighting, a hunting area, or a nearby refuge. That means each one marks a known trouble spot, so slow down and scan both roadsides when you pass one. The handbook also notes that moose and deer often travel in small groups, so if one animal crosses, more may be nearby.

   Study this in the handbook: Moose and deer

4. 4. Under Maine's violation free credit system, what is the most credit points a driver can build up?

   1. Two
   2. Six
   3. Ten
   4. Four
   Show answer

   Four. Maine awards one violation free credit point for each calendar year with no convictions or suspensions, and a driver may accumulate up to four of these credits. Two is fewer than the cap. Six and ten are more than the law allows. The credit rewards a clean record over time, one calendar year at a time. Each credit point takes a full calendar year free of convictions or suspensions to earn.

   Study this in the handbook: Young driver restrictions, points and suspensions

5. 5. How should a Maine driver use right of way rules when another road user may not act as expected?

   1. Stop in every intersection even when traffic is clear
   2. Accelerate to force the other driver to yield
   3. Assume the legal priority guarantees safety
   4. Use the right of way sensibly and never insist on it
   Show answer

   Use the right of way sensibly and never insist on it. Maine's guidance says a driver with the right of way should use it sensibly and never insist on it. Legal priority does not protect a driver from another person's mistake, so accelerating to force compliance or assuming safety is guaranteed can create a crash. Stopping in every intersection is not the stated solution either. The practical cue is defensive awareness: check the actual situation, look for what other road users are doing, and preserve a safe escape option even when priority appears clear.

   Study this in the handbook: Right of way at intersections and highways

6. 6. You are waiting to turn left, and a bicyclist is coming toward you from the opposite direction. What must you do?

   1. Turn first because cars have priority over bicycles
   2. Yield, and turn only if you can do it safely without interfering
   3. Sound the horn so the rider stops for your turn
   4. Turn quickly before the rider reaches the intersection
   Show answer

   Yield, and turn only if you can do it safely without interfering. Maine requires drivers turning left to yield to bicycle and roller ski operators coming from the opposite direction. You may not turn in front of them unless you can do it safely and without interfering with their travel. Bicycles are vehicles with the same rights as other drivers, so a car has no special priority. Riders can move faster than they look, and experienced cyclists can easily go over 30 mph, which makes racing ahead of one a poor bet. A horn used close to a bicycle can startle the rider into your path, so wait until the rider has passed.

   Study this in the handbook: Turns, traffic circles and roundabouts

7. 7. What does a green arrow above a reversible lane permit you to do?

   1. Enter the lane only to park temporarily
   2. Use that lane during the time the arrow is displayed
   3. Use the lane against the indicated direction of travel
   4. Treat the lane as closed until a red X appears
   Show answer

   Use that lane during the time the arrow is displayed. A reversible lane changes its permitted direction at certain times, so the overhead signal controls whether entry is allowed. The green arrow authorizes use of that lane, while a red X means the lane cannot be used. Parking is not the purpose of the control, and a driver should never travel against the direction shown by the lane arrangement. Before entering, check the overhead display and the surrounding markings so you know which lanes are available at that moment.

   Study this in the handbook: Lane markings, lane use and special lanes

8. 8. How long do Maine's restrictions for a newly licensed driver under 18 remain in effect?

   1. 90 days
   2. 180 days
   3. 270 days
   4. Until the driver turns 21
   Show answer

   270 days. The Maine manual says the young driver restrictions are in effect for 270 days, counted from when the road test was passed. Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A, section 1311 sets the same 270 day period and counts it from license issuance, and the period can run past the 18th birthday. Ninety days and 180 days both fall short of that period, and age 21 is a different milestone tied to the provisional license. A violation brings a suspension and adds another 270 days.

   Study this in the handbook: Young driver restrictions, points and suspensions

9. 9. What licensing consequence follows a violation of Maine's under 18 driver restrictions?

   1. The restriction period is extended by 270 days and may continue beyond age 18
   2. The restrictions end immediately at age 18
   3. The driver receives only a written warning
   4. The permit is renewed for another 2 years without suspension
   Show answer

   The restriction period is extended by 270 days and may continue beyond age 18. A violation brings a license suspension and a 270 day extension of the restrictions. The extension may carry the restrictions beyond the driver's 18th birthday, so turning 18 does not erase an unfinished penalty. A warning alone understates the consequence, and permit renewal is unrelated to this violation rule. The key cue is extension: the violation adds time to the existing restriction period rather than replacing it with a new age based deadline.

   Study this in the handbook: Young driver restrictions, points and suspensions

10. 10. Rain has just started falling after a dry spell. When is the pavement likely to be especially slippery?

    1. After an hour of steady rain
    2. Once the temperature drops below freezing
    3. After the rain stops and puddles form
    4. During the first few minutes of the rain
    Show answer

    During the first few minutes of the rain. Maine warns that pavement can be very slippery for the first few minutes after rain begins. Heat brings oil in the asphalt up to the surface, and oil dripped from other vehicles also sits on the road. Rain keeps the surface slick until that oil is washed away. Waiting for an hour of steady rain gets the timing backward, since the early minutes are the risky period. Freezing temperatures are a separate ice hazard. When the first drops hit the windshield, ease off, leave more room ahead, and brake and steer gently.

    Study this in the handbook: Scanning, stopping distance and road conditions

11. 11. At what speeds may hydroplaning begin in most cars, according to the Maine handbook?

    1. At about 15 to 20 mph
    2. As low as 30 to 40 mph
    3. Not until the car reaches 80 mph
    4. Only above 100 mph
    Show answer

    As low as 30 to 40 mph. In most cars hydroplaning may begin at speeds as low as 30 to 40 mph, and the severity increases with speed until the tires may be totally riding on a film of water. In a bad rainstorm the tires may lose all contact with the road at 50 to 60 mph. To reduce the chances of hydroplaning, slow down during rainstorms, replace tires as soon as they become worn, and keep tires properly inflated.

    Study this in the handbook: Night, rural, winter and wet weather driving

12. 12. Your car is stalled on railroad tracks, a train is coming, and the car will not move. Which way should you go after you get out?

    1. Away from the train, walking beside the tracks in its path
    2. Directly across the tracks at a right angle, then wait there
    3. Back inside the car with seat belts fastened until it passes
    4. Toward the train and away from the tracks at a 45 degree angle
    Show answer

    Toward the train and away from the tracks at a 45 degree angle. If a train is coming and you are not having any success moving the car, Maine says to stop trying and get away. To avoid debris from the crash, leave the vehicle and head quickly toward the oncoming train, moving away from the tracks at a 45 degree angle. Running away from the train along the tracks seems natural, but the handbook directs you toward the train and off at an angle so you stay clear of crash debris. Once you are safely away, call the railroad's emergency number, posted on a nearby blue sign.

    Study this in the handbook: Collisions, crash reports and first aid

13. 13. You are driving with high beams behind another vehicle in Maine. Within what distance must you switch to low beams?

    1. 300 feet
    2. 100 feet
    3. 200 feet
    4. 500 feet
    Show answer

    300 feet. Maine law requires dimming to low beams when following a vehicle within 300 feet and when meeting an oncoming vehicle within 500 feet. Five hundred feet is the oncoming distance, not the following distance. One hundred and 200 feet are closer than the law allows. The handbook also advises low beams in fog, snow, or heavy rain, because light from high beams reflects back and causes glare. Any fog auxiliary light must also be turned off.

    Study this in the handbook: Following distance, headlights and signals

14. 14. During the minimum suspension period for an OUI conviction, can a Maine driver get a work or limited license?

    1. No, there is no work or limited license during that period
    2. Yes, for driving to and from work only
    3. Yes, after the first 30 days
    4. Yes, if an employer signs a request
    Show answer

    No, there is no work or limited license during that period. Maine makes no provision at all for a work or limited license during the minimum suspension for an OUI conviction, so offenders are at first completely barred from driving. A commute exception, a 30 day waiting period, and an employer's request all describe hardship licenses that Maine does not offer during this period. Maine does run an ignition interlock program for OUI offenders, which the OUI Section can explain.

    Study this in the handbook: OUI law, implied consent and penalties

15. 15. A driver is convicted of a first OUI in Maine with an alcohol level of 0.10, took the test when asked, and had no other aggravating factor. What is the minimum fine?

    1. $250
    2. $500
    3. $600
    4. $1,000
    Show answer

    $500. For a first OUI conviction with an alcohol level of 0.08 to 0.14, Maine sets a mandatory fine of at least $500. The minimum rises to $600 when the driver refused a test, which is why $600 does not fit a driver who took the test. Two hundred fifty dollars is below the minimum. One thousand dollars is not the stated minimum. The same conviction also brings a license loss of at least 150 days, a reinstatement fee, and an alcohol and drug program.

    Study this in the handbook: OUI law, implied consent and penalties

16. 16. What can happen to a Maine driver whose license has been suspended three times within three years?

    1. A further suspension of up to 120 days
    2. Nothing beyond the third suspension
    3. Permanent revocation
    4. A $50 fee
    Show answer

    A further suspension of up to 120 days. Any person whose license has been suspended three times within a three year period by the Secretary of State or by a court may be subject to a further suspension for a period of up to 120 days. The added suspension recognizes a pattern rather than a single mistake. The handbook lists this discretionary rule separately from the mandatory suspensions, which allow no exceptions and no work license option.

    Study this in the handbook: Young driver restrictions, points and suspensions

17. 17. Which color scheme does the Maine manual give for regulatory signs?

    1. Orange backgrounds with purple markings
    2. Yellow backgrounds with blue markings only
    3. White backgrounds with black, red, or green markings
    4. Blue backgrounds with yellow markings only
    Show answer

    White backgrounds with black, red, or green markings. Regulatory signs use white backgrounds with black, red, or green letters or symbols. The color combination helps distinguish rules from yellow warning signs and orange work-zone signs, but the driver must still read the specific instruction. A white regulatory sign can govern speed, lane use, turning, parking, or direction. Treat its message as an enforceable traffic control, not as scenery or a service marker. Slow enough to read it before the point where the rule applies.

    Study this in the handbook: Warning, railroad and work zone signs

18. 18. This sign warns of a curve to the right. When should you reduce your speed?

    
    1. Halfway through the curve
    2. Once you can see the end of the curve
    3. Before you enter the curve
    4. Only if the pavement is wet
    Show answer

    Before you enter the curve. Maine says to always slow before entering a curve. A safe speed is one that lets you accelerate slightly through the curve. Waiting until you are halfway through means you would have to brake in the curve, and the handbook warns that hard braking there can cause a skid. Dry pavement does not remove the need to slow, although you should slow even more when traction is poor. Bad curves are usually posted with yellow diamond shaped signs like this one, giving you time to adjust before the road bends.

    Study this in the handbook: Scanning, stopping distance and road conditions

19. 19. What does this merge warning sign tell you?

    
    1. Your lane ends ahead and you must move into the left lane
    2. The divided highway ends and traffic will meet head on
    3. Two-way traffic begins ahead on the same roadway
    4. Traffic from a lane on the right will merge into your lane
    Show answer

    Traffic from a lane on the right will merge into your lane. Maine's list of warning signs says this sign means another lane of traffic on the right is merging with your lane ahead. Expect vehicles to come alongside and move into your lane, and adjust your speed or position so they can merge smoothly. A lane that ends, forcing you to move left, has its own lane ends warning sign, which is a different situation because there your lane disappears. Divided highway and two-way traffic signs are separate warnings as well. As you approach, check mirrors and leave room for the merging driver.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and school zones

20. 20. In which direction do you travel after entering a Maine roundabout?

    
    1. To the left around the center island, clockwise
    2. Straight across the center island when it is flat
    3. To the right around the raised center island, counterclockwise
    4. In whichever direction gives the shortest path to your exit
    Show answer

    To the right around the raised center island, counterclockwise. Maine tells drivers to enter a roundabout by going to the right around the raised center island, which means traveling counterclockwise. Large traffic circles called rotaries work the same way, with vehicles moving to the right at a slow speed until they reach the street they want, then leaving with a right turn. Going left, or clockwise, would put you against circulating traffic. The raised pavement on the inside is there so trucks can get around the small island, while cars stay in the outer lane. Yield to vehicles already in the circle before you enter.

    Study this in the handbook: Turns, traffic circles and roundabouts