ME Permit Practice Test 13

All 20 questions in test 13

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 five-sided sign identify?

   
   1. A school zone where special caution is required
   2. A public park with no school activity
   3. An adult pedestrian crossing only
   4. A hospital entrance with emergency traffic
   Show answer

   A school zone where special caution is required. Maine uses a five-sided sign to identify a school zone. Drivers should slow and watch for children, school traffic, and crossing activity. The shape does not identify a park, hospital, or an adult-only crossing. In the manual's school-zone guidance, the driver must slow to 15 mph during specified recess, school opening, or school closing periods, including when school speed signs are flashing. The key visual cue is the pentagon, followed by careful scanning for children near the roadway.

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

2. 2. Traffic forces you to travel beside a large vehicle for a stretch. How should you manage that position?

   1. Remain alongside it as long as traffic allows.
   2. Drive in its blind spot.
   3. Move clear as soon as possible.
   4. Ride beside its rear wheels.
   Show answer

   Move clear as soon as possible.. Maine advises drivers not to travel alongside a large vehicle any longer than necessary. A truck or bus may need to swerve or change lanes, while the driver may not see a car beside it. Move ahead and complete the pass when it is safe, or drop back where the larger vehicle can be seen. Remaining alongside, choosing its blind spot, or riding beside the rear wheels extends the exposure the manual tells drivers to reduce.

   Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and large vehicles

3. 3. Another driver seems ready to yield space you need for a merge. How should you treat that expected generosity?

   1. Count on the space appearing
   2. Signal thanks and proceed blindly
   3. Never count on extra space from others
   4. Speed up to claim the kindness
   Show answer

   Never count on extra space from others. Defensive driving budgets zero generosity from strangers. Never think that another driver will give you any extra space, because attention wanders and intentions change without notice. Counting on a courtesy gap leaves your escape route in someone else hands. Thanks and haste both assume a promise nobody actually made. Hold your lane until a gap exists by measurement, not by hope, then move once the space is truly yours.

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

4. 4. From which part of your lane should a right turn begin in Maine?

   1. The rightmost portion of your lane
   2. The leftmost portion, swinging wide
   3. The center, straddling both edges
   4. Any part, if the signal is on
   Show answer

   The rightmost portion of your lane. Turns start from the edge nearest the direction of travel change. Always turn right from the rightmost portion of your lane, keeping the car tight to the curb so others can pass on the left. Swinging wide from the leftmost edge cuts across lanes and invites sideswipes. Center straddling blocks both sides at once. Signal early, settle against the right edge, and carve the turn close to the corner.

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

5. 5. What share of surveyed drivers reported having fallen asleep while driving, in the survey cited for Maine drivers?

   1. About one in twenty
   2. 25 percent of surveyed drivers
   3. About half of surveyed drivers
   4. About 2 percent of surveyed drivers
   Show answer

   25 percent of surveyed drivers. Falling asleep at the wheel is startlingly common in survey data. In a recent survey, 25 percent of surveyed drivers reported having fallen asleep while driving, while one in twenty reported a crash from sleepiness. Grabbing the one in twenty figure answers the crash question rather than the sleep question asked here. Half and two percent drift well away from the reported quarter. Treat personal drowsiness as a mainstream risk, not a rare weakness.

   Study this in the handbook: Vision, fatigue and distractions

6. 6. When you park behind or in front of another vehicle on a Maine road, what minimum space does the manual recommend leaving?

   1. At least four feet
   2. At least six inches
   3. At least one foot
   4. At least two feet
   Show answer

   At least two feet. Maine asks for at least two feet of clearance between your vehicle and the cars parked directly ahead and behind. That gap gives you room to pull out without bumping a bumper and gives the next driver room to maneuver. Six inches or one foot may look adequate when the car is stationary, but it leaves almost no margin for a rolling wheel or a slight misjudgment while entering or leaving. Four feet is roomier than the rule demands, yet the stated minimum is two feet. Cue: check the gap at both ends before you shift into park.

   Study this in the handbook: Intersections, lane changes, expressways and school buses

7. 7. According to the Maine manual, when should you reduce speed on a slippery road?

   1. Only after the storm has completely ended
   2. After the tires have begun to lose their grip
   3. Once the entire road surface is covered
   4. At the first sign of rain, snow, sleet, or ice
   Show answer

   At the first sign of rain, snow, sleet, or ice. Maine says to reduce speed at the first sign of rain, snow, sleet, or ice rather than waiting for the tires to lose grip. A slippery surface lengthens stopping distance and makes steering less responsive, so the adjustment has to come before the hazard is fully developed. Waiting until the tires begin to slip, until the road is covered, or until a storm ends puts the driver behind the curve. The first drops or flakes are the cue to ease off the accelerator and add following space.

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

8. 8. Which behaviors together describe aggressive driving in Maine guidance?

   1. Speeding, tailgating, risky lanes
   2. Polite merging and steady speed
   3. Occasional horn use only
   4. Driving exactly at the limit
   Show answer

   Speeding, tailgating, risky lanes. Aggressive driving is a pattern, not a single bad moment. Aggressive driving includes speeding, following too close, unsafe lane changes, not signaling when you turn, and not obeying traffic controls such as stop signs, yield signs, and traffic signals. Polite merging describes the cooperative opposite this category condemns. A single horn tap or lawful speed alone does not build the pattern. When several of these habits stack together, crash risk multiplies and enforcement attention follows quickly.

   Study this in the handbook: Vision, fatigue and distractions

9. 9. If your vehicle begins to skid, what should you do first to regain steering control?

   1. Lock the brakes until the vehicle stops completely
   2. Turn the wheel sharply away from the intended path
   3. Press the accelerator harder to force the tires forward
   4. Release pressure from the brake or accelerator
   Show answer

   Release pressure from the brake or accelerator. A skid means the tires are no longer gripping the roadway well enough for normal steering. Releasing pressure from the brake or accelerator helps the tires regain steering ability. Locking the brakes or adding power can prolong the loss of traction, while a sharp steering movement may make the vehicle harder to control. Look where you want to go and make smooth corrections after control begins to return. The practical cue is to reduce the force causing the tires to slide before trying to make a large directional change.

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

10. 10. What education and age combination qualifies a person to obtain a Maine driver license?

    1. At least 18 only with motorcycle training
    2. At least 15 without driver education
    3. At least 17 only after a road test waiver
    4. At least 16 with an approved driver education course
    Show answer

    At least 16 with an approved driver education course. Maine allows a person to obtain a driver license at age 16 when the person has completed an approved driver education course. The other choices change the age, remove the required education, or substitute motorcycle training, none of which matches this eligibility statement. Read the requirement as a pair: the age is 16 and the education course is approved. A separate rule allows someone who has not completed the course to qualify at age 18, so do not drop the age condition when comparing the choices.

    Study this in the handbook: Getting a learner's permit and a license

11. 11. Deer collisions in Maine climb in autumn and reach their peak during which month?

    1. June, when moose peak instead
    2. March, as spring begins
    3. November, during breeding season
    4. August, in late summer
    Show answer

    November, during breeding season. Breeding season turns deer reckless and mobile at dusk. Collisions with deer increase in the autumn, peaking in November during breeding season, when bucks chase across roads without regard for headlights. June belongs to moose collision peaks instead, a tempting swap of species calendars. March and August see fewer deer strikes by comparison. Heighten scanning from October onward, especially at dawn and dusk near woods and fields.

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

12. 12. Your brakes have failed and pumping has not restored them. What steps follow while the car still rolls?

    1. Apply the parking brake slowly, downshift, and find a place to stop
    2. Pump the pedal again, stay in gear, and continue driving
    3. Shift to neutral, turn off the engine, and keep moving
    4. Apply the parking brake hard, then shift to neutral
    Show answer

    Apply the parking brake slowly, downshift, and find a place to stop. After pumping fails, apply the parking brake slowly so the rear wheels do not lock, then shift to a lower gear and look for a place to slow to a stop. Be ready to release the brake if the car starts to skid. Applying it hard can lock the rear wheels, and shifting to neutral removes engine braking. Continuing to drive without moving toward a stopping place leaves the brake failure unresolved. The manual also calls for using the horn and lights to warn other drivers while you move toward safety.

    Study this in the handbook: Brake failure, blowouts and other vehicle problems

13. 13. Your turn lies just beyond a side street you must pass first. When should the turn signal go on?

    1. After passing the side street
    2. Well before the side street
    3. At the side street corner
    4. Never, to avoid confusion
    Show answer

    After passing the side street. Early signals near intermediate streets tell the wrong story. When making a turn that is beyond a side street, do not put your turn signal on until after passing the side street, or drivers waiting there will pull out believing you will turn in front of them. Signaling at the corner still broadcasts the false turn to that waiting driver. Silence creates its own confusion once the real turn arrives. Pass the side street, then signal, then turn.

14. 14. When is stopping halfway across an intersection or road a safe choice?

    1. Whenever traffic looks slow
    2. When the light stays green
    3. At any wide intersection
    4. With a median big enough for the car
    Show answer

    With a median big enough for the car. Halfway stops strand cars broadside to crossing traffic unless refuge exists. Stopping halfway across is only safe when there is a median divider large enough to hold your car completely clear of travel lanes. Slow traffic still contains drivers who will not expect a car parked across their path. Width without a protected median offers exposure, not shelter. Either cross fully in one safe gap or wait before entering at all.

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

15. 15. A truck or bus ahead begins backing toward a loading dock. What passing move must you never attempt?

    1. Pass in front of it slowly
    2. Move to the far lane
    3. Wait until backing finishes
    4. Pass behind the backing truck or bus
    Show answer

    Pass behind the backing truck or bus. Backing heavy vehicles sweep wide with enormous blind areas. Never attempt to pass behind a truck or bus that is backing, because the driver cannot see your car in mirrors while the tail swings across your intended path. Waiting costs a minute; darting behind risks being crushed against the dock. Far lanes help only when they pass in front with full visibility. Hold position, let the maneuver finish, and proceed when the driver can see you again.

16. 16. In an emergency stop without anti lock brakes, what braking method is generally best in Maine guidance?

    1. Lock the wheels hard
    2. Pumping the brakes
    3. Coasting without braking
    4. Braking only at the last second
    Show answer

    Pumping the brakes. Locked wheels slide, and sliding wheels cannot steer. Pumping the brakes is generally the best way to stop the car in an emergency, building pressure in rapid cycles while tires keep rolling and steering. Pumping allows the car to stop quickly while allowing you to continue steering around the hazard. Coasting or delaying surrenders the distance braking needs to work. Pump firmly and rhythmically, steer toward the escape gap, and stop with control intact.

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

17. 17. How fast can experienced bicyclists travel on Maine roads, and why does it matter to drivers?

    1. Barely 10 mph at best
    2. Easily over 30 mph
    3. Exactly the speed of traffic
    4. Never more than 15 mph
    Show answer

    Easily over 30 mph. Strong riders close distance with car like speed. Bicyclists may be moving faster than you realize; experienced bicyclists can easily travel over 30 mph, shrinking the gap you counted on when pulling out or turning. Ten or fifteen mile assumptions leave riders in your path mid maneuver. Matching car speed exactly overstates it, yet the warning stands. Judge bicycle approach speed by ground covered, not by vehicle size, and wait longer before crossing their line.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and large vehicles

18. 18. Driving beside a row of parked vehicles, what sudden hazard must you be ready for?

    1. Children crossing the street only at intersections
    2. Children tall enough to be seen over parked cars
    3. Children running out from between parked vehicles
    4. Pedestrians crossing only at lights
    Show answer

    Children running out from between parked vehicles. Parked rows hide small bodies until the last stride. Children can run out from between parked vehicles so be ready to stop quickly, covering the brake whenever small heads might bob between bumpers. Small children are not tall enough to be seen over parked car roofs, so height gives no early warning. Assuming they cross only at intersections or only at lights fails on residential streets where play spills into the road midblock. Slow down, scan gaps between cars for feet and movement, and keep the brake pedal within instant reach.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and large vehicles

19. 19. Which action violates Maine's rule for obeying a traffic control device?

    1. Stopping behind a stop line or crosswalk
    2. Driving through a parking area to avoid the device
    3. Following a police officer's direction
    4. Waiting until a signal permits movement
    Show answer

    Driving through a parking area to avoid the device. Maine prohibits driving through a parking area to avoid obeying a traffic control device. Stopping behind a stop line or crosswalk and waiting for a signal are ordinary compliance steps. A police officer's direction also controls traffic, so it should be followed rather than treated as optional. Use the roadway as directed and do not bypass the device through a nearby lot, even when the lot appears to offer a faster route around the intersection.

    Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals, arrows and lane lights

20. 20. Which setup requires a Maine Class A license?

    1. A single vehicle rated at 26,001 pounds or more
    2. A combination rated at 26,001 pounds or more, with a towed unit over 10,000 pounds
    3. A combination rated below 26,001 pounds, with a towed unit over 10,000 pounds
    4. A single vehicle rated below 26,001 pounds, towing a unit under 10,000 pounds
    Show answer

    A combination rated at 26,001 pounds or more, with a towed unit over 10,000 pounds. A Maine Class A license covers a combination with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more when the vehicle being towed has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross weight above 10,000 pounds. The two thresholds work together. A single vehicle at the heavy threshold points to Class B, while a combination below the Class A threshold does not meet this rule. Read the combination rating and the towed unit's rating separately before choosing the license class.

    Study this in the handbook: Getting a learner's permit and a license