ME Permit Practice Test 14

All 20 questions in test 14

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. Passing on a two lane road requires entering which lane, and why does that raise the stakes?

   1. Your own lane, staying fully right
   2. A lane belonging to oncoming cars
   3. A paved shoulder lane
   4. A turning lane for both ways
   Show answer

   A lane belonging to oncoming cars. Two lane passing borrows the opposing direction road. Whenever you pass another car on a two-lane road you must enter a lane that belongs to oncoming cars, so every second there counts against closing headlights. Shoulders and turn lanes offer illegal shortcuts with worse surprises. Judging gaps generously matters more here than anywhere else in driving. Commit only with abundant space, pass briskly, and return before the oncoming picture tightens.

   Study this in the handbook: Passing and no passing zones

2. 2. When turning off a Maine road into a driveway, what speed does the manual warn against dropping below?

   1. Below 15 to 20 miles per hour
   2. Below the posted speed limit
   3. Below 25 miles per hour
   4. Below 5 to 10 miles per hour
   Show answer

   Below 5 to 10 miles per hour. When leaving a through road for a driveway or side street, the manual warns against slowing too early or dropping below about 5 to 10 miles per hour. A vehicle that nearly stops in the travel lane invites a rear end crash from someone who expected it to keep moving. Fifteen to 20 miles per hour is faster than the warning covers, and 25 is faster still. The posted limit is irrelevant here because the issue is the speed of the turn, not the road's maximum. Cue: signal early, brake smoothly, and keep enough momentum to clear the lane.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and school zones

3. 3. A motorcycle ahead flashes a turn signal that keeps blinking straight through an intersection. What should you conclude?

   1. The motorcycle is certainly turning
   2. Motorcycles always signal late
   3. Do not trust it, may be forgotten
   4. Pass quickly before it turns
   Show answer

   Do not trust it, may be forgotten. Motorcycle blinkers lack the self canceling habits of car signals. Do not believe a motorcycle is turning when it has a turn signal flashing, because turn signals on a motorcycle may not self-cancel so the rider may have forgotten the signal is on. Passing quickly on a guessed turn gambles with a bike continuing straight into your path. Treat the blink as a question, watch wheels and rider posture, and yield until the motorcycle commits unmistakably.

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

4. 4. After parallel parking next to a curb in Maine, what is the greatest distance your vehicle may be from the curb?

   1. Six inches
   2. 2 feet
   3. 18 inches
   4. 3 feet
   Show answer

   18 inches. When a curb borders the parking space, Maine says to park as close to it as you can, with 18 inches as the outer limit. The suggested finished position is about six inches from the curb, so the 18 inch figure is a ceiling rather than a target. Sitting two or three feet out leaves the car partly in the travel lane, where a passing mirror or bicycle can strike it. The six inch choice describes the preferred result, not the maximum allowed. Cue: after parallel parking, glance at the curb and confirm the gap is under a foot and a half.

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

5. 5. You must stop with car trouble on a winding road. Which stopping place should you avoid?

   1. Just over a hill or around a curve
   2. A wide straight shoulder
   3. A parking lot entrance
   4. A straight stretch with clear view
   Show answer

   Just over a hill or around a curve. Disabled cars need to be seen early by fast approaching drivers. Try not to stop just over a hill or around a curve, where crests and bends hide your vehicle until braking distances shrink to nothing. Straight shoulders and lot entrances advertise your presence from far away. A clear view stretch gives followers time to change lanes calmly. Roll a few extra yards to visibility whenever the car still moves under its own power.

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

6. 6. When must a driver signal with blinkers or brake lights, according to Maine guidance?

   1. Only before left turns
   2. Only when others are visible
   3. Only on highways
   4. Always before turning or slowing down
   Show answer

   Always before turning or slowing down. Signals precede every change in speed or direction. Signal Always signal before you turn or slow down, because the drivers around you plan their own moves around your announced intentions. Left only habits leave right turns and braking as nasty surprises. Empty looking roads hide vehicles in blind spots that still deserve warning. Make signaling automatic, stalk or pedal, before the car changes anything it is doing.

7. 7. How much flood water will carry away most vehicles on a flooded roadway?

   1. Six inches of water
   2. One foot of water
   3. Eighteen inches of water
   4. Two feet of water
   Show answer

   Two feet of water. Maine warns that flooded roadways are dangerous even when the water does not look deep. As little as six inches can float some small cars, while two feet of water will carry away most vehicles. The smaller figure is an early warning, not the threshold for most vehicles. Do not test a flooded roadway by driving into it, because moving water can take a vehicle off the road and trap its occupants.

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

8. 8. What seated posture should a driver take behind the wheel before driving?

   1. Straight up, feet planted
   2. Lean back with feet dangling
   3. Slouch low under the wheel
   4. Sit close with your chest near the steering wheel
   Show answer

   Straight up, feet planted. The manual calls for an upright position with the back against the seat and feet on the floor. Dangling feet make pedal control harder, while slouching low changes the driver's position beneath the wheel and restraints. Sitting close with the chest near the steering wheel does not follow the instruction to sit against the seat with enough space for normal control. An upright position also lets the driver reach the pedals and steering wheel while adjusting mirrors from the proper seated position.

   Study this in the handbook: Seat position, seat belts and child safety

9. 9. More than three people squeeze into the front seat and block your view and controls. What does Maine law say?

   1. Barred when view suffers
   2. Allowed if all wear belts
   3. Allowed at low speed
   4. Allowed with a spotter
   Show answer

   Barred when view suffers. Crowded front seats steal the two things driving requires most. You must not drive a vehicle if it is so loaded, or when there are more than 3 persons in the front seat so that your view is obstructed to the front or to the sides, or so that the load interferes with your use of the vehicle controls. Belts cannot restore a blocked windshield or a pinned steering arm. Move passengers rearward or make a second trip; the road demands your eyes and hands uncommitted.

   Study this in the handbook: Moose and deer

10. 10. You borrow a friend's car in Maine. What insurance rule applies to the vehicle you operate?

    1. Only the vehicle owner must maintain liability insurance
    2. A borrowed vehicle needs insurance only when registered to you
    3. A borrowed vehicle may be driven without insurance for a short trip
    4. Any vehicle you operate must be insured even if you are not its owner
    Show answer

    Any vehicle you operate must be insured even if you are not its owner. Maine requires every owner and operator to maintain motor vehicle liability insurance. The requirement follows the vehicle being operated, so borrowing someone else's car does not create an exception. The owner is not the only person covered by the duty, and a short trip does not make an uninsured vehicle lawful. Before driving a borrowed car, verify that it has valid liability coverage and carry evidence of that insurance in the vehicle.

    Study this in the handbook: Title, registration, insurance and inspection

11. 11. Someone removes or defaces a traffic sign on a Maine road. How does the law treat that act?

    1. It is a harmless prank if replaced later
    2. It requires only a small fee
    3. It is allowed on private roads only
    4. It is unlawful to remove or deface traffic signs
    Show answer

    It is unlawful to remove or deface traffic signs. Signs guide strangers safely through unfamiliar roads, so tampering endangers everyone. It is unlawful to remove or deface traffic signs, whether the motive is souvenir hunting, pranks, or protest. Later replacement cannot undo crashes caused while guidance stood missing. Private road claims do not license destroying public safety devices. Leave every sign standing and report damaged ones so crews can restore the warning quickly.

    Study this in the handbook: Stop, yield, regulatory and guide signs

12. 12. Your stop is complete and you are about to move again. What final check comes before rolling?

    1. Check the radio volume
    2. Check for traffic and bicyclists
    3. Assume the first scan still holds
    4. Watch only the car ahead
    Show answer

    Check for traffic and bicyclists. The scene at a stop changes while a foot moves to the accelerator. Before moving after a stop, check for traffic and bicyclists, since riders roll up quickly and quietly into blind areas beside the car. The first scan ages within seconds as new vehicles approach from blocks away. Radio comfort can wait until the car is rolling safely. Fresh eyes on every side, then move with the updated picture.

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

13. 13. While driving beside another vehicle on a highway, which position should you avoid?

    1. Moving ahead to complete the pass.
    2. Cruising in its blind spot.
    3. Checking mirrors before returning.
    4. Signaling before changing lanes.
    Show answer

    Cruising in its blind spot.. The blind spot beside a vehicle is not a safe place to continue traveling. Maine says never to cruise along in the blind spot of the vehicle next to you because that driver may not see your car before changing lanes. Moving ahead completes a pass rather than leaving your car hidden beside the other vehicle. Checking mirrors and signaling before returning to a lane are parts of a careful pass, not the hazard identified by this question.

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

14. 14. During ordinary expressway driving in Maine, which lane should you occupy when not passing?

    1. The left hand lane
    2. The center lane at all times
    3. The right hand lane
    4. Whichever lane feels fastest
    Show answer

    The right hand lane. Expressway order keeps speed differences predictable for everyone. You should always be in the right-hand lane unless you are passing, moving left only to overtake and returning once clear. Camping in the left lane forces faster traffic to weave around on both sides. Center only habits ignore roads with two lanes or four. Cruise right, pass left, settle right again, and the whole river of traffic flows smoother.

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

15. 15. How often does the Maine handbook suggest changing the oil?

    1. Every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, with periodic tune ups
    2. Every 500 miles
    3. Once a year regardless of miles
    4. Only when the warning light comes on
    Show answer

    Every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, with periodic tune ups. Maintaining your vehicle with frequent oil changes, every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, and periodic engine tune ups prevents many common vehicle problems and maximizes performance. The handbook also lists items to check on a regular basis: oil level, engine coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid level, and fan belt tightness and wear. Waiting for a warning light or changing oil on an arbitrary yearly schedule does not match the mileage guidance the handbook gives.

    Study this in the handbook: Title, registration, insurance and inspection

16. 16. Your car begins skidding on ice. What steering action starts recovery?

    1. Turn away from where you want to go
    2. Steer where you want to go
    3. Hold the wheel perfectly still
    4. Brake hard while steering
    Show answer

    Steer where you want to go. Skid recovery points the front wheels toward the destination. Turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the car to go as this will line the front of the car up with the back, while staying off the brake so wheels keep rolling. Steering opposite drags the nose further from the exit. Frozen hands surrender the one input that still works. Look at the escape, steer toward it, and feel the tires bite again.

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

17. 17. Your traffic light turns green while a pedestrian is still crossing in front of you. What is required?

    1. Proceed, green ends pedestrian rights
    2. Yield to the pedestrian despite the green
    3. Honk until the walker hurries
    4. Creep forward to claim space
    Show answer

    Yield to the pedestrian despite the green. Green lights never cancel a walker already in your path. Yield to all pedestrians even if the traffic light is green, waiting until the crossing clears before rolling forward. Honking pressures elderly and young walkers into dangerous haste. Creeping claims space with intimidation rather than right. Patience at one light cycle costs little; a bumper against a pedestrian costs everything. Let the crossing empty, then proceed with a fresh scan.

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

18. 18. Idling vehicles nationwide waste about how much fuel each year, by the estimate Maine cites?

    1. Six million gallons
    2. Six thousand gallons
    3. About 6 billion gallons
    4. Idling wastes no fuel
    Show answer

    About 6 billion gallons. Small individual idles merge into a national river of waste. Idling wastes an estimated 6 billion gallons of fuel each year, burned by vehicles going nowhere in driveways, queues, and parking lots across the country. Million and thousand figures shrink that river to a stream by orders of magnitude. Zero waste claims deny what every fuel gauge shows during long waits. Shut the engine during stops over a minute and reclaim your share of those billions.

19. 19. On which side of the road does Maine place the yellow pennant-shaped warning sign?

    1. On the right side of the road
    2. Over the center of the roadway
    3. On the left side of the road
    4. Only in the median of a divided highway
    Show answer

    On the left side of the road. Maine places the yellow pennant NO PASSING ZONE sign on the left side of the road, and a driver may not pass where it appears. Its location is an important recognition cue because it differs from the rectangular white DO NOT PASS sign, which appears on the right of the road. The rule is not limited to divided highways. When the pennant is visible, complete any lawful pass before reaching the beginning of the no passing zone, as Maine law requires, and do not start another pass there.

    Study this in the handbook: Passing and no passing zones

20. 20. On snow or ice, how much stopping distance does a car need compared with dry pavement?

    1. Three to twelve times farther
    2. The same distance as dry roads
    3. Half as much distance
    4. Twice as much at most
    Show answer

    Three to twelve times farther. Frozen surfaces stretch stopping into a different sport entirely. On snow or ice it takes three to twelve times as much distance to stop your car as it does on dry pavement, varying with temperature, tires, and surface polish. Doubling the dry gap still leaves a driver ten lengths short on glare ice. Half distance thinking belongs to a physics that does not exist. Multiply every dry habit generously and keep speeds where the multiplied stop still fits ahead.

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