ME Permit Practice Test 7

All 20 questions in test 7

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. Red lights are flashing at a Maine railroad crossing. How far from the crossing must you stop?

   1. At least 5 feet
   2. At least 10 feet
   3. At least 15 feet
   4. At least 50 feet
   Show answer

   At least 15 feet. When railroad crossing lights are flashing, stop at least 15 feet from the crossing and wait until they go out or the way is clear in both directions. Five and 10 feet are closer than the handbook allows. Fifty feet is farther than required and is not the stated minimum. Never drive around a crossing gate or barrier. Wait until the lights go out or until you can see that the way is clear in both directions.

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

2. 2. In a Maine school zone, how does the handbook define school opening and closing hours for the 15 mph limit?

   1. One hour before the school day starts to one hour after it ends
   2. Only while a crossing guard is present
   3. The whole school day, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
   4. Half an hour before the school day starts to half an hour after it ends
   Show answer

   Half an hour before the school day starts to half an hour after it ends. A five sided school sign means you must slow to 15 mph during recess, when children are going to or leaving school, and during opening or closing hours, which run from half an hour before the start of the school day to half an hour after the end. One hour is twice the stated window. A crossing guard is not required for the limit to apply, and the handbook sets no fixed clock hours. Exceeding the posted limit in a school zone brings twice the usual fine.

   Study this in the handbook: Speed limits and school zones

3. 3. When must drivers in Maine report a crash to the police or local sheriff?

   1. Only when property damage is over $5,000
   2. When property damage is $500 or more
   3. When anyone is injured or property damage is $2,000 or more
   4. Only when a vehicle has to be towed
   Show answer

   When anyone is injured or property damage is $2,000 or more. Maine requires drivers to report a crash to the police or local sheriff when anyone is injured or property damage reaches $2,000 or more. Five thousand dollars is too high and $500 too low. Towing is not the test. Failing to report can lead to criminal charges and a license suspension. The separate $1,000 figure in the handbook concerns uninsured motorists who cause injury or damage, not the crash reporting threshold.

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

4. 4. A Maine driver with a conditional license after an OUI is found driving with a small amount of alcohol, below 0.08. What happens?

   1. Nothing, because the level is below 0.08
   2. A one year suspension without a preliminary hearing
   3. A warning letter only
   4. A 30 day suspension after a court hearing
   Show answer

   A one year suspension without a preliminary hearing. The reinstated license after an OUI is conditioned on driving with no alcohol at all. A conditional licensee caught operating with any amount of alcohol loses the license for one year, without a preliminary hearing. The 0.08 adult limit does not protect this driver. A warning letter or a 30 day suspension understates the penalty. Operating at 0.08 or more brings the longer suspension periods used for second or third OUI convictions.

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

5. 5. At a single-lane rural bridge, which driver has the right of way?

   1. The driver with the larger vehicle
   2. The driver traveling downhill
   3. The first driver to reach the bridge
   4. The driver who sounds the horn first
   Show answer

   The first driver to reach the bridge. On a single-lane bridge, the first driver to reach the bridge has the right of way. Because opposing vehicles cannot pass comfortably on the narrow structure, approaching drivers should notice who arrived first and take turns rather than forcing a meeting on the bridge. A larger vehicle, downhill direction, or horn blast does not replace the manual’s stated order. Reduce speed as the bridge approaches, check for traffic, and be ready to wait when another vehicle has already arrived.

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

6. 6. What does an orange diamond or rectangular work zone sign warn drivers about?

   1. A recreational area with no traffic changes
   2. A hospital or emergency room entrance
   3. Road work and people working on or near the road
   4. A permanent route number and county boundary
   Show answer

   Road work and people working on or near the road. Orange work zone signs identify road construction or maintenance activity and warn that workers may be close to moving traffic. They can accompany messages about reduced speed, detours, machinery, or surface changes. The color does not identify hospitals, recreation sites, or route numbers. Once the warning appears, reduce speed, watch for cones and barriers, and be prepared to stop or follow a flagger. Work zones can remain hazardous even when no workers are immediately visible.

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

7. 7. What does a red and white inverted triangle sign identify?

   1. A railroad crossbuck
   2. A yield sign
   3. A school-zone warning
   4. A route-number marker
   Show answer

   A yield sign. A yield sign has a red and white inverted-triangle design, although some older signs may use yellow and black. Its shape identifies the sign before the driver reads the word. The driver must still slow, check the road being entered or crossed, and give priority to traffic or pedestrians who have the right-of-way. A yield sign is not a command to stop for a fixed period, and it does not grant priority to the entering vehicle. Recognize the triangle, then make the safe decision from the traffic gap.

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

8. 8. What must a driver do at a steady red traffic light before entering the intersection?

   1. Stop only when a pedestrian is present
   2. Slow down and enter if no cross traffic is visible
   3. Stop before the intersection and wait behind the stop line or crosswalk until green
   4. Use the shoulder to bypass the signal
   Show answer

   Stop before the intersection and wait behind the stop line or crosswalk until green. A steady red traffic light means stop. Maine requires the driver to stop before entering the intersection and wait behind any stop line or crosswalk until the light turns green. An empty view does not convert red into a yield, and a pedestrian is not required to be present before the stop applies. The shoulder cannot be used to evade a traffic control. A permitted right turn is a separate movement that still requires a stop and yielding, unless posted otherwise. See the red display, stop at the marked position, check the path, and wait for the authorized signal or movement.

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

9. 9. Before you pull out, the brake warning light on your dashboard is lit. What does the Maine manual say this means?

   1. Your brakes need service soon, so keep trips short
   2. Your brakes are overheating, so pump them as you drive
   3. Your brake pads are worn, so drive slowly to a shop
   4. Your brakes are not working, so do not drive
   Show answer

   Your brakes are not working, so do not drive. Maine says a brake warning light tells you that your brakes are not working, and you should not drive if you see this warning light. It is not a reminder for future service, and creeping to a shop is still driving without working brakes. Pumping the brake pedal rapidly and hard is the handbook's first step when brakes fail while you are already moving, not a way to keep using a car whose warning light is on. The handbook's rule is simple: do not drive without brakes. Leave the car parked and get help.

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

10. 10. What headlights should a Maine driver use in fog, rain, or snow?

    1. No lights if the road is familiar
    2. High beams only
    3. Parking lights without headlights
    4. Low beams
    Show answer

    Low beams. Maine recommends low beams in fog, rain, or snow because high beams can reflect from the moisture and create glare. Parking lights alone do not provide the required forward illumination, and familiarity with the road does not improve visibility. Reduce speed as well, since the usable sight distance may be short. If conditions become so heavy that you cannot see properly even when driving slowly, pull off the road and wait until the conditions improve.

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

11. 11. This sign warns of a sharp turn ahead. Why does the Maine manual warn against braking hard once you are in the turn?

    
    1. It can make the vehicle skid
    2. It can overheat the brakes and fade them
    3. It shifts steering control to the rear tires
    4. It is only a risk for trucks and buses
    Show answer

    It can make the vehicle skid. Maine warns that hard braking in a curve can cause a skid, because about two tons of vehicle is moving in a straight line with only the front tires to control the turn. If the curve is too sharp or you are going too fast, the tires can lose their grip. Brake fade is not the reason the handbook gives, and it says the front tires, not the rear ones, control the turn. The risk applies to ordinary cars, not only large vehicles. Do your braking before the turn, then drive through it at a steady speed.

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

12. 12. What should a driver watch for at night because a moose's eyes may not reflect headlights like a deer's eyes?

    1. A reflective orange triangle
    2. A pair of bright eye reflections
    3. A flashing red light on its body
    4. The moose's dark silhouette
    Show answer

    The moose's dark silhouette. Because moose are taller, their eyes usually do not reflect headlight beams in the same way deer eyes do. The manual tells drivers to watch for the moose's silhouette instead. Bright eye reflections are the cue associated with deer, while an orange triangle identifies a slow moving vehicle, not wildlife. At night, scan beyond the immediate lane and keep speed appropriate for visibility so there is time to respond to a dark shape near the road.

    Study this in the handbook: Moose and deer

13. 13. A steady red X is lit over a highway lane. What does it mean?

    1. Use the lane only for left turns
    2. Do not drive in this lane
    3. Clear the lane because the signal is about to change
    4. You may use the lane with caution
    Show answer

    Do not drive in this lane. Maine's lane use control lights work like this: a steady red X means do not drive in that lane. A steady yellow X means clear the lane because the signal is about to change to red, a flashing yellow X limits the lane to left turns, and a green arrow means you may use the lane. Mixing up the steady yellow and steady red X is the common error. On reversible lanes, check the overhead signals before entering, since a lane may carry traffic in one direction at some times and the opposite direction at others.

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

14. 14. What is the average perception time for an alert driver, according to the Maine manual?

    1. Three quarters to one second
    2. Two to three seconds
    3. Four to five seconds
    4. One tenth of a second
    Show answer

    Three quarters to one second. The manual places an alert driver's average perception time at three quarters to one second. Perception time is the interval needed to recognize that a stop is necessary, before physical braking begins. The longer ranges overstate the stated average, while one tenth of a second understates the time available in real driving. This interval is one part of total stopping distance, which also includes reaction and braking distance. Keep extra space when speed, visibility, or attention is less favorable than the ideal conditions used for the estimate.

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

15. 15. During a police traffic stop at night, what lighting step helps the officer see inside the vehicle?

    1. Turn on the vehicle's inside lights
    2. Turn off every light, including the headlights
    3. Flash high beams repeatedly at the officer
    4. Use only the hazard lights and keep the cabin dark
    Show answer

    Turn on the vehicle's inside lights. During a nighttime traffic stop, the manual directs the driver to turn on the inside lights so the officer can see inside the vehicle. Keeping the cabin dark makes the interaction harder to observe, and flashing high beams is not a listed step. Hazard lights may communicate a stopped vehicle but do not illuminate the passenger compartment. Move to a safe spot, turn off the engine, keep hands visible, and use the interior light as part of a calm, predictable stop procedure.

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

16. 16. You are driving on a street marked with this sign and plan to turn left. Where must you position your vehicle before the turn?

    
    1. In the center of the street, straddling the lane line
    2. Close to the left curb or left edge of the roadway
    3. Close to the right curb, then swing left
    4. In whichever lane has the least traffic
    Show answer

    Close to the left curb or left edge of the roadway. When making a left turn from a one-way street, Maine says you must set up close to the left curb or edge of the roadway. Starting from the right side and swinging across cuts through every lane of a one-way street. The general rule is to start from the lane closest to where you want to go and turn into the leftmost lane going your way. If you need a different lane afterward, change lanes only after the turn is finished and traffic is clear.

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

17. 17. How long must a person under 21 hold a Maine learner's permit before applying for a road test?

    1. 6 months from the permit's issue date
    2. 30 days from the permit's issue date
    3. 12 months after completing the road test
    4. Until age 21 regardless of issue date
    Show answer

    6 months from the permit's issue date. Before applying for a road test, a person under 21 must have held the learner's permit for six months from its issue date. That waiting period is separate from the practice driving total, a minimum of 70 hours including 10 hours of night driving with a qualified licensed driver. Thirty days is far too short, and the clock does not run from a road test or wait until age 21. The useful sequence is permit issuance, six months of holding it, supervised practice, and then the road test application. Check the date on the permit rather than guessing from the driver's birthday.

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

18. 18. What examination must an applicant pass to obtain a Maine learner's permit?

    1. A commercial vehicle road test
    2. A driver knowledge written examination
    3. A motorcycle skills test
    4. A vision screening only
    Show answer

    A driver knowledge written examination. A Maine learner's permit applicant must pass the driver knowledge written examination. The age requirement remains separate, because a person must also be at least 15, but age alone does not complete the permit process. A road test is a later licensing step, not the examination named here. The written test checks whether the applicant understands the rules before supervised driving begins. Keep the sequence in mind: meet the age threshold, pass the knowledge exam, then operate only with the required licensed supervisor.

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

19. 19. What can happen to a Maine driver's license after refusing an alcohol test?

    1. The Secretary of State can impose an administrative suspension of up to 6 years
    2. The license is suspended for exactly 30 days
    3. The refusal has no licensing consequence without a conviction
    4. The driver receives only a warning and may keep driving
    Show answer

    The Secretary of State can impose an administrative suspension of up to 6 years. Refusing an alcohol test can trigger an immediate administrative suspension by the Secretary of State for up to six years. The suspension does not require a prior court action, so the statement that nothing happens without a conviction misses the separate administrative process. Thirty days is not the stated maximum, and a warning does not describe the licensing consequence. The study cue is implied consent: operating in Maine means accepting the test process, with refusal creating its own suspension exposure.

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

20. 20. How far away must a Maine driver stop for a person in the roadway using a white cane or guide dog?

    1. At least 50 feet
    2. At least 3 feet
    3. At least 20 feet
    4. At least 10 feet
    Show answer

    At least 10 feet. A driver who sees a person in the roadway using a white cane or guide dog must stop at least 10 feet away and wait until that person is out of danger. The smaller distances do not provide the separation specified by the manual, and 50 feet is not the stated minimum. The pedestrian always has the right-of-way, so the driver should not roll forward or rely on a horn to clear the path. Use the visual cue of the cane or guide dog, stop with space, and remain stopped until the visually impaired person has safely passed.

    Study this in the handbook: Pedestrians, school children and blind pedestrians