Maine permit test: sharing the road
School buses, pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, large vehicles and No-Zones, emergency vehicles, Move Over, police stops and slow vehicles. 24 questions, 10 at a time, starting with ones you haven't seen.
Rules to remember10 key sharing the road rulesShow the rules
- Maine law requires you to complete a pass before you reach the beginning of a no passing zone. (p. 68, Maine Driver License Manual (unknown) (opens the handbook))
- Maine law requires at least three feet between the right side of your vehicle and a bicycle you are passing. (p. 68, Maine Driver License Manual (unknown) (opens the handbook))
- Always yield to pedestrians, even when they are not in a crosswalk. (p. 101, Maine Driver License Manual (unknown) (opens the handbook))
- Cars stay out of bike lanes. (p. 102, Maine Driver License Manual (unknown) (opens the handbook))
- All bicycle riders under 16 must wear helmets when riding on public ways. (p. 104, Maine Driver License Manual (unknown) (opens the handbook))
- Motorcycle turn signals may not cancel by themselves, so the rider may not be turning. (p. 105, Maine Driver License Manual (unknown) (opens the handbook))
- Stay at least 4 seconds behind a motorcycle, and more when the road is wet. (p. 105, Maine Driver License Manual (unknown) (opens the handbook))
- Large vehicles have rear blind spots up to 200 feet long. (p. 107, Maine Driver License Manual (unknown) (opens the handbook))
- A loaded truck at 55 mph needs at least 335 feet to stop, more than one and a half times what a car needs. (p. 107, Maine Driver License Manual (unknown) (opens the handbook))
- Under the move-over law, slow down and yield. (p. 110, Maine Driver License Manual (unknown) (opens the handbook))
Taken from the explanations to checked practice questions; page numbers link to the official handbook.
Sample sharing the road questions
1.A truck ahead signals a right turn but first swings out to the left. What should you do?
- APass it on the left
- BWait until it finishes the turn
- CHonk to warn the driver
- DPass it on the right
Show the answer
✓ B. Wait until it finishes the turn
Large vehicles may swing left to clear a curb on a right turn. Don't drive into the turning path; wait until the truck has finished its turn.
2.On an undivided two-lane road, a school bus stopped in the other lane has its red lights flashing. What must you do?
- AHonk and continue slowly
- BKeep going, since it faces the other way
- CStop and wait until it moves or the driver signals
- DSlow down and pass with care
Show the answer
✓ C. Stop and wait until it moves or the driver signals
On an undivided road, drivers coming from either direction must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights and wait until it moves or the driver signals.
3.A pedestrian is crossing in the middle of the block, not in a crosswalk. What should you do?
- AKeep going; you have the right-of-way
- BHonk; they must use a crosswalk
- CYield to the pedestrian
- DDrive around them quickly
Show the answer
✓ C. Yield to the pedestrian
Always yield to pedestrians, even when they are not in a crosswalk.
4.How close may you follow a fire truck that is responding to an alarm?
- AAs close as traffic allows
- BNo closer than 200 feet
- CNo closer than 100 feet
- DNo closer than 500 feet
Show the answer
✓ D. No closer than 500 feet
It is unlawful to follow within 500 feet of a fire truck responding to a fire alarm.