Maine Motorist Handbook

Browse the full Maine Motorist Handbook. Find the rules and regulations tested by the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

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– BEFORE YOU DRIVE................................................................4-1PDF page 2
– READY TO DRIVE....................................................................3-1PDF page 2
– STATE LAWS AND RULES.........................................................2-1PDF page 2
– YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE........................................................1-1PDF page 2
– GENERAL DRIVING..................................................................7-1PDF page 3
– GETTING STARTED..................................................................5-1PDF page 3
– RULES OF THE ROAD...............................................................6-1PDF page 3
– AVOIDING CRASHES...............................................................9-1PDF page 4
– MANAGING TIME AND SPACE...................................................8-1PDF page 4
– SHARING THE ROAD............................................................10-1PDF page 5
– SPECIAL DRIVING CHALLENGES..........................................11-1PDF page 5
Acquiring a Maine Driver's LicensePDF page 6
IntroductionPDF page 6
How Do You Obtain A Permit in Maine?PDF page 7
Who Needs a Maine Driver's License?PDF page 7
How Do You Obtain A Driver's License?PDF page 9
License Classification (Types of Vehicles)PDF page 8
What Will the Tests Include?PDF page 9
Non-Commercial Driver's LicensePDF page 11
Who Must Take the Examinations?PDF page 10
Information about Your Driver's LicensePDF page 11
Secretary of State's AuthorityPDF page 11
License Penalties and SuspensionPDF page 12
Suspension Periods for Designated ConvictionsPDF page 13
Using False Identification to Obtain LiquorPDF page 13
Continuing Driver EducationPDF page 14
Eluding a Police OfficerPDF page 14
Leaving the Scene of an AccidentPDF page 14
Mandatory SuspensionsPDF page 15
Other Suspensions at Discretion of the Secretary of StatePDF page 15
Titling Your Motor VehiclePDF page 18
Registering Your VehiclePDF page 19
Insuring Your Motor VehiclePDF page 19
Inspecting Your Motor VehiclePDF page 20
Maintaining Your Motor VehiclePDF page 21
Vehicle MaintenancePDF page 22
Excessive Sound System NoisePDF page 22
FatiguePDF page 23
Vision and HearingPDF page 23
Give It a Rest for SafetyPDF page 24
How Much Sleep Does Your Body Really Need?PDF page 24
Wake Up to the FactsPDF page 24
You Can't Fight Off the SandmanPDF page 24
Driver DistractionsPDF page 26
The Danger Signs of DrowsinessPDF page 25
Aggressive DrivingPDF page 27
Alcohol and Other DrugsPDF page 28
Keeping Fit to DrivePDF page 27
Using a Cellular Telephone in Your VehiclePDF page 27
Effect of Alcohol and other Impairing DrugsPDF page 28
How Drinking Impairs DrivingPDF page 30
GOOD DRIVERS DON'T DRINK!PDF page 30
Immediate Suspension by Secretary of StatePDF page 30
Myths Concerning AlcoholPDF page 30
Alcohol Level TestingPDF page 31
Breath Alcohol ConcentrationPDF page 31
Alcohol LevelPDF page 32
Conditional LicensesPDF page 32
Other Impairing Drugs and DrivingPDF page 33
Over-the-Counter DrugsPDF page 33
Prescription DrugsPDF page 33
Combining Alcohol and Other DrugsPDF page 34
Drivers Involved in Fatal AccidentsPDF page 34
Illegal DrugsPDF page 34
Vehicle SeizurePDF page 34
Open Container LawPDF page 35
Special Notice for Teenagers and Young AdultsPDF page 36
EmotionsPDF page 36
IN ADDITIONPDF page 36
Your HealthPDF page 37
Adjusting Your MirrorsPDF page 39
Adjusting Your SeatPDF page 39
Using Safety BeltsPDF page 41
Air BagsPDF page 41
Keeping Children SafePDF page 43
States?PDF page 43
Basic Operating Procedures: Manual TransmissionPDF page 45
Starting the EnginePDF page 44
DownshiftingPDF page 45
Signaling When You Slow Down or Stop UnexpectedlyPDF page 45
BackingPDF page 46
Hand PositionPDF page 46
ConservationPDF page 47
Operating a Motor VehiclePDF page 48
Yielding Right-Of-WayPDF page 49
Lighted ArrowsPDF page 50
Traffic ControlsPDF page 50
Traffic SignalsPDF page 50
Traffic SignsPDF page 51
Bicycle Crossing Slippery When WetPDF page 52
DetourPDF page 52
Left Turn Only Straight or Turn RightPDF page 54
Yellow Lane MarkingsPDF page 54
Use of LanesPDF page 56
Lane RestrictionsPDF page 56
Right TurnsPDF page 57
CrosswalksPDF page 58
Crosswalks and Stop LinesPDF page 58
Sign and Road MarkingsPDF page 58
Stop LinesPDF page 58
Reversible LanesPDF page 59
Shared Center Left Turn LanePDF page 59
IntersectionsPDF page 62
TurningPDF page 61
Traffic Circles and RoundaboutsPDF page 62
Changing LanesPDF page 64
Entering a Multi-lane HighwayPDF page 65
Exiting a Multi-lane HighwayPDF page 65
Expressway HypnosisPDF page 66
Space to PassPDF page 68
Rules for School BusesPDF page 68
Multi-lane Divided HighwayPDF page 69
ParkingPDF page 70
Perpendicular and Angle ParkingPDF page 70
Parallel Parking/Offset BackingPDF page 72
Starting from a Parking PlacePDF page 72
Turning AroundPDF page 73
Having Clear Windows and MirrorsPDF page 75
Managing Time and SpacePDF page 75
Wearing GlassesPDF page 75
Taking in the Whole Scene/Look to the sidesPDF page 76
Railroad CrossingsPDF page 77
Roadside AreasPDF page 77
Allowing a Space Cushion for Problem DriversPDF page 79
When You Slow Down SuddenlyPDF page 78
When You Are Going Up a Long or Steep HillPDF page 79
Adjusting for Road ConditionsPDF page 80
Speed LimitsPDF page 81
Stopping DistancePDF page 81
Approximate Vehicle LengthsPDF page 83
STOPPING DISTANCE AT DIFFERENT SPEEDSPDF page 82
What is the Road Surface Like?PDF page 82
How Fast Is Traffic Moving?PDF page 84
How Much Traffic is there?PDF page 83
Warning SignsPDF page 84
Maintaining a Safe CushionPDF page 85
Space in FrontPDF page 86
Space to the SidePDF page 87
Sharing Space with Other Road UsersPDF page 88
Space Behind Affects Your Following DistancePDF page 88
Taking Dangers One at a TimePDF page 88
CommunicatingPDF page 90
Space to Cross or EnterPDF page 89
Space to MergePDF page 89
Seeing Well at NightPDF page 91
SignalPDF page 91
Signaling Change of DirectionPDF page 91
Using Emergency SignalsPDF page 92
Keeping Your Car Where It Can Be SeenPDF page 93
BrakingPDF page 94
Emergencies and Avoiding CrashesPDF page 94
SteeringPDF page 94
Protecting Yourself in CollisionsPDF page 95
Speeding UpPDF page 95
AccidentsPDF page 96
Emergency First AidPDF page 97
SkidsPDF page 97
Brake FailurePDF page 98
Tire BlowoutPDF page 98
Vehicle ProblemsPDF page 98
BreakdownsPDF page 100
Stuck Gas PedalPDF page 99
BicyclesPDF page 103
PedestriansPDF page 101
Bicycle OperationPDF page 104
Large VehiclesPDF page 106
Motorcycles or MopedsPDF page 105
The No-ZonePDF page 107
Turning and Oncoming Large VehiclesPDF page 107
Maintaining SpacePDF page 108
Emergency VehiclesPDF page 109
PassingPDF page 109
Police/Traffic StopsPDF page 109
Slow Moving VehiclesPDF page 111
Night DrivingPDF page 112
Work ZonesPDF page 114
Rural RoadsPDF page 114
Winter DrivingPDF page 117
Flooded RoadwaysPDF page 117
RainPDF page 117
From Dusk to DawnPDF page 118
May and June are Peak Moose Collision Months!PDF page 118
Wildlife SafetyPDF page 118
Carrying Passengers and FreightPDF page 120
The Moose StandoffPDF page 119
Warning Signs Mean BusinessPDF page 119
What if a Crash is Unavoidable?PDF page 119
Test Your KnowledgePDF page 121
Typical Reasons for Road Test RefusalsPDF page 122
Residency/Lawful Presence RequirementsPDF page 124
Road Test InformationPDF page 123
B. Passport or Passport Card from the United StatesPDF page 126