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Maine: Cheat Sheet

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Road signs

  • The black and white shield with a number is labeled U.S. Route.
  • The regulatory DO NOT PASS sign is a rectangular white sign that appears on the right of the road.
  • The warning sign with a black plus symbol is labeled Intersection Ahead.
  • Speed limit signs indicate the legal speed if conditions are ideal.
  • The manual says bad curves are usually posted with yellow diamond shaped signs.
  • Cars in the center lane must go straight, according to the lane signs.
  • Warning signs are almost always yellow and shaped like a diamond.

Sign shapes and colors

  • Work zone signs are orange with black letters or symbols.
  • Guide signs are square or rectangular.
  • A yield sign is a red and white down-pointing triangle with red letters.
  • Warning signs are usually diamond shaped.
  • Warning signs are usually yellow with black lettering or symbols.

Traffic signals

  • When there is more than one traffic light, you obey the one that is directly over your lane.
  • Some travel lanes are designed to carry traffic in one direction at certain times and in the opposite direction at other times.
  • A steady red "X" on a lane use control light means do not drive in that lane.
  • Police have authority to direct all traffic and pedestrians, so you must do as they direct.
  • A green arrow over a lane tells you that you may use that lane.
  • If traffic lights are horizontal, the red light is on the left, the yellow light is in the middle and the green light is on the right.

Right-of-way and turning

  • You signal a right turn before driving one car length past the driveway or alley.
  • Among the rules for traffic circles, the manual says to slow down to enter the circle.
  • The manual says to change lanes one at a time; stopping to wait until all lanes are clear ties up traffic and may cause a collision.
  • The right lane is used by drivers who go slower or who are entering or turning off the road.
  • The manual says not to swing wide to the left before a right turn.
  • The manual says the driver may plan to turn after passing you or may have forgotten to turn the signal off.
  • The manual says you may need to speed up before an oncoming vehicle arrives if the passing vehicle drops back behind you.

Alcohol and drugs

  • Drugs can increase the effects of alcohol and can also add effects of their own.
  • The law covers a person not yet 21 years of age who is adjudicated of using false or fraudulent credentials to obtain liquor.
  • A conditional licensee who refuses an alcohol test is suspended for a period of two years.
  • The manual calls alcohol the most dangerous and widely used drug in the United States today.
  • In a vehicle not equipped with a trunk, an open container may be behind the last upright seat or in an area not normally occupied by the operator or a passenger.
  • The manual says driving with an alcohol level of 0.08 grams per 100 milliliters of blood or 210 liters of breath is the criminal offense of operating under the influence.

Speed and following distance

  • Rain makes the road slippery until the oil on the surface is washed away.
  • Safe driving requires adjusting speed for road and traffic conditions, keeping a safe following distance and obeying the speed limit.
  • The only way to be sure you have enough time to react is to leave plenty of space between your car and the cars around you.
  • You can help by maintaining a steady speed and signaling in advance when you plan to slow down or turn.
  • Perception time is the time it takes you to recognize that you must stop.
  • Racing on the highway and driving recklessly are not allowed.
  • At the start of a light rain, road oil and water mix to form a greasy film on the road.

Licensing basics

  • A Class C license is a commercial driver's license only with a hazardous material, tanker and/or passenger (bus) endorsement.
  • Payment of the excise tax to a municipal tax collector is the first step in registering your motor vehicle.
  • Drivers must furnish their own vehicle for the road test.
  • Military personnel who hold a valid military license and operate a military vehicle are listed among those who do not need a Maine driver's license.

Signals and vehicle controls

  • The manual says to back slowly because it is harder to steer while backing.
  • Turn on the headlights whenever you have trouble seeing other cars: if you can't see them, they can't see you.
  • The manual says to check ahead and check for traffic to the sides and behind.
  • The manual advises keeping an extra pair of glasses in the car in case your regular ones are broken or lost.

Pavement markings

  • You should not pass when there is a solid center line on your side of the road.
  • Two solid yellow lines on a two-direction roadway mean passing is prohibited in both directions.
  • Solid white lines separate lanes going in the same direction that have different uses, and they discourage changing lanes.
  • A reversible lane may have double dashed yellow lines to either side.

Expressway driving

  • The manual says to slow down to the posted speed on the ramp or you may have difficulty getting around sharp curves.
  • A driver on the freeway may exit suddenly, or a driver who is exiting may suddenly swerve back onto the freeway.

Parking rules

  • You must park parallel to the road except where angle parking lines are painted on the roadway.
  • In a manual shift car, you shift to first or reverse in place of park.
  • When clear of the car ahead, you turn the wheels sharply left and back slowly to the car behind.
  • You turn the steering wheel sharply in the direction you want the rear of your vehicle to move.

Railroad crossings

  • Another train could be coming from the other direction, so wait for a clear view in both directions.
  • You must wait until the train is well down the track before you drive ahead.
  • If a train is coming and you are not having success moving your vehicle, you stop trying and get away.

Pedestrians

  • Maine drivers must yield the right-of-way to any person crossing the street in a marked crosswalk.
  • The manual says to always yield the right-of-way to school children crossing a street.
  • You should stop at least 10 feet away and wait until the person is out of danger.

Sharing the road

  • Motorcycles need space to react to other traffic, so give motorcycles a full lane and do not attempt to share it.
  • If you cannot see the mirrors of the large vehicle ahead, the driver probably cannot see you, so you should stay out of the blind spots.
  • Leave space, because the large vehicle may stall or roll backwards as it pulls forward and could collide with your car.
  • Someone may step out of a car or from between parked cars, or a car may start to pull out of its parking space suddenly.

Seat belts and child safety

  • The manual says you must not drive when more than 3 persons in the front seat obstruct your view to the front or sides.
  • Safety belts should be worn even if you have air bags, because you must use your safety belts to gain full protection during a crash.

Distracted and drowsy driving

  • The manual says to have your eyes checked every year or two by a trained professional.
  • The manual says to plan to drive only during the time you are normally awake.
  • The manual advises asking a passenger in the car to place the call for you.

Emergencies and crashes

  • The manual says to apply the brakes and steer straight.
  • If downed wires are present, you don't go near them and wait for emergency crews to handle the situation.
  • Try to stop where people have a clear view of you, and try not to stop just over a hill or around a curve.

Emergency vehicles and work zones

  • The manual states that failure to yield to an emergency vehicle in this way is a Class E crime.
  • You should obey the posted work zone signs until you see an "End Road Work" sign.
  • Arrow panels may be used if a lane ahead is closed.

Insurance

  • When a court judgment is obtained, driving and registration privileges are suspended until the judgment is satisfied.

Losing your license

  • Eluding by reckless speed in a high-speed chase with a blue light and siren is a Class C crime.
  • Driving to endanger requires a suspension of at least 30 days.

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