Maine: Distracted and drowsy driving — Part 2 Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “Which statement about staying awake when you are drowsy at the wheel agrees with the manual?” · “When does the manual say you should plan to drive on a trip?”
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "Maine Driver’s License Manual" (Rev 4/24), Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
All 17 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
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Which statement about staying awake when you are drowsy at the wheel agrees with the manual?
- Caffeine cannot shake off the sleepiness
- Feeling alert just before you drive means you will stay awake at the wheel
- Cracking the window for fresh air will hold off sleep
- You can decide when you fall asleep
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Correct answer: Caffeine cannot shake off the sleepiness
The manual says you cannot shake off sleep with caffeine or hold it off by cracking the window, and that feeling alert just before you drive should not fool you.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-2)
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How long do "micro-sleeps" last, according to the manual?
- One to two seconds
- Ten to twelve seconds
- Four to five seconds
- About thirty seconds
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Correct answer: Four to five seconds
The manual says micro-sleeps, or brief naps, last only four to five seconds, which is long enough to be fatal at highway speed.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-2)
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Drowsiness severely impairs your driving ability, much like doing what?
- Driving without a valid license or insurance
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol
- Driving in heavy fog and heavy rain at night
- Driving at night while wearing dark sunglasses
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Correct answer: Driving while under the influence of alcohol
The manual compares drowsiness to driving under the influence of alcohol: both severely impair your driving ability.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-2)
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What is the only way to erase a "sleep debt"?
- Drink caffeine
- Eat a big meal
- Open a window for fresh air
- Get more sleep
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Correct answer: Get more sleep
The manual says the only way to erase a sleep debt is to get more sleep.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-2)
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Why should you not be fooled by feeling alert just before you plan to drive?
- Your sleep debt may take over once you get behind the wheel
- Feeling alert always fades after the first hour or so of driving
- Feeling alert means you will need less sleep the next night too
- Alertness before driving is usually a side effect of medicine
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Correct answer: Your sleep debt may take over once you get behind the wheel
The manual warns that as soon as you get behind the wheel and relax, your sleep debt may take over and put you in danger of falling asleep.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-2)
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According to the manual, how many hours of sleep may people biologically need?
- As little as 4 hours, up to as many as 12 hours
- As little as 5 hours, up to as many as 8 hours
- As little as 6 hours to as much as 10 hours
- As little as 8 hours, up to as many as 12 hours
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Correct answer: As little as 6 hours to as much as 10 hours
The manual says some people may get by on as little as 6 hours of sleep while others require as much as 10 hours.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-2)
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Which of these is a sign that you are getting enough sleep?
- You sleep later on weekends than on weekdays
- You do not need an alarm clock to wake you
- You doze off when you are sitting up
- You need caffeine in order to start the day
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Correct answer: You do not need an alarm clock to wake you
The manual says that if you are getting enough sleep, your brain will wake you automatically without an alarm clock; sleeping later on weekends or dozing off sitting up means you need more sleep.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-2)
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What should you do the night before leaving on a trip?
- Stay up late to finish packing
- Drive a short distance to get ready
- Take a nap in the afternoon only
- Get plenty of sleep
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Correct answer: Get plenty of sleep
The manual says to make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before leaving on a trip.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-2)
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When does the manual say you should plan to drive on a trip?
- Only during the time you are normally awake
- Mostly during the hours of your body's downtime
- Only between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.
- Only after you take a long afternoon nap today
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Correct answer: Only during the time you are normally awake
The manual says to plan to drive only during the time you are normally awake.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-2)
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When you are tired on a trip, what does the manual say you should NEVER try to do?
- Trade off driving duties with a passenger
- Pull off the road to a safe place to rest
- Push through to your destination
- Talk with your passenger to stay alert
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Correct answer: Push through to your destination
The manual says never to push through to your destination rather than pulling off the road and finding a safe place to rest.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-2)
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Between which hours is your body's "downtime", when you should find a safe place to sleep instead of driving?
- From 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
- From midnight to 6 a.m.
- From 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
- From 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
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Correct answer: From midnight to 6 a.m.
The manual says to avoid driving during your body's downtime and to find a safe place to sleep between midnight and 6 a.m.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-2)
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If you have a passenger on a long trip, what does the manual suggest to keep your mind stimulated?
- Ask your passenger to sit quietly and avoid distracting you
- Ask your passenger to read the map aloud for the whole trip
- Ask your passenger to sleep so that the car stays quiet and calm
- Talk with your passenger and trade off driving duties
Show answer
Correct answer: Talk with your passenger and trade off driving duties
The manual says to talk with your passenger to keep your mind stimulated and to trade off driving duties so you can each rest.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-2)
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Where should a driver who needs rest nap, according to the manual?
- In the back seat, buckled up
- In the front passenger seat with the seat reclined
- In the driver's seat with the engine off
- In the cargo area of the vehicle
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Correct answer: In the back seat, buckled up
The manual says a driver who needs rest should go to the back seat, buckle up and nap, because both people in the front seats should be awake.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-3 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-3)
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How often does the manual say to schedule a break on a trip?
- Every four hours or 250 miles
- Every three hours or 200 miles
- Every two hours or 100 miles
- Every hour or 50 miles
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Correct answer: Every two hours or 100 miles
The manual says to schedule a break every two hours or 100 miles, and to stop sooner if you have any danger signs of fatigue.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-3 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-3)
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How long a nap does the manual suggest as a short refresher when you have danger signs of fatigue?
- 5 to 10 minutes
- 15 to 20 minutes
- 45 to 60 minutes
- About 2 hours
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Correct answer: 15 to 20 minutes
The manual says to stop sooner if you have danger signs of fatigue and take a short 15 to 20-minute refresher nap.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-3 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-3)
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Why should you check the labels on your medicine before driving?
- Some medicine will make you more alert than normal
- Some medicine must be taken only with a meal
- Some medicine may be taken only while parked
- Some medicine will cause drowsiness
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Correct answer: Some medicine will cause drowsiness
The manual says to check the labels on your medicine because some medicine will cause drowsiness.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-3 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-3)
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Which of these is a danger sign of drowsiness?
- You feel hungry about every two hours while driving
- You check your mirrors every few seconds as you drive
- You do not remember driving the last few miles
- You feel a sudden burst of energy after a long trip
Show answer
Correct answer: You do not remember driving the last few miles
The manual lists not remembering driving the last few miles among the danger signs of drowsiness.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 3-3 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 3-3)