Maine: Seat belts and child safety — Part 1 Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “Where does the manual tell you to look for specific information about your air bags?”
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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 21 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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In Maine, what does the law say about driving without wearing a safety belt?
- It is against the law to drive without wearing one
- It is required only on highways and expressways
- It is only a recommendation if the vehicle has air bags
- It is required only for drivers under 18
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Correct answer: It is against the law to drive without wearing one
The manual states that in Maine it is against the law to drive without wearing a safety belt.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-2)
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According to the manual, who in your vehicle must have a fastened safety belt or child safety seat?
- Everyone
- Only the driver
- Only the driver and front seat passengers
- Only passengers under 18
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Correct answer: Everyone
Everyone in the vehicle must have a fastened safety belt or child safety seat.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-2)
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What is one thing safety belts do in a crash?
- They keep the vehicle from rolling over
- They make the vehicle stop in a shorter distance
- They turn off the engine automatically on impact
- They keep you from being thrown from the vehicle
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Correct answer: They keep you from being thrown from the vehicle
Safety belts reduce injuries and deaths in crashes and keep you from being thrown from the vehicle.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-2)
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How do safety belts help the driver control the car at sudden stops and turns?
- They shift your weight toward the brake pedal
- They reduce the effort needed to steer
- They keep you from moving around on the seat
- They lock the steering wheel in place
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Correct answer: They keep you from moving around on the seat
Safety belts keep you from moving around on the seat at sudden stops and turns, so you stay behind the wheel.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-2)
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In a collision without a safety belt, what happens to you at the moment your car stops?
- You stop moving at the same moment the car does
- You keep moving at the speed you were traveling
- You are pushed back into your seat at once
- You are held in place by the air bag alone
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Correct answer: You keep moving at the speed you were traveling
Without a belt, your car stops but you keep going at the same speed you were traveling until you hit the dashboard or windshield.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-2)
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How do safety belts help you stay alert?
- By reminding you to check your mirrors
- By holding your head upright against the head rest
- By keeping you from slouching while you drive
- By limiting how far your arms can move
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Correct answer: By keeping you from slouching while you drive
Safety belts help you stay alert by keeping you from slouching while you drive.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-2 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-2)
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If your vehicle is struck from the side, how do safety belts help?
- They cushion the impact on the side of the vehicle
- They keep you in position so you can control the car
- They turn the steering wheel for you
- They keep the doors from opening
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Correct answer: They keep you in position so you can control the car
A side impact could push you across the seat, but safety belts keep you in position so you can control the car.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-3 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-3)
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When must you buckle your safety belt?
- Before you start the car
- As soon as the car begins to move
- When you see an emergency developing
- Once you reach the first turn
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Correct answer: Before you start the car
There is no time to buckle a belt when an emergency happens, so you must do it before you start the car.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-3 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-3)
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Where should the shoulder harness be worn?
- Across your neck and upper arm
- Under your arm and across your ribs
- Behind your back and across your lap
- Across your shoulder and chest
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Correct answer: Across your shoulder and chest
The shoulder harness is worn across your shoulder and chest.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-3 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-3)
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How snug should the shoulder strap be?
- Tight enough that no fingers fit between the belt and your chest
- Snug but loose enough to let your fist go between the belt and your chest
- Loose enough to let you lean forward and touch the dashboard
- Loose enough to let you slide your whole forearm under it
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Correct answer: Snug but loose enough to let your fist go between the belt and your chest
The shoulder strap should be snug but just loose enough to let your fist go between the belt and your chest.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-3 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-3)
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Why should the shoulder harness not be under your arm or behind your back?
- It can cause internal injuries during a crash
- It can prevent the air bag from inflating
- It can make the belt too loose to buckle
- It can block your view of the mirrors
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Correct answer: It can cause internal injuries during a crash
A shoulder harness under your arm or behind your back can cause internal injuries during a crash.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-3 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-3)
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Where should the lap belt rest?
- Across the middle of your stomach
- Just under your ribs, above your hip bones
- Across your upper thighs near your knees
- Below your stomach, on your hip bones
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Correct answer: Below your stomach, on your hip bones
The lap belt should be tight but comfortable, below your stomach and resting on your hip bones, which helps keep you from sliding out of the belt in a crash.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-3 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-3)
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Do you need to wear a safety belt if your vehicle has air bags?
- No, air bags give you full protection on their own
- Only when you drive at highway speeds
- Yes, you must also use your safety belt for full protection
- Only when a child is riding in the vehicle
Show answer
Correct answer: Yes, you must also use your safety belt for full protection
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.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-3 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-3)
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In what kind of crash do airbags inflate, according to the manual?
- A rear-end impact
- Any hard braking
- A rollover only
- A frontal impact
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Correct answer: A frontal impact
The manual says airbags inflate upon frontal impact and give extra protection when the front of your vehicle hits, or is hit by, an object.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-3 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-3)
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What do air bags and safety belts together help keep from hitting the steering wheel or dash?
- Your knees and legs
- Your hands and arms
- Your head and upper body
- Your feet and ankles
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Correct answer: Your head and upper body
In a crash, air bags and safety belts help keep your head and upper body from hitting the steering wheel or dash.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-3 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-3)
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Where does the manual tell you to look for specific information about your air bags?
- The label on the steering wheel
- Your owner's manual
- Your vehicle registration
- Your vehicle title
Show answer
Correct answer: Your owner's manual
The manual says to read your owner's manual for specific information about your air bags.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-3 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-3)
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Where must a rear-facing child safety seat never be placed?
- In front of an active passenger air bag
- In the middle of the back seat
- On the passenger side of the rear seat
- Behind the driver's seat
Show answer
Correct answer: In front of an active passenger air bag
The manual says never to place a rear-facing child safety seat in front of an active passenger air bag.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-4 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-4)
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How should a child safety seat be held in place?
- By the vehicle's safety belts
- By a strap tied to the head rest
- By the child's own harness only
- By the weight of the child alone
Show answer
Correct answer: By the vehicle's safety belts
The child safety seat should be held properly in place by the vehicle's safety belts, with the child correctly buckled in it.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-4 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-4)
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What can happen to unbuckled occupants when an airbag deploys?
- They are pushed safely back into their seats
- They are protected by the airbag alone
- They can be hurt or killed by the airbag
- They are thrown into the back seat
Show answer
Correct answer: They can be hurt or killed by the airbag
Unbuckled occupants can be hurt or killed by an airbag, so everyone should be buckled up.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-4 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-4)
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Which is the safest place for a child of any age to ride?
- The front passenger seat
- The back seat
- The middle of the front seat
- Any seat next to a window
Show answer
Correct answer: The back seat
The back seat is the safest place for a child of any age to ride.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-4 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-4)
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Which passenger should never be placed in the front seat of a car with a passenger side airbag?
- A teenager
- An adult over 65
- A front seat passenger wearing a safety belt
- An infant
Show answer
Correct answer: An infant
The manual says never to place an infant in the front seat of a car with a passenger side airbag.
Source: Maine Driver’s License Manual (Rev 4/24), page 4-4 · Open this page in the manual (Manual page 4-4)