Maine BMV Permit Practice Test 30

1. Why are eating, drinking and personal grooming risky behind the wheel?

• A They are a problem only in city traffic
• B They occupy hands, eyes and attention that driving requires
• C They are harmless as long as your speed is low
• D They affect only the passengers

2. What does a NARROW BRIDGE warning sign tell a driver?

• A The bridge is tighter than the road leading up to it
• B The bridge carries traffic in only one direction at a time
• C The bridge has no shoulder but is as wide as the road
• D The bridge may be crossed only by vehicles under a set width

3. What does the traffic law actually say about the right of way?

• A It gives a permanent priority to the larger vehicle in any doubtful situation
• B It says who must yield; no driver is ever entitled to take the right of way
• C It gives the right of way to whichever driver signals first at a point of conflict
• D It applies only at intersections that carry signs, signals or painted markings

4. Where does the restriction that starts at this sign come to an end?

• A At the next intersection, whatever the pavement shows
• B Exactly one mile beyond this point
• C As soon as the driver can see clear road ahead
• D Where the centerline markings show that overtaking is allowed again

5. A person using a wheelchair is waiting to cross at a corner ahead. How should you treat that person?

• A As a slow vehicle that you may pass when the way is clear
• B As a pedestrian with the right of way at the crossing
• C As a pedestrian who must wait until all traffic has cleared
• D As a vehicle that has to yield to traffic already on the road

6. What is true about an airbag once it has inflated in a crash?

• A It shows that the seat belts in the car no longer need to be replaced
• B It must be replaced by a technician before the car is driven any further
• C It reinflates by itself and will protect you again in a second impact
• D It can be folded back into its housing and used again just as before

7. You are driving on a divided highway and see a solid yellow line along the left side of your lanes. What does it tell you?

• A A passing zone starts at that point and runs for a mile
• B The lane you are in will end a short distance ahead
• C It marks the boundary of a bicycle lane running beside the traffic
• D It marks the left edge of the roadway for your direction

8. A yellow lamp flashes above a warning sign at a sharp curve. What does it ask of a driver?

• A Stop before the sign and go on when the way is clear
• B Treat the flashing lamp as though it were a red signal
• C Ignore the sign, because the beacon replaces its message
• D Slow down and pass the point with extra care

9. The route marker used for an Interstate highway is a shield with

• A white numerals on a blue field under a red band carrying the word INTERSTATE
• B black numerals on a plain white field with a thin black border
• C white numerals on a brown field under a white band with the route name
• D black numerals inside a yellow diamond outlined with a heavy black border on all sides

10. What can a loose or doubled up floor mat on the driver side cause?

• A It can slide forward and trap the accelerator pedal down
• B It can block the air vents and let the windshield fog over within seconds
• C It can wear through the carpet and expose the wiring underneath the floor
• D It can unbalance the vehicle enough to change how the front wheels track

11. Traffic is entering the freeway from a ramp ahead of you and you are in the right lane. What should you do?

• A Hold your speed and position exactly, because the entering traffic is the one that must yield
• B Speed up so the merging vehicles enter behind you
• C Move to another lane if it is safe, or adjust your speed to make room
• D Slow to a stop in your lane so the merging vehicles can enter ahead of you

12. You are parking on a one-way street where parking is allowed on both sides. What must still be true?

• A The vehicle must be on the left side, which is the side reserved for parking
• B The vehicle must be on the right side, exactly as it would be on a two-way street
• C The wheels must be turned toward the curb, whatever the slope of the street
• D The vehicle must face the direction the traffic flows

13. What is the first thing to do once your disabled vehicle is stopped on the shoulder?

• A Switch on the hazard warning lights so other drivers can see the vehicle
• B Raise the hood and tie a white cloth to the antenna before anything else
• C Walk back along the shoulder to flag down the traffic coming toward you
• D Call for a tow truck and stay seated with all of the lights switched off

14. A bicyclist ahead of you extends the left arm out with the forearm bent upward. What does that signal mean?

• A The bicyclist intends to turn right
• B The bicyclist intends to turn left
• C The bicyclist is about to stop or slow down
• D The bicyclist is asking you to pass

15. You have just been involved in a crash on a city street. Which sequence of first steps is correct?

• A Stop where you are, check everyone for injuries, and then make the scene safe
• B Drive to the nearest parking lot, then telephone your insurance company
• C Photograph the damage, then drive on and report the crash the following day
• D Settle who was at fault first, then decide together whether to call anyone

16. The engine dies at speed and the dashboard lights go out on a dark road. What should you do?

• A Turn the ignition key fully off, which frees the steering wheel again
• B Pump the brake pedal steadily until the power assistance has come back
• C Hold the wheel firmly, steer over to the shoulder and use the hazard lights
• D Shift into reverse to slow the vehicle down and stop it more quickly

17. In the code that governs pavement markings, what does a double line stand for?

• A A boundary that only heavy vehicles must respect
• B A maximum restriction
• C A change of lane function ahead
• D A surface that has just been resurfaced

18. You are clear of the tracks after your vehicle stalled on a crossing. Whom should you contact?

• A The nearest repair shop before anyone else
• B Your insurance company first of all
• C The emergency number posted on the blue sign at the crossing, or 911
• D Nobody, because the railroad detects stopped vehicles automatically

19. How do you avoid the sharp nod at the end of a stop?

• A Ease the pedal pressure off slightly just before the vehicle stops
• B Press the pedal harder in the last few feet so the stop is definite
• C Shift into neutral as soon as the vehicle has slowed to walking pace
• D Pull the parking brake on gently over the last few feet of the stop

20. How does higher speed affect the outcome of a crash?

• A It leaves less time to react and greatly increases the force of impact
• B It has no effect on the outcome once seat belts are properly worn
• C It only matters for vehicles that are heavier than an ordinary passenger car
• D It reduces the force of impact, because the collision itself is over sooner

21. You decide to turn around using a driveway on your right. What is the safer way to do it?

• A Drive in forward, then reverse out into the traffic lane and turn
• B Reverse into it from the far side after crossing the oncoming lane
• C Stop past the driveway, reverse into it, then pull out and drive away
• D Drive in forward and wait there until no traffic is coming either way

22. Once you are moving, which way of using a navigation device costs you the least attention?

• A Watching the moving map for the next turn arrow
• B Listening to the spoken directions
• C Zooming the map in and out as the route develops
• D Checking the estimated arrival time every few miles

23. Which of these is true of the roadway a driver is being sent onto here?

• A The driver gains priority over the traffic that is already using it
• B No posted speed limit applies on it until the original road has been rejoined
• C Only drivers who live in the area are entitled to use it at all
• D Its own signs, signals and speed limits govern for the whole way around

24. A driver ahead brakes for no reason you can see, again and again. What should you do?

• A Pass the vehicle immediately, whatever the road markings may say
• B Increase your following distance and be ready for yet another stop
• C Flash your lights so that the driver knows the braking is unnecessary
• D Move up closer so that the driver can see you clearly in the mirror

25. While you are still on an entrance ramp, where should your attention be?

• A Only straight ahead along the ramp, leaving the highway traffic to the mirrors after merging
• B Only over your left shoulder, because the curve of the ramp itself keeps your path clear
• C Only in the inside mirror, which shows you the whole of the highway behind your vehicle
• D Along the ramp ahead and back at the highway traffic in the mirrors and over your shoulder

26. Which of these is never a legal place to park?

• A On a residential street after dark, where the street lighting is poor
• B On a street where the curb has not been painted any color
• C In a crosswalk, on a sidewalk or within an intersection
• D Facing a driveway on the opposite side of the street

27. Your vehicle breaks down on a busy highway. What is the safest course of action?

• A Stand behind the vehicle and wave at approaching traffic so that every driver knows it has stopped there in the lane
• B Leave the vehicle where it is in the travel lane and walk along the road for help
• C Raise the hood and work on the engine from the traffic side, where the light is better
• D Get it as far off the roadway as possible, switch on the hazard lights and keep clear of the traffic lanes

28. You have stopped on the shoulder of a busy freeway with a flat tire that you cannot change safely. Where should you and your passengers wait?

• A Well away from the traffic side, behind a barrier or up the bank if there is one
• B Standing in front of the vehicle so approaching drivers can see you and slow down
• C Seated inside the car with the doors on the traffic side left open as a signal
• D On the shoulder beside the driver door, waving a cloth at the traffic going past

29. Why is standing water across a road dangerous even when it looks shallow?

• A It cools the tires enough that the rubber loses its grip on the pavement
• B It can hide a washed out roadbed, a deep hole or a missing cover
• C It always contains chemicals that damage the brake pads within a few seconds
• D It reflects sunlight upward and makes the road markings impossible to follow

30. You correct a rear wheel skid and the back of the vehicle swings the other way. Why?

• A The antilock system has released the rear brakes and cannot reapply them
• B The front tires have lost their grip completely and are no longer steering
• C The rear tires have gripped again and are pushing the vehicle sideways
• D You steered too far, so be ready to correct back the other way