ME Driving Instructor flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Maine default speed limit

In Maine, the statutory default is 45 mph on urban and built-up roads, 55 mph on other roads, and 65 mph on the Interstate and turnpike, unless a posted sign sets a different limit.

Maine OUI thresholds

The OUI limit is 0.08% BAC for drivers 21 and older, 0.02% for drivers under 21, and 0.04% for commercial driver's license holders operating a commercial vehicle.

Implied consent in Maine

A driver lawfully arrested for OUI must submit to a chemical test. Refusal triggers an administrative license suspension separate from the criminal case.

Maine child restraint rule

A child under 8 years old and under 57 inches tall must ride in a federally approved child restraint. At 8 years or 57 inches, an adult belt is permitted.

Maine Move Over law

Drivers approaching a stationary emergency, tow, or maintenance vehicle with flashing lights must change lanes if safe, or slow to a safe speed if a lane change is not possible.

Flashing yellow signal

A flashing yellow light means slow down and proceed with caution. It does not grant the right of way and does not require a full stop.

Stopping distance formula

Total stopping distance is perception distance plus reaction distance plus braking distance. Braking distance rises with the square of speed, so doubling speed roughly quadruples it.

Three-second following rule

Under ideal conditions, a driver should stay at least three seconds behind the vehicle ahead. Rain, snow, darkness, or large vehicles require four or more seconds.

Hydroplaning recovery

When tires lose contact with the road on standing water, ease off the accelerator and hold the wheel steady. Do not brake hard or steer sharply.

Types of distraction

Distraction is visual, manual, or cognitive. Texting combines all three, and hands-free calling still imposes cognitive load that slows hazard detection.

Cushion of safety

The space maintained around the vehicle on all four sides. The instructor teaches students to identify an escape route before entering intersections or passing stopped vehicles.

Circadian low crash risk

Crash risk rises during the body's circadian low, roughly 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. A microsleep of a few seconds at highway speed covers hundreds of feet.

Maine driver education components

Maine programs combine classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel hours, and observation hours, and must cover Maine law, alcohol and drug awareness, and hazard perception.

Lesson plan essentials

A lesson plan states a measurable objective, prerequisites, materials, instructional sequence, guided practice, and an assessment that matches the stated objective.

Gradual release model

Instruction moves from instructor modeling to guided practice to independent performance. A student should not be scored on a maneuver before guided practice.

Hazard perception training

Short video or still scenes in which students identify and prioritize hazards. It is one of the few classroom methods with evidence of transfer to real driving.

Curriculum alignment

Every stated objective must be taught and assessed. An objective never evaluated in the car or on a test is a curriculum gap.

In-car lesson cycle

A behind-the-wheel lesson follows a pre-drive briefing, demonstration, coached practice, mid-lesson summary, and post-drive debrief with one or two prioritized goals.

Coachable instruction language

Coaching should be specific, behavioral, and timely. "Ease off the accelerator and check your mirror" is coachable; "be more careful" is not.

Dual-control readiness

The instructor keeps a foot near the passenger brake, hands near the wheel, and eyes on the road, maintaining readiness to intervene throughout the lesson.

Commentary driving

The student verbalizes hazards, signs, and planned actions while driving. This externalizes perception and makes errors visible before they become maneuvers.

Emergency intervention protocol

Instructor braking or steering is reserved for safety. After the intervention, review calmly which cues the student missed and what to scan for next time.

Novice crash risk window

Novice drivers face the highest crash risk in the first 6 to 12 months after licensure, which is the rationale for graduated licensing restrictions.

Adult learning principles

Andragogy holds that adult learners are self-directed, bring experience, need relevance, and prefer problem-centered learning over lecture-based instruction.

Zone of proximal development

Vygotsky's concept that a learner can perform a task with coaching before performing it alone. The instructor scaffolds support and then withdraws it.

Spaced practice effect

Short, frequent driving sessions with review between them build retention better than one long session. Varying routes also improves transfer of learning.

Formative versus summative

Formative assessment occurs during learning and guides instruction. Summative assessment occurs at the end and certifies competence. Behind-the-wheel scoring is usually formative until the final evaluation.

Behaviorally anchored rating scale

A rubric that describes what each rating level looks like in observable terms, such as mirror checks per minute or lane position measured in feet.

Skill versus performance errors

Skill errors occur when the student does not know how to perform a maneuver. Performance errors occur when the student knows but is stressed or distracted. Remedies differ.

Instructor duty of care

The instructor owes the student and the public the care a reasonable, prudent instructor would exercise under the same conditions.

Driving log documentation

Each behind-the-wheel and observation session must be logged with date, time, route or conditions, and instructor signature. Entries must be contemporaneous and never altered without notation.

Maine program approval

Maine driver education programs must be approved by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and instructors must be certified before delivering instruction.