Maine Motor Vehicle Laws and Rules of the Road
This domain tests whether you can teach Maine's statutory driving rules accurately-not just recite them. Expect questions on right-of-way, speed, impairment, occupant protection, and Maine-specific sharing-the-road duties.
Statutory core
- Right-of-way is never absolute. A green light, stop sign, or turn signal does not create a right to proceed until the way is clear.
- Speed is controlled by posted limits; where unposted, Maine's statutory defaults apply. School zones and work zones carry enhanced penalties.
- OUI (Maine's term, not DUI): 0.08% BAC for drivers 21+, 0.00% for under 21, 0.04% for commercial drivers. Implied consent means refusing a test triggers administrative suspension.
- Distraction: handheld phone use is prohibited; texting is prohibited for all drivers.
- Occupant protection: Maine's seat belt law is primary enforcement; child restraint thresholds are statutory and updated-teach the current BMV guide, not memory.
- Sharing the road: give bicyclists at least 3 feet when passing; stop for a school bus with red lights flashing on an undivided road; move over for emergency, tow, and maintenance vehicles displaying lights.
Worked example
A student approaches a school bus stopped with red lights on a two-lane road with a continuous yellow line. The correct action is to stop in both directions and wait until the red lights stop flashing. On a divided highway with a physical median, traffic on the opposite side of the median does not stop. Reasoning: the statute distinguishes undivided from divided roadways; the yellow line does not change the duty to stop.
Traps that cost marks
Treating a flashing yellow arrow as a protected turn; assuming right turn on red is always allowed (it is barred where posted); believing a green light guarantees passage-pedestrians and clearing vehicles still have priority; confusing "yield" with "stop" at merge lanes.
Key points
- Right-of-way must be yielded, not taken.
- OUI thresholds differ by age and license class.
- School bus stopping depends on roadway division.
- Move-over and 3-foot bicycle passing are Maine duties.