Maine · Handbook chapter 7 · 6 min read

Scanning ahead, to the sides and behind; school zones and railroad crossings; Maine speed limits; slowing for curves, rain, snow and ice; hydroplaning; stopping distance; following distance and space cushions; headlights, high beams, the horn and signals.

Why this chapter matters

Good drivers give themselves time to see trouble and space to avoid it. Maine's default speed limits, the headlight and high-beam distances and how much to slow on slippery roads are all likely test questions. Key figures: 45, 25 and 15 mph, 500 and 300 feet, 1,000 feet, 250 feet, 5 to 10 mph, half speed, 25 mph or less.

Seeing what is critical

Keep your eyes moving: ahead, to the sides and behind. A common mistake is looking just in front of the car instead of well up the road. (The PDF manual tells expert drivers to look 20 to 30 seconds ahead; the online study guide still says 10 to 15 seconds.) Scan the roadside for people, signs and animals: many cars hit deer, especially in October and November. If you see one, sound the horn and look for more. Look hard to the sides near shopping centers, construction, busy sidewalks, playgrounds and yard sales.

Check your mirrors every 6 to 8 seconds, and always before slowing suddenly, turning into a driveway or stopping for pedestrians. Keep windows, mirrors and lights clear of snow, ice and clutter; anything that blocks your view is a violation. If your license says you need glasses, wear them every time.

School zones and railroad crossings

A five-sided sign marks a school zone, where you must slow to 15 mph during recess, when children are going to or from school, or when the school speed signs are flashing. Speeding fines are doubled in a school zone.

At railroad crossings, look both ways even if the lights are not flashing, expect school buses and tank trucks to stop, and never stop on the tracks. If the lights are flashing, stop and wait until they go out or the way is clear in both directions, and never drive around a gate. Where there are several tracks, wait until you can see both ways before crossing, because a second train may be coming. Do not shift gears while crossing.

Speed limits

Unless signs say otherwise, Maine's maximum speeds are:

A posted limit is the most you may drive in ideal conditions, not a target. You must also not drive so slowly that you hold up normal traffic. Farm tractors, horse-drawn carts and maintenance vehicles usually travel 25 mph or less and carry an orange triangle with a red border.

Adjusting to the road

• Slow down before a curve; hard braking in a curve can cause a skid.
• Wet road: slow by 5 to 10 mph. Packed snow: about half speed. Ice: slow to a crawl.
• Roads are most slippery in the first few minutes of rain, as oil comes to the surface.
• Bridges and overpasses freeze first and dry last. Ice near freezing point is wet and even more slippery.
• Hydroplaning: at higher speeds tires ride up on a film of water. Good tires and lower speed prevent it.
• Never drive through deep standing water.

Stopping distance

Total stopping distance adds perception time, reaction time (each about three-quarters of a second to a second) and braking distance. The faster you go, the longer all of it gets. Your headlights let you see only about 250 feet ahead, so above about 50 mph on a dark road you are driving faster than you can see. In heavy rain, snow or thick fog, if you cannot see, pull off and wait.

Space cushions

Leave space ahead, beside and behind you. The PDF manual tells you to keep at least 4 seconds behind the vehicle ahead (count from when its rear passes a fixed point); the online study guide still teaches the older two-second rule. Either way, increase your following distance on slippery roads, behind motorcycles and bicycles, behind large vehicles, at night and in bad weather, when towing or heavily loaded, and behind vehicles that must stop at railroad crossings.

• Do not drive alongside other cars; drop back or move ahead.
• Keep away from the center line, give parked cars room, and move right when a tractor-trailer passes.
• If someone tailgates you, move right if you can, or slow gradually to let them pass.
• With hazards on both sides, split the difference; if one hazard is coming, take them one at a time.
• When you merge or change lanes you need a gap of about four seconds.

Communicating

Headlights: Maine law requires them whenever you cannot see 1,000 feet ahead and whenever your wipers are in constant use, and at night. (The PDF manual says from sunset to sunrise; the online study guide says from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.) Do not drive on parking lights alone.

High beams let you see about twice as far as low beams. Dim them within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and within 300 feet when following. Use low beams in fog, snow and heavy rain. If an oncoming driver keeps high beams on, look toward the right edge of the road.

Horn: a light tap to warn someone who may not see you; a sharp blast only when danger is near. Avoid sounding it near bicyclists and horses.

Signals: signal at least 100 feet before a turn or lane change, even when no one seems to be around, and use hand signals if your lights fail. If you are turning just beyond an intersection, signal after you pass it.

Breakdowns: get off the road if you can, turn on your flashers, lift the hood, avoid stopping just over a hill or around a curve, and stay off the travel lanes.