Chapter 1: Your License to Drive

Understanding the rules for obtaining and maintaining a driver’s license is the first step toward becoming a safe and legal driver. This knowledge is essential not only for passing the written knowledge exam but also for ensuring you follow the laws that protect everyone on the road. A driver’s license is a privilege that comes with significant responsibilities, and knowing the specific requirements for your age and situation is critical.

Glossary

• Right-of-way — The legal right of a pedestrian or vehicle to proceed first in a particular situation or place.
• Per-se BAC — The blood alcohol concentration level at which it is illegal to operate a vehicle, which is 0.08% for adults 21 and over in Maine.
• Implied consent — The principle that by driving on Maine’s roads, you have automatically agreed to submit to a chemical test for alcohol or drugs if requested by a law enforcement officer.
• Divided highway — A road that has opposing directions of travel separated by a physical barrier or unpaved median.
• Keep right/left-lane — The rule requiring drivers to stay in the rightmost lane except when passing, turning left, or when the right lane is blocked.
• No-zone — The large blind spot areas around trucks and buses where cars are not visible to the driver.
• Hydroplaning — A dangerous condition where a vehicle’s tires lose contact with the road surface and ride on a thin film of water.
• Reversible lane — A traffic lane where the direction of traffic flow can be changed to accommodate peak traffic hours.