Speed Limits & Following Distance — Maine
Maine motorcycle permit practice test: 559 free practice questions (Based on the official driver handbook). The official format is not yet verified; check the official site before your test. Speed Limits & Following Distance: 32 questions.
Posted speed limits, school and construction zones, stopping and following distance.
This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines.
| Topic / Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Topic | Speed Limits & Following Distance |
| License test | Maine Motorcycle permit test |
| Topic questions | 32 (6% of 559 total) |
| Review status | This topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines. |
Official handbook
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Questions (32)
1. When passing another vehicle:
- The pass may be completed in a no passing zone.
- The rider may travel up to 10 mph over the speed limit to complete the pass.
- The pass must be started and completed within a passing zone. ✓
- The pass must be completed on the shoulder, if one is present.
Answer: C. The pass must be started and completed within a passing zone.
The pass must be started and completed within a passing zone, because the manual says passes are allowed only where permitted. The manual's passing steps end with a plain rule: passes must be completed within posted speed limits and only where permitted, and it tells you to know your signs and roadway markings. A passing zone is exactly the place where the markings permit passing, so the whole maneuver, from pulling out to returning to your lane, has to fit inside that permitted stretch. If the zone ends before you are back in your lane, you were passing where it is not allowed.
2. If the roadway is slippery, you should:
- Increase your following distance. ✓
- Decrease your following distance.
- Ride on the shoulder.
- Ride with your lights flashing.
Answer: A. Increase your following distance.
If the roadway is slippery, increase your following distance. The manual says a two-second gap is the normal minimum, but it also says a bigger cushion is needed when your bike will take longer to stop. It specifically lists slippery pavement as a reason to open up a three-second or longer following distance. That is why the right action is to increase the space ahead rather than shrink it or move around the road.
3. When riding under normal conditions, maintain a minimum following distance of:
- One second.
- Two seconds.
- Three seconds.
- Four seconds. ✓
Answer: D. Four seconds.
4. Usually, a good way to handle tailgaters is to:
- Change lanes and let them pass. ✓
- Come to a complete stop.
- Speed up to put distance between you and the tailgater.
- Ignore them.
Answer: A. Change lanes and let them pass.
Change lanes and let the tailgater pass. The manual's advice for a tailgater is to let that person pass. It also gives a fallback: if you cannot do that, ease off and leave more room in front so both you and the tailgater have space to stop, which may also encourage a pass. It adds that turning off the road or using a parking area are other ways to handle it. This supports changing lanes to let them pass rather than stopping, speeding up, or simply ignoring them.
5. The best way to handle tailgaters is to:
- Change lanes and let them pass. ✓
- Use your horn and make obscene gestures.
- Speed up to put distance between you and the tailgater.
- Come to a complete stop.
Answer: A. Change lanes and let them pass.
Change lanes and let the tailgater pass, so the person following too closely ends up in front of you. The manual says that speeding up to lose a close follower can just leave you being tailgated at a higher speed, and that a better approach is to get that rider in front of you. Moving to another lane and letting them go by does exactly that. If you cannot let them pass, the manual suggests slowing down and leaving extra room ahead so both you and the tailgater have space to stop, which also nudges them to pass. Turning off the road or pulling into a parking area and coming back later are other options it lists.
6. If road conditions require a longer stopping distance than normal, you should:
- Decrease your usual following distance.
- Increase your usual following distance. ✓
- Travel on the shoulder.
- Ask someone else to operate your motorcycle.
Answer: B. Increase your usual following distance.
You should increase your usual following distance when road conditions require a longer stopping distance than normal. The manual says a two-second gap is a minimum, and you need a larger cushion of space when your motorcycle will take longer than normal to stop. It specifically calls for opening up a three-second or more following distance when the pavement is slippery, when you cannot see through the vehicle ahead, or when heavy traffic may cause someone to squeeze in. So when conditions stretch your stopping distance, the matching adjustment is to increase your usual following distance.
7. You should increase your following distance if:
- The pavement is dry.
- The pavement is wet. ✓
- You can see through the vehicle ahead of you.
- The sun is out.
Answer: B. The pavement is wet.
You should increase your following distance when the pavement is wet. The manual lists wet pavement as a surface with poor traction, especially just after rain starts. It also says that if the pavement is slippery, you should open up a three-second or more following distance instead of the normal two-second gap. A wet road is therefore the condition that calls for more space, because the manual ties slippery pavement directly to a larger space cushion.
8. Taking a turn too fast:
- Is acceptable as long as you stay under the speed limit.
- Is safer on a motorcycle than in a car.
- Is acceptable as long as no vehicles are near you.
- Can cause you to end up in another lane or leave the road. ✓
Answer: D. Can cause you to end up in another lane or leave the road.
Taking a turn too fast can cause you to end up in another lane or leave the road. The manual says riders often enter turns and curves too fast. When the motorcycle cannot hold the turn, the rider may cross into another lane of traffic or go off the road. The same passage adds that a rider may react by braking too hard, which can cause a skid and loss of control. The answer matches that direct warning about what happens when speed is too high for the turn.
9. When riding with a passenger, the operator should:
- Maintain a longer following distance. ✓
- Increase their speed.
- Deflate the tires to accommodate the extra weight.
- Not warn passengers of impending hazards.
Answer: A. Maintain a longer following distance.
When riding with a passenger, maintain a longer following distance. The manual says a passenger changes how the motorcycle responds: it may take longer to speed up, slow down, or turn. With a passenger, you should ride a little slower, begin slowing sooner, and keep a larger space cushion when slowing or stopping. It also says to wait for bigger gaps in traffic. A longer following distance fits that same idea because the extra weight can lengthen stopping and slow your response. The manual does not tell you to go faster, change tire pressure, or hide hazards from your passenger.
10. To adjust for added weight when riding with a passenger, you should:
- Operate at a slower speed than usual. ✓
- Maintain a shorter following distance that you would if riding without a passenger.
- Operate at a faster speed than usual.
- Brake a little later than you would if riding without a passenger.
Answer: A. Operate at a slower speed than usual.
Operate at a slower speed than usual — the manual says to ride a little slower with a passenger, especially in curves, corners, and over bumps. A passenger makes the motorcycle heavier, so it can take longer to speed up, slow down, or turn. Because of that, the manual tells you to ride a little slower when carrying a passenger, especially when taking curves, corners, or bumps. It also warns that if any part of the bike scrapes the ground at lean angle, you can lose steering control. Slower speed leaves you more room to handle the heavier bike's delayed response.
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Last checked: 2026-10-17 · Verified from official source
Updated: · Based on the official driver handbook