Roadwise States Maine Driving lessons Headlights, high beams and the horn Maine driving lesson · Managing Speed, Space and Visibility
Headlights, high beams and the horn A 3-minute lesson from the Maine course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Managing Speed, Space and Visibility
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 89, 90, 91 Crashes often happen because one driver doesn't see another. Headlights help you be seen, even in daytime, and a light tap of the horn gets attention. Maine law sets exactly when lights must be on and when to dim.
Know the rule
Headlights help others see you in the daytime as well as at night, especially on rainy, snowy, foggy or gray days when cars blend into the surroundings.
Handbook p. 89 ↗ Maine law requires headlights: Whenever visibility is too dim to see 1,000 feet ahead Any time your windshield wipers are in constant use From sunset to sunrise Handbook p. 90 ↗ Also turn on your headlights: When it begins to get dark When driving away from a rising or setting sun Whenever you have trouble seeing other cars (if you can't see them, they can't see you) Handbook p. 90 ↗ Know the rule
Don't drive with only your parking lights on. Motorcyclists must always have their headlights on in Maine.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ Know the rule
High beams let you see twice as far as low beams. Use them whenever possible: on unfamiliar roads, in construction areas, or where people may be along the road.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ Know the rule
When you dim, also turn off any fog auxiliary light. Use low beams in fog, snow or heavy rain, because high beams reflect back and cause glare.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ Know the rule
If an oncoming driver doesn't dim, slow down and look toward the right side of the road. Don't "get back" by keeping your brights on; then both drivers are blinded.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ Know the rule
Use the horn to prevent accidents, not to make unreasonable noise. Tap it lightly, well in advance. Avoid it near bicyclists and horses, but give a sharp blast if danger is near.
Handbook p. 91 ↗ Give a light tap of the horn when: Pedestrians or bicyclists appear to be moving into your lane You're passing a driver who starts to turn into your lane A driver isn't paying attention or may have trouble seeing you Handbook p. 91 ↗ Put it into practice
It's a gray afternoon with steady drizzle and your wipers are running nonstop. Even though it isn't dark, Maine law requires your headlights to be on.
A useful reminder Dimming distances: 500 feet oncoming, 300 feet following. Headlights on below 1,000 feet of visibility.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
Within how many feet of an oncoming vehicle must you dim your high beams? 1,000 feet 800 feet 500 feet 300 feet Answer: 500 feet
You must dim your headlights when meeting an oncoming vehicle within 500 feet.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ Within how many feet of a vehicle you are following must you dim your high beams? 300 feet 700 feet 100 feet 500 feet Answer: 300 feet
You must dim your headlights when following a vehicle within 300 feet.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ At what visibility distance does Maine law require headlights to be turned on? Under 500 feet Under 1,000 feet Under 200 feet Under 2,500 feet Answer: Under 1,000 feet
Maine law requires headlights whenever visibility is too dim to see 1,000 feet ahead.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ Maine law requires headlights to be on during what period each day? From sunset to sunrise From one hour after sunset Only in the winter driving months Only after 9 p.m. Answer: From sunset to sunrise
By Maine law you must have headlights on whenever driving from sunset to sunrise.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ Why should you avoid using the horn near horses or bicyclists unless truly necessary? It could startle them and cause loss of control It is illegal near animals at all times Riders cannot hear horns anyway It is allowed only near schools Answer: It could startle them and cause loss of control
The horn could startle a bicyclist or horse and cause them to veer into the roadway.
Handbook p. 91 ↗ It is good practice to use only your parking lights when driving in low-light conditions. True False Answer: False
The handbook states it is not a good driving practice to drive with only the parking lights on.
Handbook p. 90 ↗ Previous lesson Space to the side and behind, and gaps to merge or cross Next lesson Signals and emergency warnings More in Managing Speed, Space and Visibility About the source Roadwise’s Maine course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 89, 90, 91. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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