Maine driving lesson · Turns, Lane Changes, Passing and Parking
Passing and school buses
A 4-minute lesson from the Maine course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Passing on a two-lane road means borrowing the oncoming lane, and oncoming cars close the gap fast. Know how much room a pass takes, where you must never pass, and when a school bus stops everyone.
Know the rule
To pass on a two-lane road you must use the lane that belongs to oncoming cars. Signal, and pass only when the way is clear.
When being passed, stay in your lane and hold a steady speed. If the passer drops back behind you, you may need to speed up before an oncoming vehicle arrives.
Maine law requires you to complete a pass before reaching the start of a no passing zone. You may pass where the center line is broken on your side and no oncoming cars are in the passing lane.
It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus with red lights flashing on school property or any undivided highway or parking area. From either direction, stop in front of or behind the bus and wait until it moves or the driver signals you.
On a multi-lane divided highway, stop for a school bus with red lights flashing and/or stop arm out. If a solid divider separates you from the bus, you don't have to stop. After the lights stop, go slowly and watch for children.
When to stop for a school bus on two-lane and multi-lane roads
Put it into practice
On a two-lane road you're behind a slow truck with a hill 1,000 feet ahead. That's inside one-third of a mile, so treat the hill as an oncoming car and don't start the pass.
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.
At highway speeds of 50 to 55 mph, about how many seconds does it take to complete a pass safely?
20 to 25 seconds
10 to 12 seconds
3 to 5 seconds
30 to 40 seconds
Answer: 10 to 12 seconds
At highway speeds you need from 10 to 12 seconds to complete a pass safely.
