A police officer directing traffic tells you to proceed even though the signal facing you is red. What should you follow?
Correct answer: The officer's traffic direction, proceeding cautiously.
A law-enforcement officer may direct traffic differently from the usual device. Follow the direction carefully while watching other road users.
Source: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 2057, opening paragraph: direction by a law-enforcement officer; current official text reviewed September 29, 2026 ↗
Your signal turns green while a pedestrian is lawfully finishing a crossing in your path. What should you do?
Correct answer: Yield and let the pedestrian clear before proceeding.
A green indication does not cancel the duty to yield to people or vehicles lawfully within the intersection or crosswalk.
Source: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 2057, 1(A): green indication and yielding; current official text reviewed September 29, 2026 ↗
You approach a signal that changes from green to steady yellow, and you can stop safely before entering. What should you do?
Correct answer: Stop safely instead of accelerating to beat the coming red light.
Steady yellow warns that the green movement is ending and red will follow. It is a warning to prepare to stop, not a direction to speed up.
Source: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 2057, 1(B) and 1(C): yellow transition and red stop; current official text reviewed September 29, 2026 ↗
You face a circular red signal and want to turn right. No sign prohibits the turn. What is required before you turn?
Correct answer: Stop, yield to pedestrians and traffic with the right-of-way, and turn only when safe.
The ordinary right-on-red permission requires a stop and yielding. It is permission to turn safely, not a requirement to go when the view or gap is inadequate.
Source: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 2057, 1(C): circular red and right-turn permission; current official text reviewed September 29, 2026 ↗
A steady red arrow points in the direction you want to turn. There is no officer directing you otherwise. What should you do?
Correct answer: Do not enter the intersection to make that movement while the red arrow is displayed.
A steady red arrow prohibits entering for the indicated movement. A clear view does not turn that signal into permission.
Source: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 2057, 1(C)(1): steady red arrow; current official text reviewed September 29, 2026 ↗
You reach an intersection facing a flashing red signal. What should you do?
Correct answer: Stop, then yield and proceed under the rules for a stop sign.
Flashing red requires a stop. After stopping, the usual yielding obligations determine when it is safe to enter.
Source: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 2057, 1(C)(2): flashing red; current official text reviewed September 29, 2026 ↗
You approach an intersection with a flashing yellow signal. What is the correct response?
Correct answer: Proceed with caution, slowing as conditions require and watching for conflicts.
Flashing yellow warns drivers to use caution. It neither gives an unrestricted right-of-way nor requires waiting for a green phase.
Source: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 2057, 1(B): flashing yellow; current official text reviewed September 29, 2026 ↗
A green arrow permits your left turn, but a vehicle is still lawfully clearing the intersection. What should you do?
Correct answer: Allow it to clear, then follow the arrow when the path is safe.
The arrow permits the indicated direction. It does not excuse a conflict with traffic already lawfully using the intersection.
Source: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 2057, 1(A): green arrow direction and lawful users; current official text reviewed September 29, 2026 ↗
An intersection displays red and yellow together to vehicle traffic. What does Maine's rule require?
Correct answer: Do not enter; the intersection is reserved for the exclusive use of pedestrians.
Maine's statute assigns the simultaneous red-and-yellow indication to exclusive pedestrian use. It is not the ordinary yellow transition.
Source: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 2057, 1(D): simultaneous red and yellow; current official text reviewed September 29, 2026 ↗
You are in a lane controlled by a steady yellow X. What should you do?
Correct answer: Leave that lane safely because its permitted use is ending.
A steady yellow X warns that control of the lane is changing. Move out safely rather than waiting in the lane for a red X.
Source: Maine Driver License Manual, Rev 4/24, printed 6-4, physical PDF page 51: Lane-use control signals ↗
An overhead flashing yellow X controls a lane. For what movement may you use it?
Correct answer: A left turn, rather than ordinary through travel.
The handbook distinguishes a flashing yellow X, which permits left-turn use, from a steady yellow X warning drivers to leave the lane.
Source: Maine Driver License Manual, Rev 4/24, printed 6-4, physical PDF page 51: Lane-use control signals ↗
An overhead red X is displayed above a lane even though vehicles used that lane earlier. May you enter it now?
Correct answer: No; the red lane-control signal prohibits using that lane.
Current lane-control signals govern the lane's use. Past traffic direction and congestion do not override a red indication.
Source: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 2057, 3: overhead lane-control signals; current official text reviewed September 29, 2026 ↗
A pedestrian hybrid beacon changes to steady red as someone begins crossing. What must the driver do?
Correct answer: Stop and remain stopped while the steady red indication is displayed.
The FHWA operating sequence gives steady red a stop-and-wait phase. The later alternating flashing red phase has a different stop-and-yield operation.
Source: FHWA, Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon Guide—Recommendations and Case Study, Operation; current primary page reviewed September 29, 2026 ↗
A pedestrian hybrid beacon is alternating flashing red. You have stopped and all pedestrians are clear of your path. What may you do?
Correct answer: Proceed cautiously after yielding, rather than waiting automatically for the beacon to go dark.
During alternating flashing red, each driver stops and yields to pedestrians before proceeding when clear. This differs from the preceding steady-red wait.
Source: FHWA, Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon Guide—Recommendations and Case Study, Operation; current primary page reviewed September 29, 2026 ↗
