A driver's license brings new freedom and independence - and also a solemn responsibility. Everyone on or near the road - from the driver or cyclist next to you to the person walking on the sidewalk - is counting on you to pay attention to your driving. You must always be prepared for the possibility that you will need to stop, swerve, speed up or slow down to avoid a collision. That means you need to have your full attention on the road and always be fit to drive. Your life, your passengers' lives and the lives of other motorists, cyclists and pedestrians depend on your ability to drive safely. If you are impaired by drugs or alcohol, or if you're texting or paying attention to anything other than your driving, you are putting lives at risk. Devastating and deadly accidents are all too common, and often caused by someone who is breaking the law. What you don't hear as much about are all the crashes that are avoided by drivers who are alert, sober, responsive and who follow the rules of the road. The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles was established in 1905 out of concern for public safety as the age of the automobile began. Today, it's hard to imagine the dangers of that time when there were more horses than cars on the roadways. For more than 100 years, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) has been dedicated to our mission to promote safety on Maine's roadways by qualifying and licensing drivers, along with maintaining records of driver history, vehicle ownership and vehicle registration. This manual is designed to prepare you with the knowledge and skills you need to operate a motor vehicle safely and obtain a driver's license. Earning your driver's license is only the beginning, though. Please remember that the skills, behaviors and rules of the road you are learning today are more than just the answers to a test. Safe driving is a life-long commitment and one that you must reaffirm every time you get behind the wheel. As you take your first steps toward earning your license to operate a motor vehicle, I encourage you to promise yourself that you will be fit to drive every time you get behind the wheel. We wish you success in earning your driver's license, and enjoyment of all the freedom and opportunities that it will bring in your lifetime. CONTENTS Part I: Maine Driver's License Part II: Owning and Maintaining A MotorVehicle Part III: Keeping Fit to Drive Part IV: Operating A MotorVehicle Part V: Emergencies & Safe Operation Part VI: Motorcycles or Mopeds Appendix A