NM Permit Practice Test 1

All 20 questions in test 1

Every question below comes from the New Mexico question bank on this page. Open a question to see the correct answer and the explanation. Nothing here is hidden behind a signup.

1. 1. After a railroad warning sign, what should a driver remember about the train's apparent speed?

   1. The train must yield if the warning sign is round
   2. The train is stopped whenever its engine is hard to see
   3. The train may be moving faster than it appears
   4. The train can be outrun when no gate is present
   Show answer

   The train may be moving faster than it appears. Railroad warnings deserve caution because a train can cover ground faster than its appearance suggests. The choice “The train may be moving faster than it appears” captures that warning. A train is not presumed stopped merely because the engine is difficult to see, and a round sign does not give the train a duty to yield. Trying to outrun a train is specifically contrary to safe crossing practice, whether or not a gate is installed. Slow down, look along the tracks, confirm the far side is open, and wait whenever the crossing or the train's movement is uncertain.

2. 2. Which children must be secured in an approved safety device under the New Mexico manual's restraint guidance?

   1. Only children younger than 12 months
   2. Children under 24 months or weighing less than 60 pounds
   3. Every child under 18 years, without exception
   4. Children under 24 months only when seated in front
   Show answer

   Children under 24 months or weighing less than 60 pounds. The manual gives two triggers for an approved safety device: the child is under 24 months, or the child weighs less than 60 pounds. The broader rule also requires children under 12 to use appropriate safety restraints while the vehicle is moving. Age alone does not make the requirement stop at 12 months, and the rule is not limited to a front seat. Children should be secured in the rear seat, never in the front passenger position when that can expose them to an air bag. Check both age and weight before a trip.

3. 3. After a drink, about how long does alcohol take to reach the brain?

   1. 1 to 2 minutes
   2. About 2 hours
   3. About 6 hours
   4. 20 to 40 minutes
   Show answer

   20 to 40 minutes. The manual says alcohol goes from the stomach into the blood and reaches the brain in 20 to 40 minutes. One to two minutes is far too fast, and two or six hours is far too slow. Once there, alcohol affects the parts of the brain that control judgment and skill. The manual compares it to a sunburn: by the time you feel it, it is already too late.

4. 4. When a dashed yellow line separates opposing lanes, what may a driver do?

   1. Cross it only to park beside the road
   2. Cross it to pass when the maneuver is safe
   3. Treat it as a barrier that forbids every crossing
   4. Use the opposing lane continuously until the next intersection
   Show answer

   Cross it to pass when the maneuver is safe. A dashed yellow line divides traffic moving in opposite directions and allows a driver to cross for a pass when conditions make the maneuver safe. The choice “Cross it only to park beside the road” confuses a passing marking with a parking permission, which the manual never grants. The choice “Treat it as a barrier that forbids every crossing” describes the restriction created by solid yellow lines, not a dashed line. The choice “Use the opposing lane continuously until the next intersection” turns a temporary passing movement into extended travel against traffic. Before crossing, check sight distance, opposing vehicles, and the condition of the road. A dashed line signals a possible pass, while safety determines whether you may actually use it.

5. 5. What action belongs with the yield sign shown?

   
   1. Stop for exactly five seconds before entering
   2. Slow down and yield to traffic in the intersection or roadway
   3. Accelerate so vehicles behind you can enter first
   4. Yield only to vehicles approaching from the left
   Show answer

   Slow down and yield to traffic in the intersection or roadway. The downward triangle marks a yield requirement, not an automatic full-stop requirement. Slow down and give the right-of-way to traffic in the intersection you are crossing or the roadway you are entering. You may continue when the path is safe and clear. The five-second option invents a timing rule that the manual does not state, while the left-only option ignores traffic from the other direction. Use the sign as an instruction to reduce speed, scan both directions, and be prepared to stop if another road user has priority.

6. 6. Why should a driver take an exit-ramp sign facing the wrong way seriously?

   
   1. It may mark an opening where entry would send you in the wrong direction
   2. It identifies a lane reserved for slow vehicles
   3. It announces that a divided highway is ending
   4. It permits a U-turn across the median
   Show answer

   It may mark an opening where entry would send you in the wrong direction. The manual places do-not-enter signs at exit ramps where a driver would be going in the wrong direction. That makes the sign an immediate route and safety warning, not a speed or lane-use suggestion. Continuing through the opening can put your vehicle into opposing traffic. The divided-roadway option describes one possible setting but not the sign's instruction, and a U-turn is never granted by this symbol. If you see it ahead, stop before the opening and choose a permitted direction instead of correcting after entry.

7. 7. What does the round yellow railroad warning sign indicate?

   
   1. A school bus stop is on the next block
   2. A mandatory circular traffic pattern begins immediately
   3. A no-passing zone ends at the sign
   4. A railroad crossing is ahead
   Show answer

   A railroad crossing is ahead. The round yellow sign with a black X and RR letters is placed along the road before a railroad crossing. It gives advance notice, so the driver has time to slow, look in both directions, and confirm that the vehicle can clear the tracks. It is not a roundabout instruction, a passing-zone message, or a school-bus marker. The strongest cue is the RR lettering paired with the X. Treat the approach as a rail crossing even before the crossbuck or tracks come into view.

8. 8. For how long must a New Mexico applicant retain an instructional permit before moving to the next license stage?

   1. At least six months
   2. At least three months
   3. At least nine months
   4. Until the applicant turns 18, regardless of issue date
   Show answer

   At least six months. The instructional permit must be retained for at least six months. That period is separate from the applicant's birthday and is not automatically shortened by passing a test or completing a practice drive. The three month choice is too short, while the nine month and age 18 choices add requirements the manual does not state. Track the issue date carefully so the learner does not seek the provisional stage before the full holding period has passed.

9. 9. According to the New Mexico manual, what should you do whenever you turn on your windshield wipers?

   1. Turn on your high beams
   2. Turn on your parking lights only
   3. Turn on your headlights
   4. Turn on your emergency flashers
   Show answer

   Turn on your headlights. The manual's rule is simple: if you turn on your wipers, turn on your headlights, because rain, snow, or fog makes your vehicle harder for others to see. High beams reflect back in rain, snow, or fog and cause glare, so the manual says to use low beams in those conditions. Parking lights are for parked vehicles only, and driving on them alone is not allowed. Emergency flashers are for a vehicle that is having trouble and has to stop.

10. 10. Besides stopping at least 15 feet from a railroad crossing, what must a New Mexico school bus driver do before crossing?

    1. Open the doors of the school bus
    2. Turn on the red flashing lights
    3. Have the children leave the bus
    4. Sound the horn three times
    Show answer

    Open the doors of the school bus. School buses, taxis and other vehicles for hire carrying passengers, and trucks hauling explosives, gasoline, or other dangerous materials must stop at least 15 feet from a railroad crossing before proceeding. The manual adds that a school bus driver must open the bus doors before crossing. The manual does not tell the bus driver to turn on the red flashing lights, have the children leave the bus, or sound the horn at a crossing.

11. 11. What does a yellow arrow signal mean for a driver turning in its direction?

    1. Speed up because oncoming traffic must stop for the arrow
    2. The turn is protected until the arrow changes to flashing red
    3. The protection of the green arrow is ending, so prepare to stop and yield to oncoming traffic
    4. Turn without checking for pedestrians or opposing vehicles
    Show answer

    The protection of the green arrow is ending, so prepare to stop and yield to oncoming traffic. A yellow arrow signals that the protected movement provided by the green arrow is ending. A driver turning in that direction should prepare to stop and must yield to oncoming traffic before turning. The protected-until-red choice extends the green protection beyond its stated phase, while speeding up reduces the time available to respond. Ease off the accelerator, check opposing traffic and pedestrians, and stop if the turn cannot be completed safely.

12. 12. How are reserved lanes commonly marked for special vehicle use?

    1. By a blue curb along the whole road
    2. By a red flashing light in every lane
    3. By signs and often a white diamond at the roadside or on the pavement
    4. By a railroad crossbuck over the lane
    Show answer

    By signs and often a white diamond at the roadside or on the pavement. Reserved lanes are marked by signs, and they often include a white diamond beside the road or painted on the pavement. A red flashing light would control a signal, not identify a special-use lane. A blue curb points to parking restrictions, while a crossbuck belongs at a railroad crossing. The cue is the diamond paired with words such as bus, bicycle, or HOV. Read the sign before entering because it tells which vehicles may use the lane and when the restriction applies.

13. 13. What should you do if a tire suddenly goes flat while driving?

    1. Stop in the travel lane and leave the vehicle there
    2. Turn sharply toward the shoulder and brake hard immediately
    3. Accelerate to keep the flat tire from touching the road
    4. Hold the steering wheel tightly, keep straight, and slow down gradually
    Show answer

    Hold the steering wheel tightly, keep straight, and slow down gradually. A flat tire can pull the vehicle away from its path, so steering control comes first. Grip the wheel, keep the vehicle straight, and reduce speed smoothly by easing off the accelerator and using the brakes lightly. A sharp turn or hard braking can produce a skid, especially before the driver has stabilized direction. Avoid stopping in a live lane when possible; guide the vehicle to a safe place off the roadway and use hazard awareness while pulling over.

14. 14. According to the three-second rule, what should you do if you pass the marker before finishing the count?

    
    1. Drop back and count again at another spot
    2. Keep the same gap because the rule is only for highways
    3. Brake hard immediately at the marker
    4. Change lanes without checking traffic
    Show answer

    Drop back and count again at another spot. Passing the marker before the count ends means the following gap is too short. The manual directs the driver to drop back and count again at another stationary point, repeating the process until the gap is at least three seconds. Keeping the same distance ignores the test, and hard braking at the marker can create a rear-end conflict. A lane change is unrelated unless traffic conditions separately call for it. Use a sign or pole as the reference, count steadily, and build the space before the vehicle ahead needs to brake.

15. 15. How far must a truck carrying explosives, gasoline, or other dangerous materials stop from a railroad crossing?

    1. Only far enough to keep the front wheels off the tracks
    2. At least 5 feet
    3. At least 25 feet
    4. At least 15 feet
    Show answer

    At least 15 feet. Trucks transporting explosives, gasoline, or other dangerous materials must stop at least 15 feet from a railroad crossing before proceeding. The five foot and 25 foot figures do not match the manual's specified distance. Stopping only with the front wheels clear could leave part of the vehicle dangerously close to the tracks and ignores the special rule. The required space gives the driver a deliberate stopping point before the crossing. Watch for the railroad warning, stop at the prescribed distance, and proceed only after the crossing is safe and there is room to clear it completely.

16. 16. Under New Mexico law described in the manual, who must wear a motorcycle helmet?

    1. Only passengers under 16
    2. Every motorcycle driver and passenger under 18
    3. Only motorcycle drivers, regardless of age
    4. No one when traveling below 25 mph
    Show answer

    Every motorcycle driver and passenger under 18. The stated legal requirement applies to motorcycle drivers and passengers who are under 18. The manual separately recommends helmets for everyone on a motorcycle, but that recommendation does not change the age group identified in the law. Limiting the rule to passengers or drivers alone leaves out part of the requirement, and speed does not create the listed exception. Check both people on the motorcycle before moving, while also making sure any helmet is secured and meets the described safety standards.

17. 17. A two-lane road has a solid yellow line on your side and a dashed yellow line on the other side. May you pass?

    
    1. No, because yellow lines always prohibit both directions
    2. Yes, because the dashed line is visible across the center
    3. Yes, but only by using the shoulder
    4. No, passing is prohibited from your side
    Show answer

    No, passing is prohibited from your side. With a solid and dashed yellow line separating opposing traffic, the line on the driver's side controls that driver's pass. A solid line on your side means you may not pass, even though the opposite side has a dashed line. The shoulder is never a substitute for a permitted passing lane, and a double solid arrangement is the pattern that bars both directions. Check the line nearest your lane before beginning any maneuver across the center.

18. 18. What are drivers responsible for checking when they park?

    1. That the vehicle is parked against traffic
    2. That the vehicle is left with its engine running
    3. That the vehicle is not a hazard
    4. That the vehicle blocks the nearest driveway
    Show answer

    That the vehicle is not a hazard. New Mexico places responsibility on the driver to make sure a parked vehicle is not a hazard. That means choosing a position that does not interfere with moving traffic and remains visible to approaching road users. Leaving the engine running does not make an unsafe position acceptable, and parking against traffic can create a separate problem. Blocking a driveway interferes with access rather than protecting it. Before walking away, check the vehicle's distance from traffic, its visibility, and whether it obstructs a lane, entrance, or crossing.

19. 19. When is wildlife especially active on New Mexico roads, according to the manual?

    1. At dawn, dusk, and during the first few hours after darkness
    2. Only at noon on clear summer days
    3. Only after midnight when traffic is heavy
    4. Only during bright daylight after rainfall
    Show answer

    At dawn, dusk, and during the first few hours after darkness. The wildlife guidance highlights dawn, dusk, and the first few hours after darkness as times when animals are especially active. The driver should scan the roadway and edges, watch for crossing signs, and expect that more than one animal may follow the first. The daylight-only choices miss the periods named in the manual, while midnight is too narrow. Reduce speed when animals or signs appear, and be prepared to let an animal cross rather than assuming it will move away.

20. 20. What can happen in New Mexico if a vehicle is driven without the required liability insurance?

    1. Nothing, if the driver pays for damages later
    2. Non-issuance or suspension of the registration, surrender of the plates, and possible criminal penalties
    3. A written warning only
    4. Two points and no other action
    Show answer

    Non-issuance or suspension of the registration, surrender of the plates, and possible criminal penalties. The manual says failure to have insurance could result in non issuance or suspension of your vehicle registration, surrender of the license plates, and possible criminal penalties. Offering to pay damages later does not replace the required policy. A warning only answer understates the consequence. Driving without insurance carries no points and instead requires a court appearance, so the two points choice is also wrong. Proof of insurance must be kept in the vehicle, and the minimums are $25,000, $50,000, and $10,000.