NM Permit Practice Test 12

All 20 questions in test 12

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. You need glasses or contacts for driving. When must you wear them?

   1. Wear them whenever you drive
   2. Wear them for the license test but not ordinary trips
   3. Wear them on highways at night but not other roads
   4. Wear them when a passenger asks but not otherwise
   Show answer

   Wear them whenever you drive. The manual gives one clear instruction for a driver who needs glasses or contact lenses: wear them whenever driving. It does not limit the requirement to a license test, highways, nighttime, or a passenger's request. Corrective lenses are needed for the driving condition that led to the restriction, so a short trip still requires them. Dark glasses or tinted contact lenses at night are a separate concern because they reduce the light needed for clear vision.

   Study this in the handbook: Vision, fatigue, health and distraction

2. 2. What are sharrows on the pavement telling road users?

   1. Bicycles are banned from this stretch of road
   2. Cars may park over the marking at the curb
   3. Shared lanes where cyclists may take the lane and motorists yield
   4. Trucks gain priority over bicycles at the marking
   Show answer

   Shared lanes where cyclists may take the lane and motorists yield. Sharrows indicate that bicyclists are encouraged to take the whole travel lane and that motorists must yield to the bicyclist as needed. They do not ban bicycles, create a parking marking, or give trucks priority. The symbol communicates shared use and a need to accommodate the bicycle’s position. A motorist should not squeeze past simply because the lane also carries cars.

3. 3. What name does the manual give a motorcycle system that links the front and rear brakes through the rear brake pedal?

   1. It is called an integrated braking system.
   2. It is called an anti-lock braking system.
   3. It is called a hill-holding brake system.
   4. It is called an automatic traction system.
   Show answer

   It is called an integrated braking system.. The manual calls a motorcycle arrangement that links the front and rear brakes through the rear pedal an integrated braking system. Anti lock braking describes wheel lock prevention, not the linked front and rear arrangement named in the passage. A hill holding feature keeps a stopped vehicle from rolling, and a traction system is not the manual's name for brakes linked through the rear pedal. The identifying detail is that applying the rear pedal operates both brakes together.

4. 4. Before backing up, what should you check outside the vehicle first?

   1. Check tire pressure before getting in.
   2. Check behind the vehicle before getting in.
   3. Adjust the radio before shifting into reverse.
   4. Check the fuel level before backing.
   Show answer

   Check behind the vehicle before getting in.. The manual says to check behind the vehicle before getting in because children and small objects may not be visible from the driver’s seat. Tire pressure, the radio, and fuel level are unrelated to that blind area. A walk-around check is especially important where people may pass behind a parked vehicle. Only after the area has been checked should the driver enter and prepare to back.

5. 5. When should a driver who takes insulin avoid driving?

   1. After every regular meal, even with no reaction
   2. During morning hours, but not the rest of the day
   3. When an insulin reaction, blackout, convulsion, or shock could occur
   4. Whenever a passenger is in the vehicle during a trip
   Show answer

   When an insulin reaction, blackout, convulsion, or shock could occur. The health section says a person who takes insulin should not drive when there is any chance of an insulin reaction, blackout, convulsion, or shock. The manual gives skipped meals, skipped snacks, and the wrong amount of insulin as examples of situations that can create that chance. It does not set a morning-only or passenger-based restriction. Regular meals are not the listed reason to avoid driving. If insulin dosage is being adjusted, the manual also says someone else driving may be a good idea.

   Study this in the handbook: Vision, fatigue, health and distraction

6. 6. How much beer counts as one alcoholic drink under the manual definition?

   1. A 24 oz can of beer finished by one person
   2. A full quart bottle of beer drank at one sitting
   3. 12 oz. of beer in a regular can, bottle, or glass
   4. Beer counts as half a drink because of its foam
   Show answer

   12 oz. of beer in a regular can, bottle, or glass. A regular 12 oz. serving of beer carries the same drink count as a shot of liquor or a glass of wine, so doubling the serving to 24 oz. means two drinks rather than one stronger refreshment. Quart bottles and the idea that beer somehow escapes the count both understate intake before driving. Count each standard can or bottle separately when you track consumption at a meal or gathering. Anyone who has finished two cans should be treated as having had two drinks, with the impairment that follows that total.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DWI

7. 7. Why does the manual suggest considering a turn when a collision looms ahead?

   1. Turning always guarantees escape room
   2. Turning beats stopping speed
   3. Turning uses less tire grip than braking
   4. Stopping is never an option in traffic
   Show answer

   Turning beats stopping speed. A vehicle usually changes direction faster than it sheds speed, so steering into a clear gap can beat a hopeless braking distance. Escape room is never guaranteed, turning still consumes grip, and stopping remains right when space allows. Grip the wheel with both hands and steer where you want to go, then recover control once clear. Check the side gap first, because turning into an occupied lane trades one collision for another crash.

   Study this in the handbook: Vehicle emergencies and skids

8. 8. Worry or low mood follows you into the car. What strategy does the manual mention?

   1. Stop thinking about the road and focus on the worry instead.
   2. Call a friend while driving to discuss the problem.
   3. Keep your mind on driving; listening to the radio may help.
   4. Drive faster so the trip ends sooner.
   Show answer

   Keep your mind on driving; listening to the radio may help.. When a driver is worried, down, or upset, the manual says to keep the mind on driving, and notes that listening to the radio helps some people focus. Calling someone while driving, ignoring the road, or speeding to finish sooner adds distraction or pressure. If attention cannot stay on the task, postponing the trip is safer than trying to force concentration through an emotional upset.

   Study this in the handbook: Vision, fatigue, health and distraction

9. 9. A solid white line runs between lanes going your direction. What should you do?

   1. Cross it freely at any point
   2. Stay in lane unless special need
   3. Cross only without signaling first
   4. Treat it as a parking boundary line
   Show answer

   Stay in lane unless special need. A solid white lane line says stay put unless a special situation forces a change. Routine crossing, silent crossing and parking readings all misstate its job. A blocked lane or officer direction qualifies as special. Signal, mirror and shoulder check still apply whenever that rare crossing becomes necessary. A stalled car ahead or debris in your lane counts as that special case, not ordinary impatience behind slower traffic.

   Study this in the handbook: Warning, regulatory and guide signs

10. 10. Why does the manual warn about specialty drinks at a bar?

    1. They are always served in smaller glasses
    2. They contain no alcohol unless requested
    3. They are safer because they include juice
    4. They can equal several normal drinks
    Show answer

    They can equal several normal drinks. A specialty drink can hold more alcohol than a standard mixed drink, and the manual equates one with several normal drinks. A smaller glass is no protection, and juice or another mixer does not lower the alcohol content or make the drink safer. Assuming the drink has no alcohol unless you ask for it can leave you badly mistaken about how much you have consumed. Ask what goes into a house specialty and count it as more than one drink when you plan a ride home. Sweet mixers also hide the taste of alcohol, so pace yourself by the standard drink count.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DWI

11. 11. You are crossing a sidewalk to enter or leave a driveway. Who has priority?

    1. Your vehicle, because driveways connect to the road
    2. Any vehicle waiting behind you on the street
    3. Only children walking on the sidewalk
    4. Pedestrians on the sidewalk, so you must yield
    Show answer

    Pedestrians on the sidewalk, so you must yield. Drivers crossing a sidewalk at a driveway, alley or lot entrance must yield to people walking there. The turning car crosses the walking path, so the person on foot holds priority even though the driver is entering traffic. Children are protected too, but the duty covers every pedestrian. Pause with the nose clear of the walk, look both ways along the pavement, and creep forward only after walkers pass. That pause also helps spot cyclists rolling along the walk.

    Study this in the handbook: Right of way at intersections

12. 12. How does driving on gravel or dirt change stopping and turning?

    1. Stopping takes about the same distance as on dry asphalt roads
    2. Stopping takes longer and skidding while turning comes easier
    3. Gravel grips better than concrete at speed
    4. Dirt roads need no speed change at all
    Show answer

    Stopping takes longer and skidding while turning comes easier. Loose gravel and dirt give tires less bite, so stops stretch out and turns break into skids sooner than on asphalt or concrete. Assuming paved road distances on a ranch road invites a slide at the first bend. Slow early, steer gently, and leave a long cushion behind dust clouds that hide the vehicle ahead. Ruts and washboard bumps also tug the wheel, so keep both hands placed and your speed down before loose stretches.

    Study this in the handbook: Road conditions, sight distance and wildlife

13. 13. Where should a driver leave a vehicle when a designated parking area is available?

    1. Along the curb nearest the destination
    2. On the shoulder of the nearest road
    3. In a marked or designated parking area
    4. On open ground beside the roadway
    Show answer

    In a marked or designated parking area. The manual directs drivers to park in a designated area whenever one is possible. Doing so keeps the vehicle out of travel lanes and away from places where it would block sight lines or access. A curb near your destination may sit beside a crosswalk, hydrant, or driveway and can be illegal even when it looks convenient. The shoulder is reserved for emergencies unless officials direct otherwise. Open ground beside the road may be private property, a drainage area, or soft soil that traps a car. Look for painted lines or a marked lot before choosing a spot, and accept a short walk as part of parking safely.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits

14. 14. In the basic traffic light meanings, what does a yellow light tell a driver?

    1. Stop immediately anywhere, even if the vehicle is in the intersection.
    2. A yellow light gives the driver the right of way.
    3. Proceed at higher speed.
    4. A yellow light means caution as the signal cycle changes.
    Show answer

    A yellow light means caution as the signal cycle changes.. A yellow traffic light means caution as the signal cycle changes. It does not tell the driver to stop immediately anywhere, grant unconditional right of way, or invite a speed increase. The color warns that the driver must evaluate the change and act safely. Continue only when the movement can be made safely, and do not treat yellow as permission to rush through the intersection.

    Study this in the handbook: Renewal, points, seat belts and insurance

15. 15. Which children must be secured in an approved safety device?

    1. Children under 24 months or weighing less than 60 pounds.
    2. Every child under 12, regardless of size.
    3. Children who sit in the rear seat after age 12.
    4. Only children riding in the front seat.
    Show answer

    Children under 24 months or weighing less than 60 pounds.. The manual requires an approved safety device for children under 24 months or children weighing less than 60 pounds. That is a specific child-restraint requirement within the broader rule for children under 12. The manual does not require every child under 12 to use an approved device regardless of size, and rear-seat placement or front-seat riding does not define this device requirement. The age or weight condition is the key distinction.

    Study this in the handbook: Renewal, points, seat belts and insurance

16. 16. Traffic control can come from which people besides signals, signs and markings?

    1. Only state police officers direct traffic.
    2. Tow truck drivers control traffic at every roadside scene.
    3. Any pedestrian who waves may direct traffic.
    4. Law enforcement, highway personnel and school crossing guards direct traffic.
    Show answer

    Law enforcement, highway personnel and school crossing guards direct traffic.. Traffic control may be provided by law enforcement, highway personnel, or school crossing guards, and drivers must obey their directions. The authority is not limited to state police, tow truck operators, or any pedestrian who waves. A person performing an identified traffic-control role can direct road users even when the direction differs from a signal or sign. Their role on the roadway is what gives the instruction its traffic-control meaning.

    Study this in the handbook: Renewal, points, seat belts and insurance

17. 17. Near schools, playgrounds and residential streets, what must you stay alert for?

    1. Buses loading on schedules only
    2. Adults jogging in marked lanes
    3. Delivery trucks are the main hazard near these areas
    4. Children crossing, running or riding into the street without looking
    Show answer

    Children crossing, running or riding into the street without looking. Schools, playgrounds, and residential streets often have children who cross, run, or ride into the street without looking. That unpredictable movement is the specific warning, not merely the presence of a bus, jogger, or delivery truck. Reduce speed and watch spaces between parked vehicles where a child may appear suddenly. A child’s failure to look removes the assumption that traffic will be noticed in time.

    Study this in the handbook: Road conditions, sight distance and wildlife

18. 18. You follow a big rig that seems to signal a left turn but swings wide. What should you do?

    1. Pass quickly on the right side
    2. Wait and check the turn signals again
    3. Honk and pass on the left at once
    4. Follow the rig closely through the turn
    Show answer

    Wait and check the turn signals again. Big rigs swing wide to make a right turn, so a rig that looks ready to turn left may actually be starting a wide right. Waiting a second and checking the signals again reveals the real direction before you commit to a pass. Passing on either side during that swing puts you where the trailer will sweep, honking does not shrink the turning path, and following closely removes your view of the signals. Give the rig room and let the turn finish before you proceed.

    Study this in the handbook: Following distance, passing and sharing the road

19. 19. How can you tell whether a truck driver can see your vehicle nearby?

    1. If you cannot see the driver in the mirror, the driver cannot see you
    2. Truck drivers can see every angle around the trailer
    3. High seating removes all blind spots beside the truck
    4. Mirrors show both rear corners of the trailer fully
    Show answer

    If you cannot see the driver in the mirror, the driver cannot see you. If the truck driver cannot be seen in the truck’s side mirror, the manual says the truck driver cannot see the nearby vehicle in general. High seating and large mirrors do not eliminate blind spots around a trailer. A driver who cannot see the truck driver should not assume the truck driver knows the car is there. Move out of the blind area when it is safe.

    Study this in the handbook: Following distance, passing and sharing the road

20. 20. What equipment must a bicycle use for night-time riding?

    1. It must have a bright headlight and a good rear reflector.
    2. It needs only a helmet light and no rear reflector.
    3. It may use reflective clothing instead of a headlight.
    4. It needs no lighting equipment when moonlight is bright.
    Show answer

    It must have a bright headlight and a good rear reflector.. At night, a bicycle must use a bright headlight and a good rear reflector. A helmet light alone does not supply both pieces of bicycle equipment, and reflective clothing does not replace the required headlight. Bright moonlight also does not remove the night time lighting requirement. The headlight helps approaching traffic see the bicycle, while the reflector helps following traffic notice it. Both are required for the night riding equipment described by the manual, so a rider should check that each is mounted and working before entering the road.