NM Permit Practice Test 18

All 20 questions in test 18

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 completing a motorcycle turn, why must you confirm the signal is off?

   1. A driver may enter your path if the signal stays on.
   2. Signals cancel automatically after every turn.
   3. Blinking drains the battery quickly during a ride.
   4. Police ticket every driver with a lit signal after a turn.
   Show answer

   A driver may enter your path if the signal stays on.. After a motorcycle turns, the rider must make sure the signal is off. If it remains on, another driver may believe the motorcycle will turn again and pull directly into its path. Signals do not reliably cancel after every turn, and the manual’s concern is not battery drain or an automatic ticket. Turning off the signal keeps the message to other road users accurate.

2. 2. When a passing area permits a pass, what else must be true?

   1. The pass must be safe for the road and traffic
   2. The vehicle ahead must be below the speed limit
   3. The driver must use the shoulder during the pass
   4. The pass must begin immediately at the sign
   Show answer

   The pass must be safe for the road and traffic. A passing sign or pavement marking tells a driver where passing is permitted, but permission alone is not enough. The manual says a driver may pass only if it is safe and should be aware of road conditions and other vehicles. The vehicle ahead does not have to be below the speed limit, and a driver should not use the shoulder or begin immediately just because a sign appears. The full maneuver must remain safe from its start through the return to the lane.

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

3. 3. Changing lanes on a multi-lane road, why check the far lane as well?

   1. Far lanes are always empty
   2. Drivers in the far lane travel faster
   3. Far lane drivers must yield
   4. Someone in the far lane may move into the same lane
   Show answer

   Someone in the far lane may move into the same lane. During a multilane change, the driver should check the far lane as well as the desired lane because someone there may also be planning to move into it. The far lane is not automatically empty, faster, or required to yield. Looking only at the nearest lane can miss the second vehicle’s planned movement. The extra check reveals whether the intended lane will remain clear.

4. 4. You see no one else around as you prepare to turn. Should you signal?

   1. Signal only if a vehicle appears
   2. Signal after the turn has started
   3. Skip the signal on empty streets
   4. Signal every time you change direction
   Show answer

   Signal every time you change direction. Signaling every time you change direction protects you from the road user you failed to notice, since it is easy to miss someone who needs that warning. Waiting for a vehicle to appear assumes your scan caught everyone, skipping the signal on an empty street leaves a hidden cyclist or walker uninformed, and signaling after the turn starts gives no advance notice at all. Build the habit on quiet streets so it stays automatic in traffic. Cancel the signal after small turns if it does not click off by itself.

   Study this in the handbook: Headlights, horn and turn signals

5. 5. Besides drowsiness, which abilities can prescription drugs affect like alcohol?

   1. They can affect reflexes, judgment, vision and alertness like alcohol.
   2. They can affect hearing, taste and other senses more than driving skills.
   3. They can affect only smell and not driving judgment.
   4. They mainly change appetite and thirst rather than driving ability.
   Show answer

   They can affect reflexes, judgment, vision and alertness like alcohol.. Prescription drugs can affect reflexes, judgment, vision, and alertness in ways similar to alcohol. Hearing, taste, smell, appetite, or thirst do not describe the driving abilities named in the passage. Because several core skills can be impaired, a driver should not assume a prescribed medicine is harmless behind the wheel. Check the label and seek advice before driving when an effect is possible.

   Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DWI

6. 6. Why is passing on the right risky on multi-lane roads?

   1. Right-lane drivers are not allowed to change lanes.
   2. Passing on the right is illegal on every multi-lane road.
   3. The other driver may not see you and change lanes into you.
   4. Mirrors leave the left side completely hidden.
   Show answer

   The other driver may not see you and change lanes into you.. Passing on the right can put a vehicle where the other driver has difficulty seeing it and may suddenly change lanes into it. A driver in the right lane may change lanes when it is safe, so lane changing itself is not the danger. The manual does not impose a blanket ban on every right side pass on a multi lane road, and mirrors do not make another vehicle completely hidden. The risk is being beside a vehicle whose driver may not see you and could move into your path.

7. 7. Why should a driver slow down on a narrow bridge or in a tunnel?

   1. The bridge or tunnel always has a lower posted speed limit.
   2. Vehicles approaching each other are closer together.
   3. The narrow section gives approaching vehicles more room to pass.
   4. A confined roadway gives drivers more time to react.
   Show answer

   Vehicles approaching each other are closer together.. Narrow bridges and tunnels reduce the side space available when vehicles approach one another, so a driver should reduce speed before entering. The manual identifies the closer spacing as the reason, not a universal speed limit change. A narrow section does not give approaching vehicles extra room, and confined space does not give drivers more time to react. Slowing early helps keep the vehicle controlled while nearby traffic passes. Read any posted limit as usual, then adjust below it when the narrow roadway and surrounding traffic require a slower, safer speed.

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

8. 8. A person with a heart condition risks blackout at the wheel. What should they do?

   1. Drive only on empty roads where fewer people are present.
   2. Take only short local trips close to home.
   3. Drive with the windows open to stay alert.
   4. Do not drive; ask the doctor whether the condition affects safe driving.
   Show answer

   Do not drive; ask the doctor whether the condition affects safe driving.. A person with a heart condition, circulation problem, or risk of blackout or fainting should not get behind the wheel and should ask a doctor whether the condition affects safe driving. Empty roads, short trips, or open windows do not prevent a loss of consciousness. The danger comes from the possible medical event, so changing the route or duration does not remove it.

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

9. 9. How should you eat before leaving on a long drive?

   1. Eat a very large meal before starting the trip to avoid hunger.
   2. Eat lightly because a big meal can make you sleepy.
   3. Skip all food for the entire day.
   4. Eat heavily at every stop along the way.
   Show answer

   Eat lightly because a big meal can make you sleepy.. The manual advises eating lightly before a long drive because some people become sleepy after a large meal. Skipping food entirely can create another distraction, while heavy meals at every stop repeat the condition the advice addresses. A modest meal supports the trip without deliberately adding post-meal drowsiness. The point is not to avoid all food, but to avoid a large meal before departure.

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

10. 10. Without ABS your brakes lock and the skid begins. How do you regain rolling grip?

    1. Hold the pedal down harder still
    2. Apply the parking brake firmly instead
    3. Turn the wheel fully to one side
    4. Release, then reapply in cycles
    Show answer

    Release, then reapply in cycles. Locked wheels slide without steering, so release pedal pressure until tires roll again, then squeeze back to the threshold and repeat. Pressing harder deepens the slide, full lock steering scrubs sideways, and the parking brake locks the rear pair. Practice the rhythm mentally so a panic stop on wet pavement becomes release and reapply, not a frozen stomp. Each release lets the tire steer again briefly, which is why direction control returns between pedal pushes.

    Study this in the handbook: Vehicle emergencies and skids

11. 11. The engine dies while driving. What happens to steering and brakes?

    1. Both systems stop working entirely
    2. Steering fails but brakes stay power assisted
    3. Hard steering; hard brake push
    4. Only the horn keeps working afterward
    Show answer

    Hard steering; hard brake push. Dead engine assist makes steering heavy though still usable with a strong grip. Brakes also still function, yet the pedal demands far more push without boost. Neither system quits outright, and the horn detail is a distraction. Muscle the car to the roadside promptly, because each stop and turn will take real effort until help arrives. Hazard lamps help others spot the slowing car while you wrestle it toward a wide shoulder or turnout.

    Study this in the handbook: Vehicle emergencies and skids

12. 12. What does the manual say about ignition keys in a parked vehicle?

    1. Leave them hidden under the seat
    2. Never leave them in the vehicle
    3. Leave them only in a locked garage
    4. Keep them in the ignition for quick starts
    Show answer

    Never leave them in the vehicle. Keys left in a parked vehicle invite theft and make the car easy to move without the owner's consent. Hiding them under the seat does not secure the vehicle, and the manual does not carve out an exception for a locked garage. Keeping them in the ignition for quick starts is precisely the habit the rule forbids. Park, set the brake, take the keys, and lock the doors. That routine also reduces the chance that a child or an unlicensed driver starts the car while you are away, and it protects you if someone reaches into an unlocked vehicle at a curb.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits

13. 13. How should a driver pass a slower vehicle on a New Mexico road with two or more lanes going the same way?

    1. By using the left most lane to pass slower vehicles when passing is permitted
    2. By using the shoulder whenever the lane is crowded
    3. By passing on either side without checking the other vehicle
    4. By driving in the lane reserved for stopped vehicles
    Show answer

    By using the left most lane to pass slower vehicles when passing is permitted. On a multilane road, the left most lane is intended for passing slower vehicles, but the maneuver still requires safe conditions and any applicable signs or markings. The shoulder is not a substitute passing lane, and a driver should not choose a side without considering visibility and lane use. A good cue is to identify the marked travel lanes first, then use the left passing lane only when the road and traffic make the move legal and safe.

14. 14. What do yellow lane markings separate on a roadway?

    1. Lanes traveling the same direction
    2. Opposing traffic flows
    3. Through lanes from turn lanes only
    4. Roadway edges from gravel shoulders
    Show answer

    Opposing traffic flows. Yellow center markings divide traffic flowing opposite ways. White divides same direction lanes, while turn bays and shoulders use other treatments. Seeing yellow on your left confirms two way operation. Keep that color check in mind on unfamiliar rural roads after dark, where a wrong assumption invites head on conflict. Divided highways replace that center paint with a median, yet the opposing flow warning stays identical.

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

15. 15. Why must braking in a motorcycle turn be done very carefully if used?

    1. Turning uses traction, leaving less for braking; too much brake can skid.
    2. Turns double braking power for the motorcycle.
    3. Brakes fail whenever a motorcycle enters a turn.
    4. Only the rear brake works safely during a motorcycle turn.
    Show answer

    Turning uses traction, leaving less for braking; too much brake can skid.. While a motorcycle leans through a turn, some tire traction is already being used for cornering, leaving less available for stopping. Applying too much brake can therefore cause a skid. Turns do not double braking power, brakes do not fail in every turn, and the rule does not limit braking to the rear wheel. Smooth, careful braking protects the remaining traction.

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

16. 16. Which parking position blocks access and is prohibited in New Mexico?

    1. Parking beside a painted white curb during a brief passenger stop in town
    2. Parking in a marked space downtown
    3. Blocking a driveway, alley, private road or lowered curb access to the sidewalk
    4. Stopping briefly at a yellow curb
    Show answer

    Blocking a driveway, alley, private road or lowered curb access to the sidewalk. A parked vehicle may never seal off a driveway, alley, private road or the lowered curb section that gives sidewalk access. White and yellow curbs regulate brief stops rather than access blocking, and marked spaces invite parking. Residents, deliveries and wheelchair users all depend on those openings staying clear. Choose a legal space even when the walk back runs longer at night.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits

17. 17. What is the general rule for cars and motorcycles sharing one lane?

    1. Cars and motorcycles may share a lane in cities.
    2. Sharing applies at stops only.
    3. Cars and motorcycles need a full lane; lane sharing is usually prohibited.
    4. A motorcycle may share a lane with one car when traffic is slow and clear.
    Show answer

    Cars and motorcycles need a full lane; lane sharing is usually prohibited.. Cars and motorcycles need a full lane to operate safely, so lane sharing is usually prohibited. The rule is not limited to cities, traffic lights, or a particular time of day. Two motorcycles or a motorcycle and car should not squeeze into one lane as though one vehicle must give up its space. A full lane provides room for control and correction.

18. 18. Driving away from a low rising or setting sun, why turn on headlights?

    1. Lights help oncoming drivers see you
    2. To see the road surface more clearly
    3. It helps drivers behind you judge your speed
    4. It tells oncoming drivers you are turning
    Show answer

    Lights help oncoming drivers see you. When the sun is behind your vehicle, drivers coming toward you may have difficulty seeing you through the glare. Turning on the headlights makes your vehicle easier for them to notice. The purpose is not to improve your view of the pavement, communicate a turn, or help drivers behind judge speed. Use the headlights when driving away from a rising or setting sun so oncoming traffic can see you.

    Study this in the handbook: Headlights, horn and turn signals

19. 19. Passing another vehicle, how should you treat its blind spot?

    1. Stay in the other driver's blind spot to check mirrors.
    2. Match speed beside the rear door.
    3. Move through the blind spot quickly.
    4. Flash the lights while remaining beside the vehicle.
    Show answer

    Move through the blind spot quickly.. When passing, the manual says to get through the other driver’s blind spot as quickly as possible. Remaining beside the rear door or matching speed extends the time that the other driver may not see you. Flashing lights does not remove that exposure. Complete the pass when there is enough room, or fall back behind the vehicle instead of lingering beside it.

    Study this in the handbook: Headlights, horn and turn signals

20. 20. Up to about what speed do most tires keep good traction when it is raining or the road is wet?

    1. About 50 mph for most tires on wet roads
    2. About 35 mph for most tires on wet roads
    3. About 15 mph for most tires on wet roads
    4. About 65 mph for most tires on wet roads
    Show answer

    About 35 mph for most tires on wet roads. Most tires in fair shape keep solid traction up to roughly 35 mph on a wet surface. Beyond that they begin riding on the water film, and by about 50 mph in heavy rain grip can vanish entirely. The lower and higher figures bracket the real threshold without matching it. Keep rainy pace modest, avoid sharp steering inputs, and remember that worn tread reaches the danger zone well before the listed speed.

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