NM Permit Practice Test 25

All 20 questions in test 25

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. Approaching an intersection on a motorcycle, how do you cut reaction time for trouble?

   1. Cover the clutch and both brakes at intersections.
   2. Rest both hands away from the controls before entering.
   3. Speed up as you pass through the intersection.
   4. Look only at the signal head before crossing.
   Show answer

   Cover the clutch and both brakes at intersections.. A rider nearing an intersection can reduce reaction time by covering the clutch and both brakes, keeping the controls ready in the hands. Removing the hands, accelerating through, or watching only the signal head leaves less control available for a sudden conflict. Covering the controls does not mean braking continuously; it means being prepared to respond immediately. The rider remains ready without adding unnecessary braking to the approach.

2. 2. Before entering a shared center lane, what must you be sure about?

   1. That the lane is empty only behind you
   2. Be sure you can enter, and only if it is safe
   3. That oncoming drivers will make room for you
   4. That you waited five seconds before entering
   Show answer

   Be sure you can enter, and only if it is safe. Before entering a shared center lane, the driver must be sure the lane can be entered and that doing so is safe. The lane is not safe merely because it is clear behind the vehicle, and oncoming drivers are not required to make room. No five-second wait is stated. Check the lane and surrounding traffic, then enter only when the movement will not create a conflict.

   Study this in the handbook: Pavement markings and special lanes

3. 3. Before starting an automatic transmission vehicle, where must the shift selector sit?

   1. Put the automatic selector in Neutral before starting.
   2. Low gear on level ground.
   3. Drive with the brake held.
   4. Put the automatic selector in Park before starting.
   Show answer

   Put the automatic selector in Park before starting.. An automatic-transmission vehicle must have its shift selector in Park before it is started. Neutral, Low, and Drive do not satisfy the manual’s instruction, even if the driver is holding the brake. Park prevents the vehicle from being placed in a powered gear at startup. Confirm the selector’s position before turning the key or pressing the start control. The required position is part of the startup procedure.

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

4. 4. What does a white painted curb permit?

   1. It prohibits every stop.
   2. It permits parking all day.
   3. It permits only short stops.
   4. It marks a loading zone for commercial vehicles.
   Show answer

   It permits only short stops.. A white painted curb permits only short stops. A white curb therefore does not ban every stop, but it also does not permit all day parking. A loading zone or another parking restriction is the yellow curb meaning, not the white curb meaning. The color signals a brief stopping permission, so leaving the vehicle as though the space were an unrestricted parking spot would go beyond what the manual permits. Use the white curb only for a short stop and move when that brief purpose is complete.

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

5. 5. A green arrow lights for your turn. What traffic should you expect in that direction?

   1. Oncoming traffic may turn across your path
   2. Crossing traffic may continue through the intersection
   3. All traffic has priority over your turn
   4. There should be no oncoming or crossing traffic
   Show answer

   There should be no oncoming or crossing traffic. A green arrow means a driver may safely turn in the direction of the arrow, and the manual says there should be no oncoming or crossing traffic while the arrow is green. The other choices describe traffic that the signal is intended to hold or give priority over the turn. The arrow does not mean that every traffic movement has priority or that oncoming vehicles may cross the turning path. The driver must still make the turn in the arrow's direction.

   Study this in the handbook: Traffic signals and arrows

6. 6. Why check the speedometer often, especially leaving fast roads for local streets?

   1. Drivers judge speed accurately by feel after fast travel.
   2. Speedometers read lower than actual speed on highways.
   3. People misjudge speed after fast roads and may drive faster than they think.
   4. Local roads hide the signs that show the speed limit.
   Show answer

   People misjudge speed after fast roads and may drive faster than they think.. The manual warns that people are poor judges of their own speed and should check the speedometer often. After traveling quickly, a driver may feel that a lower local-road speed is slower than it really is. The speedometer does not read low just because the vehicle leaves a highway, and signs are not the reason for the general check. Use the instrument to verify speed rather than relying on sensation.

7. 7. What does stopping suddenly usually indicate about a driver?

   1. Excellent hazard anticipation prevents a sudden stop.
   2. Traffic is moving too slowly for the driver.
   3. Proper use of ABS equipment causes the stop.
   4. An inattentive driver risks a skid or rear impact.
   Show answer

   An inattentive driver risks a skid or rear impact.. Sudden stopping usually indicates that a driver was not paying attention, and quick braking can make the vehicle skid or lose control. It is not evidence of excellent anticipation or proper ABS use. Traffic moving slowly does not make every abrupt stop safe, and the rule is not about equipment alone. Looking ahead and responding earlier can prevent the panic stop described here.

8. 8. Why avoid lingering alongside a large truck or bus in traffic?

   1. Large vehicles have large blind spots.
   2. Trucks must change lanes every hour.
   3. Side winds always push smaller cars away.
   4. Truck mirrors block the smaller vehicle's signals.
   Show answer

   Large vehicles have large blind spots.. The manual warns drivers not to stay alongside a large truck or bus because these vehicles have large blind spots. A vehicle in one of those areas may be invisible when the truck or bus changes lanes. Lane-change schedules, side winds, and signal visibility do not explain the rule. Pass promptly or remain far enough behind that the larger driver can see the entire vehicle.

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

9. 9. What happens on pavement during the first minutes of rain on a hot day?

   1. Oil rises in the asphalt and makes the road extra slippery at first
   2. Heat dries the rain before it ever reaches the road surface below
   3. Rain washes oil away instantly on contact
   4. Hot pavement doubles tire grip in rain
   Show answer

   Oil rises in the asphalt and makes the road extra slippery at first. Heat draws oil out of asphalt, and early rain floats that oil into a slick film until runoff washes it away. The danger fades after the first minutes rather than starting at full strength. Grip drops instead of doubling. Slow before the first wet curve after a summer shower and avoid sudden lane changes until the sheen dulls. The slick window is brief, yet crashes cluster there since drivers expect rain alone to clean the surface quickly.

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

10. 10. When backing is necessary in a tight area, what extra help does the manual suggest?

    1. Roll down the windows and guess.
    2. Rely on parking sensors alone.
    3. Use an outside helper.
    4. Back quickly to finish sooner.
    Show answer

    Use an outside helper.. When possible, an outside person can help the driver back by seeing areas hidden from the seat. Guessing and relying on sensors alone can miss a child, post, or other low object. Speed also reduces the time available to respond to the helper or a newly visible hazard. Agree on clear signals, move slowly, and stop immediately if the helper is no longer visible.

11. 11. When may a bicyclist legally ride in the center of a traffic lane?

    1. In rare emergencies only.
    2. Only during daylight hours.
    3. For a turn, squeeze, or hazard.
    4. When traffic is very light.
    Show answer

    For a turn, squeeze, or hazard.. A bicyclist may need the center of the traffic lane for a left turn, a narrow squeeze, or a hazard. The manual therefore allows the rider to take the whole lane when necessary. The permission is not limited to daylight or light traffic, and it is not an excuse to use the lane without a reason. Motorists should leave room when the rider must avoid danger.

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

12. 12. What should a driver plan before attending an event where alcohol will be served?

    1. A large meal shortly before leaving
    2. A route that avoids main roads
    3. A cup of coffee before the drive home
    4. A designated driver or public ride
    Show answer

    A designated driver or public ride. Plan a sober ride before the event: a designated driver, public transportation, or a cab if one is available. The decision has to be made in advance because alcohol weakens the judgment you would use later to decide whether you are fit to drive. A large meal slows absorption but does not make driving safe. Choosing quieter roads does not remove the impairment, and coffee only masks drowsiness while reaction time stays poor. Agree on who is driving before anyone has a drink, and hand over the keys at the start rather than debating it at closing time.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DWI

13. 13. What does alcohol do to a driver reflexes, reaction time, and vision?

    1. Alcohol slows reflexes and reaction time and reduces clear seeing
    2. Alcohol sharpens vision while leaving reaction time unchanged
    3. Alcohol affects only drivers who feel drunk
    4. Alcohol improves alertness for the first hour of driving
    Show answer

    Alcohol slows reflexes and reaction time and reduces clear seeing. Alcohol slows reflexes and reaction time while also making sight less clear and the driver less alert, a combination that shrinks every margin on the road. Feeling sober is an unreliable gauge because judgment fades early and hides the loss from the drinker. The claim of improved alertness confuses stimulation with ability; responses still arrive late when a child or brake light appears ahead. Plan the ride home before drinking begins so the decision never depends on how capable you feel later that night.

    Study this in the handbook: Alcohol, drugs and DWI

14. 14. What minimum coverage applies to injury or destruction of other people's property?

    1. $5,000 for property damage in one accident
    2. $10,000 for property damage in one accident
    3. $25,000 for property damage in one accident
    4. $50,000 for property damage in one accident
    Show answer

    $10,000 for property damage in one accident. The minimum coverage table lists $10,000 for injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident. The $25,000 amount is for bodily injury to or death of one person, while $50,000 covers bodily injury to or death of two or more people. The table does not list $5,000 as the property minimum. This question turns on identifying the type of loss first, then matching it with the amount printed beside that category.

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

15. 15. Besides checking for trains, why slow down at railroad crossings themselves?

    1. You must come to a full stop at every crossing
    2. Some crossings are bumpy, so you need to slow down to cross safely
    3. Crossing signals require you to slow to 5 mph
    4. The speed limit drops to 15 mph at all crossings
    Show answer

    Some crossings are bumpy, so you need to slow down to cross safely. Some railroad crossings are bumpy, so the manual says to slow down enough to cross safely while also checking for trains and room beyond the tracks. It does not set a universal five or fifteen mile-per-hour limit or require a full stop at every crossing. The driver needs controlled speed, a clear track, and enough space on the far side before proceeding.

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

16. 16. Why avoid dark glasses or tinted contacts while driving at night?

    1. Dark glasses improve distance vision at night
    2. They are banned in every state
    3. They cut down the light you need to see clearly at night
    4. They fog faster than clear lenses
    Show answer

    They cut down the light you need to see clearly at night. Dark glasses and tinted contact lenses reduce the light available to see clearly at night, even when a driver thinks they reduce glare. The manual does not say that every state bans them or that fogging is the reason. Better distance vision is not the result of removing light from an already dark scene. Clear lenses preserve the limited light needed to detect hazards.

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

17. 17. Your vehicle is struck from the side. What role do your belts play in the next seconds?

    1. They let you slide away from the impact side.
    2. Belts keep you at the wheel.
    3. They prevent all side injuries fully.
    4. They lock the steering column solid.
    Show answer

    Belts keep you at the wheel.. In a side collision, lap and shoulder belts help keep the driver behind the wheel. They do not let the driver slide away, prevent every injury, or lock the steering column. Remaining in position gives the driver a better chance to control the vehicle if another danger follows. The belt's role is restraint, not complete protection from side forces. Buckle both parts correctly so the belt can do that job.

    Study this in the handbook: Vehicle emergencies and skids

18. 18. May you park on the left side of a two-way street facing against traffic?

    1. Yes, when the street is not busy
    2. Yes, but only for quick deliveries
    3. Yes, when the parking lights are left on
    4. No, parking on the wrong side is prohibited
    Show answer

    No, parking on the wrong side is prohibited. New Mexico prohibits parking on the wrong side of the street. A car facing against the flow has to cross the opposing lane when it leaves, and drivers approaching do not expect its lights or its movement. A quiet street and a delivery stop are not exceptions, and parking lights do not fix the direction problem. Pull to the right curb in the direction of travel. If you need the other side, drive around the block rather than swing across traffic. Check curb markings and house numbers so you know which side you are on before stopping.

    Study this in the handbook: Speed limits

19. 19. Who must take part in the graduated driver license system in New Mexico?

    1. Drivers renewing after age seventy
    2. Under 18 until unrestricted
    3. Every driver changing address in the state
    4. Only motorcycle applicants under age 21
    Show answer

    Under 18 until unrestricted. Drivers younger than 18 advance through the graduated stages until meeting unrestricted requirements. Renewal at seventy, address changes and a special age 21 motorcycle track are invented groups. The stages add supervision first, then limited solo driving, then full status. Families should calendar each stage date so practice hours finish before eligibility arrives. Older teens finishing stages late still follow the same order, holding each level for its full required span.

    Study this in the handbook: Permits and the graduated license

20. 20. What do solid lines along the side of the road show you?

    1. Where the road edge is located
    2. Where parking is allowed for one hour
    3. Where passing zones begin and end
    4. Where buses must stop to load
    Show answer

    Where the road edge is located. Solid edge lines mark where the roadway ends and the shoulder begins. They give a night and fog reference for staying centered. Parking permission, passing zones and bus stops come from other signs and markings. In heavy rain, follow the right edge line at reduced speed rather than the taillights of a wandering car ahead. Fog hides the shoulder drop beyond that line, so the stripe becomes your last reliable guide homeward.

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