NM Permit Practice Test 6

All 20 questions in test 6

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. When may a driver pass another vehicle on a multilane road under the manual's general lane guidance?

   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.

2. 2. During what hours may a provisional licensee generally not drive on New Mexico public highways?

   1. 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM
   2. 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM
   3. 1:00 AM to 6:00 AM
   4. Midnight to 5:00 AM
   Show answer

   Midnight to 5:00 AM. The general nighttime restriction for a provisional license runs from midnight to 5:00 AM. The other time ranges alter one or both endpoints and therefore do not describe the rule. There are exceptions, including being accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21, certain documented family or medical needs, work, school, religious activity, or a medical emergency. First identify the default restricted period, then look for an exception that is actually supported by the stated circumstances.

3. 3. How can you help keep a driver behind you at a safe distance?

   1. Keep a steady speed and signal before slowing or turning
   2. Brake sharply whenever the vehicle gets close
   3. Speed above the limit to open a gap
   4. Move onto the shoulder without checking
   Show answer

   Keep a steady speed and signal before slowing or turning. The manual recommends a steady speed and advance signaling when you need to slow down or turn. Those predictable actions give the driver behind more time to recognize your change and reduce speed smoothly. Sharp braking can cause a rear-end crash, and speeding creates a separate safety and legal problem. The shoulder is not a default escape route and should never be entered without checking. Watch the space behind, signal early, and make your speed changes gradual whenever traffic conditions permit.

4. 4. What does the Four Second Sight Distance Rule tell a driver to do?

   1. Speed up whenever an object is visible four seconds away
   2. Slow down if the vehicle reaches the object before four seconds finish
   3. Use four seconds only when following a motorcycle
   4. Count four seconds after crossing a stop line
   Show answer

   Slow down if the vehicle reaches the object before four seconds finish. The sight-distance rule tests whether speed matches the distance the driver can clearly see. Choose a stationary object ahead and count through four seconds. Reaching it before the count is complete means the vehicle is traveling too fast for the available view, so speed should be reduced. The rule is not a reason to accelerate, and it is not limited to motorcycle following. It applies when hills, curves, darkness, rain, fog, or snow shorten the stopping view. Use the same check at night to avoid overdriving the headlights.

5. 5. If the sign prohibits a right turn, which movement is specifically restricted?

   
   1. Parking on the left side of the roadway
   2. Driving straight through every intersection ahead
   3. Turning right at that location
   4. Changing lanes after checking the blind spot
   Show answer

   Turning right at that location. No right turn is one of the examples the manual gives for regulatory signs with a red slash. The restriction applies to the pictured right-turn action at that location. It does not automatically prohibit going straight, regulate parking on the opposite side, or remove the ordinary duty to check before changing lanes. Read the symbol in combination with the road layout and plan a legal movement before the turn point. A separate sign or marking would be needed to restrict a different action.

6. 6. Which condition can prevent a driver from receiving an unrestricted New Mexico license at the time of application?

   1. The driver completed the required vision screening
   2. The driver held the provisional license for 12 months
   3. A traffic violation is still pending
   4. The driver has no alcohol or drug offense during the provisional period
   Show answer

   A traffic violation is still pending. An unrestricted license applicant must not have any traffic violations pending at the time of application. The other three choices describe qualifying circumstances or completed requirements rather than disqualifying conditions. Holding the provisional license for the required period is necessary, and a clean alcohol or drug record supports eligibility. Review both convictions and unresolved cases before applying, since a pending matter can matter even when it has not yet produced a final conviction.

7. 7. What information do speed limit signs provide?

   1. The maximum safe speed allowed or minimum safe speed required
   2. The exact speed required in every condition
   3. The speed of the vehicle ahead
   4. The minimum age for driving on the road
   Show answer

   The maximum safe speed allowed or minimum safe speed required. New Mexico describes speed limit signs as indicating either the maximum safe speed allowed or the minimum safe speed required. A maximum is not an instruction to drive that speed in rain, ice, fog, or heavy traffic, and a minimum is not a target for every roadway. The sign's category matters, so read whether it sets an upper or lower boundary. Then account for conditions and vehicle handling before choosing a safe pace.

8. 8. After a crash, what should the driver do if the vehicle can still be moved?

   1. Drive away before exchanging information
   2. Leave it in the travel lane until every report is finished
   3. Move it off the road so it does not block traffic
   4. Park it in front of an emergency access route
   Show answer

   Move it off the road so it does not block traffic. A driver involved in a crash must stop, but stopping does not mean creating another hazard. If the vehicle can move, the manual directs the driver to get it off the road so it will not block traffic or cause another collision. Leaving it in a travel lane can expose everyone at the scene to passing vehicles. Driving away is unlawful and prevents information exchange. Once clear of moving traffic, keep people out of travel lanes, shut off damaged vehicles, and use warning devices so approaching drivers see the scene.

9. 9. Which of these can cost a New Mexico driver the driving privilege, according to the manual?

   1. Renewing the license 20 days after it expires
   2. Failing to settle a financial judgment against you for damages from a motor vehicle accident
   3. Driving 55 mph on a public highway with no other posted limit
   4. Parking 60 feet from a railroad crossing
   Show answer

   Failing to settle a financial judgment against you for damages from a motor vehicle accident. The manual lists failing to settle a financial judgment for damages resulting from a motor vehicle accident as a reason for losing driving privileges. Renewal is allowed up to 30 days after the license expires, so renewing 20 days late is within the window. Fifty five mph is the maximum on public highways unless posted otherwise, so that speed is legal. Parking must be at least 50 feet from a railroad crossing, and 60 feet satisfies that. Other listed reasons include a DWI conviction, refusing a chemical test, giving false information, and having too many points.

10. 10. Unless a different limit is posted, what is the maximum speed in New Mexico business or residential areas?

    1. 25 mph
    2. 35 mph
    3. 45 mph
    4. 30 mph
    Show answer

    30 mph. New Mexico's default maximum in business or residential areas is 30 mph unless posted otherwise. Twenty five mph is lower than the figure in New Mexico's table. Thirty five and 45 mph are too high for this category. Remember the full ladder: 15 in a posted school zone, 30 in business or residential areas, 55 on public highways, and 75 on rural interstates.

11. 11. A New Mexico driver alters the birth date on a driver license to buy beer. What does the manual say this can lead to?

    1. Nothing, because it is only a liquor law matter
    2. A written warning only on the first offense
    3. Two points but no license action
    4. Loss of driving privileges
    Show answer

    Loss of driving privileges. The manual lists attempting to change the information on your license, or using someone else's license, when trying to buy an alcoholic beverage as a reason for losing driving privileges. It is not treated as a liquor matter with no license consequence. The manual does not describe a warning only rule for a first attempt. Nor does it treat this as a points only violation; it appears on the list of offenses that can take the license. The legal age to buy, consume, or possess alcohol in New Mexico is 21.

12. 12. How does the New Mexico manual describe the shape and color of a stop sign?

    1. Round and yellow with black letters
    2. Eight-sided and red with white letters
    3. Downward-pointing triangle with red letters
    4. Square and blue with white letters
    Show answer

    Eight-sided and red with white letters. The manual identifies a stop sign by its eight sides and red face with white letters. A round yellow sign is associated with railroad crossing warnings, while the downward triangle is the yield sign. The blue square choice describes neither the stop sign's shape nor its color. Recognizing the octagon helps a driver identify the control even before the wording is fully visible, but the physical appearance does not remove the requirement to make a complete stop.

13. 13. When should a driver reduce speed below the maximum shown on a speed limit sign?

    1. Only when another driver honks
    2. When roadway or visibility conditions require it
    3. Never, because the posted number is mandatory in all conditions
    4. Only after receiving a citation
    Show answer

    When roadway or visibility conditions require it. The posted maximum is intended for ideal driving conditions, and a driver must slow when rain, snow, ice, slippery pavement, or fog makes the limit unsafe. The sign does not promise that the maximum is suitable at every moment. A horn or citation is not the trigger for adjusting speed. Treat the number as an upper boundary under favorable conditions, then choose a lower speed that preserves control and visibility when the road or weather changes.

14. 14. On a wet road, about how much should a driver reduce speed?

    1. Only enough to match the posted maximum
    2. About 2 mph
    3. Exactly half at every speed
    4. About 10 mph
    Show answer

    About 10 mph. For wet roads, the manual gives a practical adjustment of reducing speed by about 10 mph. Cutting speed in half applies to packed snow, not ordinary wet pavement, and two mph is too small to account for the reduced grip. Matching the posted maximum ignores the need to adapt to surface conditions. The cue is water on the roadway before traction is fully lost: slow early, increase following distance, and avoid sudden steering or braking that could start a skid.

15. 15. What do route number sign shapes and colors help identify?

    1. The tire pressure needed for that route
    2. The type of roadway, such as interstate, U.S., state, city, or county road
    3. The number of people required in the vehicle
    4. The distance needed to stop from 50 mph
    Show answer

    The type of roadway, such as interstate, U.S., state, city, or county road. Route number signs use shape and color to identify the kind of roadway a driver is following. The category may be interstate, U.S., state, city, or county road. Tire pressure, passenger count, and stopping distance come from other driving rules and are not what a route marker communicates. The cue is the route shield itself: match its design and number to your map or navigation plan so you stay on the intended road and avoid last-moment corrections.

16. 16. An emergency vehicle approaches while you are already in an intersection. What should you do?

    1. Stop in the intersection until the emergency vehicle turns
    2. Clear the intersection, then pull as far right as possible
    3. Turn left immediately, regardless of traffic
    4. Keep driving at the same speed and remain in the lane
    Show answer

    Clear the intersection, then pull as far right as possible. New Mexico directs a driver in the intersection to continue through it before pulling over. Once clear, move to the right edge or as near to it as possible and yield to the emergency vehicle. Stopping in the intersection can block the responding unit and create a second conflict. A sudden left turn or unchanged lane position also fails to make a predictable path. The cue is clear the junction first, then stop right and wait for the emergency vehicle to pass.

17. 17. When must a driver stop for a school bus with red lights flashing?

    
    1. Only when children are visible beside the bus
    2. Only when the driver is directly behind the bus
    3. When the bus is stopped on either side of the road, unless a median separates the roadway
    4. Only on roads with one lane in each direction
    Show answer

    When the bus is stopped on either side of the road, unless a median separates the roadway. A flashing red school-bus signal requires a stop whether the bus is on your side, across from you, or at an intersection you are approaching. The exception is a roadway divided by a median or another physical barrier, when the bus is traveling toward you on the separated side. Waiting for visible children is unsafe because students may be hidden. After the lights stop, continue only once children have left the roadway and the path is safe.

18. 18. How much space should a New Mexico driver try to give when passing a bicyclist?

    1. At least five feet
    2. At least one foot
    3. At least two feet
    4. Space is needed only if the bicyclist signals
    Show answer

    At least five feet. The manual tells drivers to keep a safe distance when passing a bicyclist, trying for at least five feet, and to pass only when safe and legal. One or two feet is far too close. The space is not tied to the bicyclist signaling. Bicycles are legal vehicles with the same rights and responsibilities as cars, and they may take the whole lane when needed, such as to prepare for a left turn or avoid debris.

19. 19. What does a dashed white line between lanes traveling in the same direction allow?

    1. Changing lanes when it is safe
    2. Passing into opposing traffic
    3. Parking beside the line
    4. Ignoring lane signals above the road
    Show answer

    Changing lanes when it is safe. A dashed white line separates lanes moving in the same direction and may be crossed to change lanes when the move is safe. It is not permission to enter opposing traffic; yellow markings control lanes with traffic moving opposite ways. Parking beside the line would place the vehicle in a travel lane, and overhead lane signals still matter. The practical cue is color plus pattern: white deals with same-direction lanes, and the dash means a lane change can be made after mirror, blind spot, and signal checks.

20. 20. What does a red circle with a red slash on a regulatory sign indicate?

    
    1. The sign gives directions to a service area
    2. The pictured action is required immediately
    3. The route is open only to emergency vehicles
    4. The pictured action is prohibited
    Show answer

    The pictured action is prohibited. A red circle with a red slash over a symbol indicates that the pictured action is prohibited. The manual gives no-left-turn, no-right-turn, and no-U-turn signs as examples. The slash does not require the movement, reserve the road for emergency vehicles, or provide a service direction. Identify the action shown beneath the slash, then choose another legal path or wait for a permitted movement. Continue checking other signs and lane markings because the prohibition applies to the displayed action.