NM Permit Practice Test 7

All 20 questions in test 7

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. What is the usual shape of the advance warning sign before a railroad crossing?

   1. A round yellow sign with an X and black RR letters
   2. An eight-sided red sign
   3. A blue rectangle with a white hospital symbol
   4. A green rectangle showing a route number
   Show answer

   A round yellow sign with an X and black RR letters. The advance railroad warning is a round yellow sign marked with an X and black RR letters. It alerts drivers before the tracks, while the white crossbuck is located at the crossing itself and carries a yield meaning. An octagon identifies a stop sign, blue identifies services, and green route panels guide travel. Seeing the round railroad symbol should prompt a slower approach, a check up and down the tracks, and confirmation that there is room on the far side before entering.

2. 2. Which statement about a New Mexico instructional permit is true for a 15 year old applicant?

   1. The applicant needs no supervised practice until age 16
   2. The applicant may drive alone after passing the vision test
   3. The applicant may skip the knowledge test if a parent signs consent
   4. The applicant must be enrolled in an approved driver education course
   Show answer

   The applicant must be enrolled in an approved driver education course. A person who is 15 or older must be enrolled in and attending a driver education course approved by the Traffic Safety Bureau. Parent consent for a minor does not replace the knowledge test, and an instructional permit does not authorize unsupervised driving. The course also includes DWI education and practice driving. Verify enrollment before treating the permit as active, then follow the separate supervision requirement each time the learner drives.

3. 3. What changes may orange work area warnings announce?

   1. Reduced speeds, detours, or changing road surfaces
   2. A permanent increase in the posted speed
   3. A guaranteed open lane through the work area
   4. A nearby railroad train schedule
   Show answer

   Reduced speeds, detours, or changing road surfaces. Work area warnings can announce reduced speed, detours, slow-moving construction equipment, or poor and suddenly changing road surfaces. These conditions require extra scanning because workers, equipment, and lane paths may change near the vehicle. The open-lane choice gives false assurance, while the speed-increase choice contradicts the warning's purpose. Slow down, follow signs and cones, and obey a person directing traffic with a sign or flag. Orange signs are the cue that construction, maintenance, or emergency operations may have changed the normal roadway, even when the work itself is not immediately visible.

4. 4. What does the yellow pennant-shaped sign mark?

   
   1. The beginning of a hospital service area
   2. A place where passing is not permitted
   3. A zone where passing is required
   4. A route for emergency vehicles only
   Show answer

   A place where passing is not permitted. The pennant identifies a no-passing area, where roadway conditions or hidden hazards make an overtaking maneuver unsafe or prohibited. The sign is not an instruction to pass, and it has no connection with hospitals or emergency-only routes. Even where a passing sign is absent, the driver must still judge sight distance and traffic before overtaking. Treat the pennant as a prompt to remain behind the vehicle ahead until the restriction ends and a legal opportunity appears.

5. 5. What does a steady yellow traffic light indicate as you approach the intersection?

   1. The signal has the same meaning as a green arrow
   2. The driver must accelerate before the red appears
   3. The driver may stop in the middle of the intersection
   4. The signal is about to turn red, so stop if safe
   Show answer

   The signal is about to turn red, so stop if safe. A steady yellow warns that the signal is about to change to red. Stop when doing so is safe. If the vehicle is already in the intersection when yellow appears, continue through rather than stopping in the junction. Accelerating to beat the light is not the prescribed response, and stopping in the intersection can obstruct crossing traffic. The cue is to assess stopping distance immediately, then either stop before the line or clear the intersection smoothly.

6. 6. If an emergency vehicle's loudspeaker gives directions, what should nearby drivers do?

   1. Continue without responding to them
   2. Follow the loudspeaker instructions
   3. Stop in the travel lane immediately
   4. Follow only instructions from another driver
   Show answer

   Follow the loudspeaker instructions. Drivers must follow instructions delivered over an emergency vehicle's loudspeaker. Those directions can manage traffic around a crash, fire, rescue scene, or other urgent response, and they may differ from the normal movement a driver expected to make. The choice “Continue without responding to them” is unsafe because ignoring a direct instruction can interfere with responders. Slow down, watch the emergency vehicle, and carry out the stated direction carefully. If no loudspeaker instruction is given, the manual separately requires yielding and pulling to the right when the emergency vehicle approaches with a siren, air horn, or qualifying flashing light.

7. 7. How close may you be to a vehicle ahead before switching from high beams to low beams?

   1. Within 500 feet only when approaching a vehicle
   2. Within 50 feet when following another vehicle
   3. Within 200 feet when following another vehicle
   4. Only after the other driver flashes headlights
   Show answer

   Within 200 feet when following another vehicle. The manual sets a 200-foot limit for low beams when you are following another vehicle. High beams can glare into the other driver’s mirrors and make it harder for that person to see the roadway. The 500-foot figure concerns headlights when approaching another car, not following one, while waiting for a flash gives up needed courtesy and safety. Watch the distance behind the vehicle ahead and dim early enough to avoid shining directly into its mirrors.

8. 8. What must a driver do when approaching a crosswalk where pedestrians are present or about to enter?

   
   1. Yield to pedestrians in or about to enter the crosswalk
   2. Continue without yielding if the signal favors the vehicle
   3. Honk so pedestrians leave the crosswalk
   4. Yield only after a pedestrian reaches the vehicle's lane
   Show answer

   Yield to pedestrians in or about to enter the crosswalk. A crosswalk is a designated place for people to cross, but a driver must still watch for pedestrians who are entering or already present. Yielding means slowing or stopping early enough to leave the crossing open, not waiting until a person reaches your exact lane. The signal-favors-vehicle choice overlooks people who may be crossing during a permitted phase or outside a perfect signal view. Scan both sides before turning, keep the crosswalk clear, and proceed only after pedestrians are safely out of your path.

9. 9. A New Mexico provisional licensee is driving with no licensed adult in the car. How many passengers under 21 who are not immediate family may ride along?

   1. None at all, at any time
   2. No more than one
   3. Up to two
   4. Up to three if all are licensed
   Show answer

   No more than one. A provisional license lets the teen drive without supervision, but it limits young passengers: no more than one passenger under 21 who is not a member of the driver's immediate family. The limit lifts only when a licensed driver who is 21 or older is in the vehicle. A total ban on passengers overstates the rule, since one such passenger is allowed. Two or three young passengers exceed the limit, and being licensed does not make an under 21 passenger exempt. Family members are not counted against this passenger limit.

10. 10. If you are in an intersection when the yellow light comes on, what should you do?

    1. Turn around before crossing the intersection
    2. Stop in the intersection and wait for red
    3. Reverse to the stop line behind the vehicle
    4. Continue through the intersection
    Show answer

    Continue through the intersection. Once a vehicle is already inside the intersection, the manual says to continue through when the yellow light comes on. Stopping there can leave the vehicle blocking the intersection and expose it to conflicting movements. The stop in the intersection choice creates that hazard, while reversing is unsafe and may surprise traffic behind. Turning around is not a signal response. The separate rule for approaching a yellow light is to stop if a safe stop is possible. The important cue is the vehicle's position when yellow appears: already in the intersection means clear it rather than halt within it.

11. 11. If the engine dies while you are driving, what should you do first?

    1. Turn the ignition off and release the steering wheel
    2. Keep a strong grip on the steering wheel
    3. Leave the vehicle in the travel lane and coast without steering
    4. Apply the parking brake sharply while still moving at speed
    Show answer

    Keep a strong grip on the steering wheel. When the engine stops, steering may become harder, but control is still possible. Keep both hands engaged with the wheel, guide the vehicle toward a safe location, and remain alert for the extra effort needed at the brake pedal. Releasing the wheel removes the control needed to leave the travel lane, while a sharp parking-brake application can cause a skid. Maintain direction first, then steer off the roadway and stop where you will not obstruct traffic.

12. 12. What does a green arrow permit, assuming the driver continues to check for people and other hazards?

    1. A turn against the arrow
    2. A U-turn in any lane
    3. A turn in the arrow's direction
    4. Movement without yielding to pedestrians
    Show answer

    A turn in the arrow's direction. A green arrow gives protected movement in the direction it points, so it can authorize a turn without the usual opposing traffic conflict. It does not authorize a U-turn merely because the vehicle is facing an arrow, and it cannot support movement in a different direction. Pedestrians remain a concern because the manual specifically tells turning drivers to watch for people crossing. Scan the intended path before moving, and remember that a signal controls the indicated movement rather than every possible maneuver from that lane.

13. 13. Before crossing railroad tracks, what must a driver confirm about the far side?

    1. A gate is absent, so the crossing is automatically clear
    2. The vehicle can stop on the tracks if traffic is slow
    3. There is enough room for the vehicle without stopping on the tracks
    4. The driver can shift gears while crossing to save fuel
    Show answer

    There is enough room for the vehicle without stopping on the tracks. A driver must wait until there is room on the far side for the entire vehicle, because stopping on the rails creates a severe collision risk. The choice “The vehicle can stop on the tracks if traffic is slow” accepts exactly the condition the manual warns against. An absent gate does not prove that a train is not coming, so the choice “A gate is absent, so the crossing is automatically clear” is unsafe. The choice “The driver can shift gears while crossing to save fuel” adds a mechanical action that can increase the chance of stalling; the manual advises avoiding gear changes on the tracks. Look and listen, confirm the exit is open, and cross only when the vehicle can clear the railroad completely.

14. 14. When is it legal to drive on a sidewalk in New Mexico?

    1. Only to cross it, and you must yield to pedestrians
    2. Whenever traffic in the lane is stopped
    3. To pass a vehicle turning left
    4. Never, not even to reach a driveway
    Show answer

    Only to cross it, and you must yield to pedestrians. The manual says it is illegal to drive on a sidewalk except to cross it, and drivers crossing a sidewalk to enter or leave a driveway, alley, or parking lot must yield to pedestrians. Stopped traffic and passing a turning vehicle are not exceptions. Saying never ignores the stated exception for crossing to reach a driveway, alley, or parking lot.

15. 15. What validity period and renewal window does the manual give for a New Mexico driver license?

    1. Eight years only, renewable up to six months early
    2. Two or four years, renewable only during the final week
    3. Four or eight years, renewable up to 90 days early or 30 days late
    4. One year, renewable only after the license expires
    Show answer

    Four or eight years, renewable up to 90 days early or 30 days late. A New Mexico driver license is valid for either four or eight years. The manual permits renewal up to 90 days before expiration or as late as 30 days after expiration. The two-year and one-year options change the stated validity period, while six months early exceeds the listed advance window. Plan around the actual expiration date, and bring the current license plus another proof of identity when renewing because the timing rule does not replace the document requirement.

16. 16. If a vehicle begins to hydroplane and the tires lose traction, what does the manual advise first?

    1. Accelerate sharply to force the tires onto dry pavement
    2. Brake hard while turning toward the shoulder
    3. Ease off the gas and keep the steering wheel straight
    4. Turn the wheel quickly from side to side
    Show answer

    Ease off the gas and keep the steering wheel straight. When the tires lose traction on a wet road, the manual advises easing off the gas and keeping the steering wheel straight. A turn should be made slowly only if an emergency requires it, and braking or turning before grip returns can worsen the skid. Hard braking and rapid steering create abrupt inputs while the tires are already unable to hold the surface. Reduce the source of acceleration, stay composed, and wait for traction before trying to change direction or stop.

17. 17. If no minimum speed is posted, how should a driver choose a speed?

    1. Drive so regular traffic flow is not interrupted
    2. Drive at the lowest possible speed on every road
    3. Match the fastest vehicle regardless of conditions
    4. Stop until another vehicle provides a pace
    Show answer

    Drive so regular traffic flow is not interrupted. When no minimum speed is posted, the manual directs drivers to travel so they do not interfere with regular traffic flow. That does not mean choosing the fastest vehicle's speed or ignoring weather and road conditions. Driving unnecessarily slowly can cause vehicles to bunch up and pass, while stopping in the lane creates a separate hazard. Choose a pace that is safe for the conditions and compatible with ordinary traffic. Keep right when traveling slower than other vehicles, and allow faster traffic to pass safely.

18. 18. After a first DWI conviction in New Mexico, what vehicle-related requirement does the manual list in addition to treatment?

    1. Remove the vehicle's license plates for five years
    2. Replace the vehicle with a commercial vehicle
    3. Install a second brake pedal for the driver
    4. Install an ignition interlock device on the vehicle
    Show answer

    Install an ignition interlock device on the vehicle. The manual lists treatment and installation of an ignition interlock device after a first DWI conviction. The device is tied to the vehicle and is distinct from jail, fines, or the later authority to revoke a license. Requiring a commercial replacement vehicle invents a condition, while an extra brake pedal has no connection to the alcohol rule. Think of the interlock as a starting control that tests the driver before the vehicle can be operated, not as a change to the vehicle's ordinary braking system.

19. 19. A driver turning left at an intersection faces an oncoming vehicle going straight. Who yields?

    
    1. Neither driver when both have a green light
    2. The oncoming driver going straight
    3. The driver who entered the intersection second
    4. The driver turning left
    Show answer

    The driver turning left. The left turning driver must yield to an oncoming vehicle that is continuing straight. A green signal may allow the turn, but it does not remove the need to wait for a safe gap in opposing traffic. The oncoming vehicle does not have to slow merely because the turning vehicle arrived first. Keep the wheels positioned for a controlled turn, watch the approaching lane, and complete the turn only after the through vehicle has cleared.

20. 20. What kinds of information can traffic signs provide?

    
    1. Only the vehicle's mechanical condition
    2. Rules, hazards, location, directions, and services
    3. Only the weather forecast for the next hour
    4. The identity of every driver using the road
    Show answer

    Rules, hazards, location, directions, and services. New Mexico explains that traffic signs can communicate rules, hazards, location, directions, and the location of services. Their messages are broader than speed alone and help drivers understand both the road's controls and the route ahead. Signs do not diagnose a vehicle, forecast the weather, or identify every road user. Read the sign type, shape, color, and wording together, then follow the instruction while continuing to observe traffic and roadway conditions.