NM Permit Practice Test 9

All 20 questions in test 9

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 vision standard does the New Mexico license vision test check for?

   1. 20/20 in both eyes without glasses
   2. At least 20/40 in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses
   3. At least 20/40 in both eyes without glasses
   4. At least 20/100 in the better eye
   Show answer

   At least 20/40 in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses. New Mexico's vision test measures that you have at least 20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses. Perfect 20/20 vision is not required, and glasses or contacts may be used. Requiring 20/40 in both eyes adds a condition the manual does not state. Twenty/100 is far below the standard. If you need glasses or contacts to drive, always wear them when you drive.

2. 2. How does New Mexico handle a ticket for driving without insurance or without vehicle registration?

   1. It adds 12 points and an automatic one-year suspension
   2. It carries no points but requires the driver to appear in court
   3. It adds points, the same way a speeding ticket does
   4. It is a warning only and never goes to court
   Show answer

   It carries no points but requires the driver to appear in court. New Mexico uses points for common violations such as speeding or not wearing a seat belt, but offenses like driving without insurance or registration do not carry points. Instead the driver must appear in court, which can lead to more fines and a suspended license. Twelve points confuses these offenses with the point threshold: twelve or more points in twelve months brings a one year suspension. Treating it like a speeding ticket is wrong because these offenses carry no points at all. It also says they require a court appearance, so a warning only answer is wrong.

3. 3. What should a driver do during a sudden stop in a vehicle equipped with ABS?

   1. Use only the parking brake
   2. Pump the pedal rapidly until the vehicle stops
   3. Release the pedal whenever it vibrates
   4. Press the brake pedal hard and keep pressing it
   Show answer

   Press the brake pedal hard and keep pressing it. With an antilock braking system, the manual directs the driver to press the brake pedal as hard as possible and keep pressure on it. The pedal may push back while ABS works, but that sensation is not a signal to release. Rapid pumping is associated with older braking technique, not the ABS procedure described here. The parking brake cannot replace the main stopping system in an emergency. Keep steering control, maintain firm pedal pressure, and let the system help prevent wheel lock while the vehicle slows.

4. 4. After passing a bicyclist on your right, what should you do before making a sudden right turn?

   
   1. Turn across the bicyclist's path immediately
   2. Slow down and merge behind the bicyclist
   3. Sound the horn and keep turning from the passing lane
   4. Accelerate so the bicycle cannot reach the corner first
   Show answer

   Slow down and merge behind the bicyclist. A bicyclist remains a road user whose path must be protected after you pass. The manual directs a motorist to slow down and merge behind the bicycle before turning right, preventing the turn from cutting across the rider's line. The immediate turn is dangerous because it places the vehicle across the bicyclist's path. A horn does not replace a safe position, and acceleration creates a race rather than space. The useful cue is to check where the bicycle will be when the turn begins, not merely where it was during the pass.

5. 5. What is the safest response when a tire suddenly goes flat while driving?

   1. Accelerate until the tire reshapes
   2. Brake hard and stop in the travel lane
   3. Hold the wheel firmly, slow gradually, and pull off safely
   4. Turn sharply toward the nearest shoulder
   Show answer

   Hold the wheel firmly, slow gradually, and pull off safely. A sudden flat tire can disturb steering, so the driver should hold the wheel tightly and keep the vehicle going straight. Ease off the gas, slow gradually, and use the brakes lightly before pulling off in a safe place. Hard braking can upset the vehicle, and a sharp turn toward the shoulder may cause a loss of control. Continuing at speed does not repair the tire and increases the chance of damage. Keep the vehicle out of the travel lane whenever possible, then use hazard protection and seek assistance.

6. 6. What does a flashing red traffic signal mean?

   1. Treat it like a flashing yellow and continue without stopping
   2. Treat it like a stop sign, then proceed when safe
   3. Stop only if a pedestrian is waiting
   4. Use it as permission to turn in any direction
   Show answer

   Treat it like a stop sign, then proceed when safe. A flashing red signal carries the same requirement as a stop sign. Come to a full stop, check crossing traffic and pedestrians, and proceed only when the movement is safe. Treating it like yellow removes the required stop, while a pedestrian’s presence is not the condition that activates the rule. The signal also does not authorize every turn. Use the familiar stop-sign sequence: stop completely, yield as needed, and enter only after the route is clear.

7. 7. What should a driver assume when wildlife is near the roadway?

   1. A horn will make every animal move safely
   2. The animal will always wait for the vehicle
   3. One animal means no others are nearby
   4. The animal may not get out of the way
   Show answer

   The animal may not get out of the way. The manual tells drivers to assume that animals will not get out of the way. That expectation encourages early scanning, lower speed, and readiness to stop instead of relying on an animal to react predictably. The other choices promise behavior the manual specifically warns against or add a horn tactic that is not established here. Watch the road edges, especially at dawn, dusk, and after darkness begins, and remember that more animals may follow the first one across. Leave room to brake without swerving into traffic.

8. 8. How far from a travel lane should a driver park when possible?

   1. Close enough to occupy part of the travel lane
   2. Far enough away to avoid interfering with traffic
   3. Only one foot from moving traffic
   4. On the lane line whenever the shoulder is clear
   Show answer

   Far enough away to avoid interfering with traffic. The parking guidance calls for enough separation from a travel lane that the parked vehicle does not interfere with traffic. A vehicle partly occupying the lane can force approaching drivers to swerve or stop, while a fixed one-foot rule is not the manual's standard. The lane line is a boundary, not a parking target. Select a place that leaves moving traffic a clear path, then check visibility from both directions. This principle applies even when no curb color or temporary sign supplies a more specific restriction.

9. 9. What minimum liability coverage amount is listed for bodily injury to two or more people in one accident?

   1. $10,000
   2. $25,000
   3. $100,000
   4. $50,000
   Show answer

   $50,000. The financial responsibility table lists $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in one accident. The $25,000 amount applies when one person is injured or dies, while $10,000 applies to injury to or destruction of property belonging to others. The $100,000 choice is not one of the listed minimum amounts. Keep the number of injured people separate from the property category, because each situation has its own required coverage figure.

10. 10. What is a shared center lane intended for?

    1. Left turns from either direction
    2. Passing slower traffic
    3. Parking during brief errands
    4. Driving straight through an intersection
    Show answer

    Left turns from either direction. A shared center lane is designed for left turns from either direction, allowing drivers to prepare for that maneuver without using an opposing through lane. It is not a passing lane, a parking strip, or a shortcut for continuing straight through an intersection. Enter only when preparing for a permitted left turn, watch for vehicles approaching from the opposite direction, and leave the lane when the turning movement is complete. The lane's two way design makes an early visual check essential.

11. 11. What does New Mexico law say about a driver's right-of-way at an uncontrolled meeting with another vehicle or pedestrian?

    1. The law identifies who must yield, but it does not give anyone an absolute right-of-way
    2. The vehicle arriving first always receives an absolute right-of-way
    3. A driver may proceed whenever a rule appears to favor that driver
    4. A pedestrian loses priority whenever the driver has a larger vehicle
    Show answer

    The law identifies who must yield, but it does not give anyone an absolute right-of-way. New Mexico’s rule assigns a duty to yield rather than granting a permanent privilege to force passage. Even when another person appears to have violated a traffic control, you still must take reasonable steps to avoid a collision. The choice “The vehicle arriving first always receives an absolute right-of-way” turns a situational rule into an absolute guarantee, which the manual specifically rejects. A practical cue is to scan for people and vehicles before committing to movement, then yield whenever continuing would create danger. This approach is especially important where signs or signals do not settle the order of travel.

12. 12. What must drivers do when a flagger controls traffic in a work area?

    1. Proceed unless a police vehicle is present
    2. Follow only the painted lane lines
    3. Obey the person controlling traffic
    4. Use the shoulder to pass the work crew
    Show answer

    Obey the person controlling traffic. In work areas, a person with a sign or flag may control traffic, and drivers must obey that person. Painted lane lines may be temporarily overridden by the flagger's directions, so relying only on markings can put workers and drivers at risk. A police vehicle is not required for the instruction to matter, and passing on the shoulder is unsafe. The cue is a worker actively directing traffic with a flag or sign. Slow down, watch the signal, and follow it until normal control resumes.

13. 13. In a reversible lane, what does a red X over the lane mean?

    1. The lane is reserved for bicycles
    2. The lane is open only to left turns
    3. You may use the lane for passing only
    4. You cannot use the lane beneath it
    Show answer

    You cannot use the lane beneath it. A red X over a reversible lane means the lane below it is closed to your direction of travel. The left-turn-only message belongs to a flashing yellow X, while a green arrow is the indication that permits use of the lane. Bicycle reservations are marked by reserved lane signs, not a red X control. Watch overhead signals before entering a reversible lane because its direction can change by time of day. If the X is red, stay out even when the pavement ahead looks clear.

14. 14. With good tires, good brakes, and dry pavement, about how far may a vehicle traveling 50 mph need to react and stop?

    1. About 100 feet
    2. About 400 feet
    3. About 200 feet
    4. About 800 feet
    Show answer

    About 400 feet. The manual estimates about 400 feet for a vehicle at 50 mph to react to something seen and bring the vehicle to a stop when tires, brakes, and pavement are good. Two hundred feet is the listed stopping distance at 30 mph, so using it at 50 mph understates the space needed. One hundred feet is shorter still, while 800 feet is not the passenger-vehicle figure in this passage. Use visible stopping distance as a speed cue, especially near hills, curves, or blocked sight lines.

15. 15. If no minimum speed is posted on a New Mexico road, how should a driver choose a speed?

    1. Stop until every other vehicle has passed
    2. Drive at exactly half the maximum posted speed
    3. Drive on the shoulder whenever other traffic is faster
    4. Drive so the vehicle does not interfere with regular traffic flow
    Show answer

    Drive so the vehicle does not interfere with regular traffic flow. Without a posted minimum, the driver should choose a speed that does not interfere with regular traffic flow. The rule is not a formula based on half the maximum, and using the shoulder is not the stated solution to being slower. Stopping in the travel lane would create a new hazard. If the vehicle is moving more slowly than surrounding traffic, the manual also directs the driver toward the right-hand side of the road. Match the flow without exceeding a safe speed.

16. 16. When entering a road from a driveway, alley, or roadside, whom must you yield to?

    
    1. Vehicles already on the main road
    2. Only vehicles turning left from the main road
    3. Only pedestrians carrying a white cane
    4. No one if you signal before entering
    Show answer

    Vehicles already on the main road. A driver entering from a driveway, alley, or roadside must yield to vehicles already using the main road. Signaling helps communicate, but it does not transfer priority to the entering vehicle. Limiting the duty to left-turning vehicles ignores through traffic, and the white cane rule is a separate absolute pedestrian right of way. The cue is entering from a private or roadside access point: pause, scan both directions, and wait for a gap that lets you join without forcing main-road traffic to brake or swerve.

17. 17. What kind of information does a lane-direction sign provide?

    
    1. The number of passengers required in the vehicle
    2. The distance to the next fuel station only
    3. Where you can go or turn, often shown with an arrow
    4. The color of the pavement marking beside the lane
    Show answer

    Where you can go or turn, often shown with an arrow. Lane use control signs tell drivers where they can go and where they can turn. The manual notes that these signs often use an arrow and may be placed beside the road or above the lane. The arrow therefore describes permitted movement from that lane, rather than naming a service or setting a passenger count. Painted arrows may reinforce the instruction, but the sign still needs to be read before the maneuver. Check the lane direction early so a last-second crossing is unnecessary.

18. 18. What does the railroad crossbuck require at the tracks?

    
    1. Drive around a lowered gate if the crossing looks clear
    2. Stop 100 feet before every track even when no train is present
    3. Yield to crossing trains
    4. Shift gears while crossing to gain speed
    Show answer

    Yield to crossing trains. The white X-shaped crossbuck is located at the railroad crossing and has the same meaning as a yield sign. A driver must yield to crossing trains. The manual also warns never to beat a train, never to start across without room on the far side, and advises against shifting gears on the tracks. Those additional precautions explain why the fixed 100-foot stop and gear-shifting choices are unsafe. The essential cue is to look and wait for a clear crossing with room beyond the rails.

19. 19. What happens to penalties for a second or later DWI conviction in New Mexico, compared with a first?

    1. Increased fines, more jail time, and a longer license revocation
    2. The same penalties as a first offense
    3. Only a larger fine, with no jail
    4. Only an extra treatment class
    Show answer

    Increased fines, more jail time, and a longer license revocation. The manual says subsequent DWI convictions bring increased fines, more jail time, and a longer license revocation. Repeating the first offense penalties understates this. A fine alone ignores the added jail time and revocation. A treatment class alone leaves out all three escalations. A first conviction already means stiff fines and court costs, possible jail, ordered treatment, and an ignition interlock, and MVD may revoke the license.

20. 20. What do no-passing signs and pavement markings help identify?

    1. Where passing is allowed, begins, ends, or is not allowed
    2. Where drivers may park on either side of the road
    3. Where headlights may be turned off at night
    4. Where a vehicle may ignore oncoming traffic
    Show answer

    Where passing is allowed, begins, ends, or is not allowed. No-passing signs work with pavement markings to show where passing is permitted, where a passing zone starts or ends, and where passing is not allowed. They do not create parking permission, lighting rules, or immunity from oncoming traffic. The tempting mistake is to treat a sign as a general advisory instead of a lane-use control. Before moving left to pass, look for the posted sign, the centerline pattern, and enough clear sight distance. Passing is legal only when both the markings and conditions allow it.