New Mexico MVD Permit Practice Test 33

1. What is wrong with steering through a turn using the palm of one hand on the wheel?

• A It wears out the steering wheel and the power steering pump much faster than normal
• B It is illegal in every state and carries a fine
• C It causes the air bag to deploy during sharp turns
• D You have less control and cannot correct quickly if something goes wrong

2. Why would a restriction like this one be applied to a stretch of road?

• A Because there is not enough visible road ahead to complete a pass safely
• B Because the shoulder along that stretch is unpaved and cannot take a vehicle
• C Because the surface along that stretch has only recently been laid
• D Because heavy vehicles are banned from that stretch

3. You have a green light and an ambulance with lights and siren enters the intersection against its red. What should you do?

• A Proceed, because your green light means the ambulance has to wait
• B Stop and let the ambulance go through
• C Proceed slowly and pass behind the ambulance while it is crossing
• D Sound your horn and continue, since the ambulance ran a red light

4. Why is it dangerous to make a left turn from the second lane from the center?

• A Because the turn takes longer and uses up more of the green time
• B Because your turn signal cannot be seen by drivers in the center lane
• C Because a driver in the lane beside you is turning into the same space
• D Because the wheels may cut across the painted island at the corner

5. You are behind three slow vehicles on a two-lane road and the way ahead looks clear. What is the sound decision?

• A Pass all three at once, since a single long pass takes less time than three
• B Pass on the right where the shoulder is wide enough to hold your vehicle
• C Follow closely behind the last one so that you are ready when a gap appears
• D Pass one vehicle at a time, if the road allows it

6. Your green left-turn arrow goes out and a steady green ball stays lit. What may you do?

• A Continue turning left, but only after yielding to oncoming traffic
• B Complete the turn at once, because the movement is still protected
• C Stop where you are and wait for the arrow to come back on
• D Leave the intersection straight ahead, since left turns are now banned

7. Why are eating, drinking and personal grooming risky behind the wheel?

• A They are a problem only in city traffic
• B They occupy hands, eyes and attention that driving requires
• C They are harmless as long as your speed is low
• D They affect only the passengers

8. A center lane is marked with a broken yellow line on each side and is controlled by overhead lane signals. How is that lane used?

• A It carries traffic one way or the other according to the signals
• B It is a two-way left turn lane that drivers may use for a left turn at any time of day
• C It is a shoulder that is opened to ordinary traffic during the peak hours of each day
• D It is a lane for high-occupancy vehicles traveling in either of the two directions

9. On a narrow residential street, why does parking tight against the curb matter so much?

• A Because the tires last longer when they are resting against a solid edge
• B Because the street sweeper cannot work unless every car is touching it
• C Because fire trucks and ambulances need the width to get through
• D Because drivers who pass are allowed to touch a car that sticks out too far

10. You are driving along a street lined with parked cars. What should you watch for?

• A Only the vehicles that have their brake lights on, since the rest are safely parked
• B Doors opening, vehicles pulling out and pedestrians stepping from between cars
• C Only the cars with a driver visible, since empty cars cannot move
• D Nothing special, because parked vehicles are outside the travel lane

11. You decide to turn around using a driveway on your right. What is the safer way to do it?

• A Drive in forward, then reverse out into the traffic lane and turn
• B Reverse into it from the far side after crossing the oncoming lane
• C Stop past the driveway, reverse into it, then pull out and drive away
• D Drive in forward and wait there until no traffic is coming either way

12. You have turned right into the nearest lane but you need the left lane soon. When should you move over?

• A After the turn is finished, once you have checked mirrors and blind spot
• B During the turn, so that you are already in position when you straighten
• C Before the turn, by starting it from the left-hand lane of the old street
• D At the next intersection only, since lane changes near a corner are banned

13. In heavy fog at night on a rural two-lane road, which marking best helps a driver hold position?

• A The double yellow line where passing is not allowed
• B The reflective markers set along the crown of the road
• C The solid white line along the right edge
• D The broken yellow line at the center of the road

14. A school sign combined with an AHEAD plaque, or with a plaque giving a distance in feet, forms an assembly that

• A marks the exact spot where children cross the roadway
• B warns of a school crossing located further along the road
• C sets the speed limit that applies inside the school zone
• D prohibits parking and stopping anywhere near the school entrance

15. What do white lane lines painted between travel lanes indicate?

• A Traffic in the adjacent lane moves in the same direction as you
• B Traffic in the adjacent lane moves toward you from the opposite way
• C The roadway narrows to a single lane a short distance ahead
• D Passing and lane changing are prohibited under all conditions

16. What driving-record condition must a New Mexico teen meet just before applying for a provisional license?

• A No conviction for a traffic violation in the 90 days before applying
• B No more than one written warning issued by a law enforcement officer in the past twelve months
• C Completion of a second knowledge test retake
• D A signed statement from a driving school director

17. You arrive at an intersection with no signs, no signals and no markings at the same time as a vehicle on the road to your right. What must you do?

• A Yield only if the other vehicle is larger than yours
• B Yield to the vehicle on your right
• C Continue because you are on the busier road
• D Sound your horn and cross first

18. How close to a vehicle you are following should you switch to low beams, according to New Mexico's driver manual?

• A Within 500 feet
• B Within 50 feet
• C Within 400 feet
• D Within 200 feet

19. An upward-pointing pentagon with a yellow legend and border on a blue background is used as

• A a school crossing sign
• B a scenic overlook sign
• C a truck route restriction sign
• D a county route marker

20. You are backing out of a home driveway onto a street with a sidewalk. Who must you yield to?

• A Only vehicles, because people on the sidewalk must watch for driveways
• B Nobody, because a vehicle leaving private property has priority over others
• C Only pedestrians who are already directly behind your rear bumper
• D All traffic on the street and everyone on the sidewalk

21. You are stopped inside an intersection waiting for a gap to turn left. How should your front wheels be positioned?

• A It makes no difference while the vehicle is stopped
• B Turned to the left, ready for the turn
• C Pointing straight ahead until you actually begin the turn
• D Turned fully to the right to shorten the turn

22. You are in the right-hand of two left-turn lanes and the vehicle beside you starts to drift toward your lane during the turn. What should you do?

• A Speed up so that you are ahead of the drifting vehicle before it reaches you
• B Slow slightly, keep to your own lane and give the other vehicle room
• C Sound the horn and hold your speed so the other driver moves back over
• D Move right toward the curb lane so you leave the intersection sooner

23. What must a New Mexico driver do after serving the mandatory one-year suspension for accumulating 12 or more points?

• A Nothing further at all; the license simply reinstates automatically without any further action
• B Complete an eight-hour Defensive Driving course and submit the certificate
• C Retake only the vision screening
• D Wait an additional 90 days before applying

24. A driver reaching a stop sign is required to do what?

• A Slow to a walking pace and roll through if nobody is visible
• B Stop only when another vehicle is already waiting
• C Sound the horn and continue without stopping
• D Come to a complete stop and then proceed only when it is safe

25. You want to reverse direction but the street is too narrow for a U-turn. What is the alternative?

• A Reverse the whole way back to the last intersection that you passed
• B Use the sidewalk to gain the extra room that the vehicle needs
• C Turn into a driveway and reverse straight back into the traffic lane
• D Make a three-point turn, or go around the block in heavy traffic