New Mexico MVD Permit Practice Test 9
Test 9 of 10. Pick an answer for each question to see if it is right and why; your score appears at the end. You need 18 correct answers to pass, the same ratio as the real New Mexico test.
- Questions25
- Correct to pass18
- Passing score72%
- Minimum age15 years
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1. A lane control sign over one lane shows both a straight arrow and a left arrow. What does it tell drivers in that lane?
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Answer A: Either movement may be made from that lane
An optional movement lane control sign lists every movement permitted from the lane, so a driver may choose any arrow shown.
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2. What grace period does New Mexico give a driver whose vehicle registration has just expired?
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Answer C: None; late penalties apply as soon as the registration expires
New Mexico allows no grace period for an expired vehicle registration; late penalties apply from the moment it expires.
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3. On a clear day with light traffic, a driver stays far below the maximum this sign sets. What can that cause?
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Answer B: Obstruction of the normal flow of traffic, which is prohibited in itself
Driving so slowly that other traffic is impeded is an offense in its own right when nothing about safety, weather or the road calls for it.
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4. Why are eating, drinking and personal grooming risky behind the wheel?
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Answer B: They occupy hands, eyes and attention that driving requires
Each of these tasks takes a hand off the controls and attention off the road, and a spill or a dropped item can pull the driver's eyes away entirely.
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5. Travelling at about 55 mph on dry pavement, roughly how much room does an average car need to perceive, react and stop?
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Answer D: About 300 feet, close to the length of a football field
Reaction distance plus braking distance at 55 mph comes to roughly 300 feet on good dry pavement, and considerably more on a wet or loose surface.
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6. What blood alcohol concentration exposes a New Mexico driver under 21 to arrest?
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Answer A: 0.02 percent or higher
New Mexico applies a 0.02 percent limit to drivers under 21, and a finding at that level can bring a six month license revocation.
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7. An orange sign reads RIGHT LANE CLOSED AHEAD. What is the correct response?
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Answer A: Move left in good time and keep a steady pace
The sign is placed well before the taper so that drivers can merge smoothly rather than braking hard where the lane actually closes.
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8. Where does New Mexico require vehicle emissions testing?
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Answer A: Only in Bernalillo County, plus commuters into it 60 or more days a year
New Mexico requires emissions testing only in Bernalillo County, and it also applies to people who commute into the county 60 or more days a year.
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9. The word SCHOOL is painted in large letters across the roadway. What is it doing?
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Answer D: Backing up the signs marking a school zone
Word markings on the pavement reinforce a message that is already signed, and a driver looking at the road ahead cannot miss them.
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10. According to NMDOT's Move Over guidance, what should a New Mexico driver do when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with its flashing lights on?
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Answer D: Change lanes away from it, or slow down if changing lanes is not possible
NMDOT's Move Over guidance tells drivers approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights to change lanes away from it or, if that is not possible, to slow down.
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11. What license class covers an ordinary New Mexico passenger vehicle under 26,001 pounds?
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Answer D: Class D
New Mexico's Class D license is the standard non-commercial license authorizing a driver to operate ordinary passenger vehicles under 26,001 pounds.
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12. What must a New Mexico instructional permit applicant's driver education course include, in addition to practice driving?
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Answer D: DWI education as part of the approved curriculum
New Mexico requires instructional permit applicants to be enrolled in a Traffic Safety Bureau approved course that includes DWI education along with practice driving.
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13. Roughly how far does a vehicle travel at 55 mph during the few seconds a driver spends reading a text message?
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Answer D: About the length of a football field
Sending or reading a message takes the eyes off the road for about five seconds, which at 55 mph covers roughly the length of a football field with nobody watching the road.
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14. Your loaded vehicle weighs more than the figure shown on a posted weight limit sign. What must you do?
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Answer D: Find another route, because crossing is not permitted
A posted weight limit is a legal maximum, not advice, so an overweight vehicle has to take a different route.
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15. What extra requirement does New Mexico place on first-time licensees between 18 and 24 years old?
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Answer D: Completion of the None for the Road driving while intoxicated awareness class
Every first-time licensee aged 18 to 24 must present a certificate of completion for the None for the Road self-study class administered by the University of New Mexico.
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16. How long is the administrative Implied Consent revocation period for a juvenile found to have been driving while intoxicated in New Mexico?
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Answer A: One year
New Mexico applies a one-year administrative revocation period to a juvenile Implied Consent DWI finding, the same length used for an adult refusal or repeat offense.
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17. Which of these makes you unpredictable to other drivers?
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Answer B: Changing lanes suddenly without signaling, to save a moment
An unsignalled, sudden lane change gives nobody time to react and is a common cause of sideswipe collisions.
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18. What can prevent a New Mexico provisional license holder from advancing to an unrestricted license, even after the waiting period ends?
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Answer C: Being adjudicated guilty of, or having pending, an alcohol or drug offense during the provisional period
New Mexico bars a provisional driver from reaching unrestricted status if they were adjudicated guilty of, or have a pending, alcohol or drug related offense during the provisional period.
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19. You are stopped in slow traffic and a motorcycle comes up between the lanes. What should you do?
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Answer D: Hold your position and avoid any sudden lane change
The danger to a rider between lanes comes from a vehicle moving sideways without warning, so staying predictable is what protects them.
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20. How long does a driving while intoxicated conviction stay on a New Mexico driving record?
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Answer C: Fifty-five years
New Mexico keeps any driving while intoxicated conviction on the driving record for 55 years, far longer than ordinary moving violations, and it cannot be expunged.
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21. How should a turn at an intersection be taken on a wet road?
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Answer C: Slow earlier than usual and steer smoothly through the corner
Wet pavement leaves less grip, so the speed must come off before the turn and the steering must be gentle enough not to break traction.
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22. A yellow diamond shows two lanes narrowing into one. What does it require of a driver?
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Answer D: Adjusting speed and merging before the lane disappears
The lane ends sign gives notice that one lane will be dropped, so drivers should adjust speed and blend into the continuing lane in good time.
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23. You began a turn from the wrong lane and are already inside the intersection. What should you not do?
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Answer A: Reverse in order to get back into the correct lane
Backing up in an intersection puts you into the path of traffic that cannot expect it; finish the movement and fix your position afterwards.
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24. Besides school signing, which warning signs may also use a fluorescent yellow-green background?
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Answer C: Pedestrian and bicycle warning signs
Pedestrian crossing, bicycle and playground warning signs may use either the standard yellow or the fluorescent yellow-green background, which draws extra attention where people outside vehicles are present.
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25. May you park in front of a public or private driveway?
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Answer A: No, blocking a driveway is prohibited even for a short time
Parking in front of a driveway blocks the property owner from entering or leaving, and the prohibition does not depend on how long you stay.