New Mexico MVD Motorcycle Practice Test 41
- Questions25
- Correct to pass18
- Passing score72%
- Minimum age13 years
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1. Why is smooth, early braking better than hard, late braking?
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Answer D: It keeps you in control and gives the driver behind more warning
Braking early and gently keeps the tires well within their grip and gives following drivers time to react to your brake lights.
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2. Besides a chemical test, what else supports an impaired driving charge?
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Answer B: The officer's observations of the driving and the driver
Weaving, slow responses, speech and balance observed by the officer are evidence in their own right, which is why a driver can be charged on behavior alone.
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3. You are turning left from a two-way street onto another two-way street. Where should you begin and end the turn?
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Answer B: Begin in the lane just right of the center line and finish just right of the center line of the new street
You approach a left turn from the lane closest to the center line and enter the new roadway just to the right of its center line, which keeps you clear of oncoming traffic.
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4. An oncoming driver flashes their headlights while you are waiting to turn left. What should you do?
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Answer D: Judge the situation yourself, since the flash may mean something else
A flash is not a legal signal and may mean many things, so the decision to turn stays yours and must be based on what you can see.
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5. Enhanced reference location markers differ from ordinary mileposts in that they
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Answer B: carry the route number and a mileage figure to the tenth of a mile
An enhanced reference location marker adds the route designation and carries the mileage to a tenth, so the point named is far more precise than a plain milepost.
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6. A bag strapped to the back of your motorcycle works loose and starts to shift as you ride. What should you do?
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Answer C: Slow smoothly, pull off the road, and secure the load before riding on
A load that moves changes the balance of the motorcycle and can foul a wheel or the chain, so stop as soon as you safely can and fasten it properly.
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7. The front brake lever feels soft and travels almost to the handgrip. What should the rider do?
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Answer D: Leave the motorcycle where it is until the brake system has been inspected
A spongy lever usually means air or fluid loss in the system, and a brake in that condition can fail completely under hard use.
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8. When is a driver at the highest risk of falling asleep at the wheel?
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Answer B: Late at night, early morning and mid afternoon
The body clock produces its deepest dips in alertness in the small hours and again in the middle of the afternoon, and crash records follow those dips.
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9. Halfway through a curve you realize you are going too fast. What is the best response?
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Answer C: Ease off the gas gently and look where you want to go
Easing off transfers a little weight to the front tires without upsetting the balance, and looking through the curve keeps your steering smooth.
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10. The throttle sticks open and will not close when you roll it back. What should you do?
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Answer B: Squeeze in the clutch and shut the engine down with the cut-off switch
Pulling in the clutch cuts power to the rear wheel immediately, and the cut-off switch stops the engine without the rider letting go of the handlebars.
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11. Where is this sign installed in relation to the hazard it announces?
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Answer A: Far enough before the hazard that a driver can slow down and stop short of it
This is an advance warning sign, placed on the approach so a driver has time to react before reaching a crossing that a curve or a crest may be hiding.
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12. The green arrow protecting your turn changes to a steady yellow arrow. What is it telling you?
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Answer A: The protected turn is ending and you should prepare to stop
A steady yellow arrow warns that the arrow movement is being terminated and that a red indication will follow.
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13. Which set of qualities should eye protection for riding have?
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Answer A: Shatter resistant, free of scratches, and sealed against the wind
Riding eye protection has to survive an impact, let you see clearly and keep the air out, which is why plastic face shields and goggles are used instead of ordinary glasses.
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14. May you stop briefly across the sloped ramp that joins the sidewalk to the street at a corner?
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Answer B: No, that ramp must stay clear for people using wheelchairs
A curb ramp is the only way many people can get from the sidewalk to the crosswalk, so blocking it even briefly is prohibited.
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15. You are traveling at 55 mph and see a vehicle ahead moving at about 15 mph. What is the hazard?
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Answer A: You reach it far sooner than you expect
At a 40 mph difference you cover the gap in a few seconds, which is why drivers strike slow vehicles they saw in plenty of time.
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16. Visibility drops suddenly and you decide to leave the highway. What is the safest way to do it?
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Answer A: Take the next exit or a wide pull off, well clear of the traffic lanes
Get right off the traveled way, and off the shoulder too if you can, because vehicles in poor visibility often drift onto the shoulder.
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17. When should a staggered group change to single file?
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Answer C: In curves, in turns, and when entering or leaving a highway
Curves, turns and highway entrances and exits require the full width of the lane, so the group rides single file at those points.
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18. Which feature matters most in clothing meant to keep a rider warm?
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Answer C: A windproof outer layer, since moving air strips body heat fast
Wind blowing through clothing carries away heat faster than anything else, so a windproof outer shell over insulating layers is what keeps a rider warm.
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19. What is the main danger of grabbing the front brake lever abruptly?
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Answer D: The front wheel can lock, and a locked wheel cannot steer or balance
The front brake must be squeezed progressively so that weight transfers onto the front tire before full braking force is asked of it.
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20. Why is being predictable an important part of driving safely?
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Answer A: Because other road users are able to plan around what you are doing
Other drivers make their decisions from what they expect you to do, so surprises are what produce collisions.
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21. A high truck ahead of you hides the traffic signal as you approach the intersection. What should you do?
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Answer A: Drop back so you can see the signal and the truck's brake lights
Extra following distance restores your view of the signal, so you are reacting to the light yourself rather than copying the truck driver.
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22. Why is it worth planning your route before a long drive?
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Answer B: So that you are not reading a map or a screen while the car is moving
A driver who knows the route is not navigating at the wheel, which is one of the commonest sources of distraction.
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23. A small plate under a stop sign reads CROSS TRAFFIC DOES NOT STOP. What is it telling you?
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Answer D: Traffic on the cross street is not required to stop at all
The plate warns that the other road is uncontrolled, so you must wait for a gap instead of expecting anyone to take turns with you.
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24. Partway through a ride, a control starts to feel different from the way it normally feels. What is the right response?
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Answer B: Stop somewhere safe and find out what has changed before riding further
A change in feel is usually the first warning of a failing cable, a leaking brake or a loose fastener, and it is far cheaper to check at the roadside than to discover in traffic.
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25. What should be done with a group that has grown too large to manage?
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Answer D: Split it into smaller groups, each with its own leader and sweep rider
Smaller sub groups stay together more easily and are easier for other drivers to pass, and each one needs its own leader and sweep rider.