25 sample questions from DriveDrill's 234-question New Mexico bank. Pick an answer to see if you got it right, and why.
Q1. In New Mexico, an applicant under 18 must log how much supervised driving before the road test?
A 20 hours, including 2 at nightB 30 hours, including 10 at nightC 50 hours, including 10 at nightD 40 hours, including 10 at night
A parent or guardian certifies the hours. Night driving is where new drivers crash most, which is why a share of the total has to be after dark.
Q2. In New Mexico, a sign reading HOV 3 on a reserved lane means:
A There must be at least three people in the vehicle to use the laneB The lane opens at 3 p.m.C Only vehicles more than 3 years old may use the laneD The lane is limited to vehicles under 3 tons
New Mexico's HOV lanes are reserved for vehicles with more than one person; a sign such as HOV 3 means there must be at least three people in the vehicle.
Q3. Driving after using marijuana is:
A A concern mainly for newly licensed teenage driversB Legal to do anywhere marijuana itself is legal to useC Safe to do as long as you personally feel unimpairedD Illegal, and it impairs reaction time and judgment
Legal to possess does not mean legal to drive on. Impaired driving laws cover cannabis the same way they cover alcohol.
Q4. The basic speed law means:
A Speed limits are only advisory, not enforceableB You may exceed the posted limit while passing another carC You must never drive faster than is safe, even below the limitD You may always drive at the full posted speed limit
The posted limit is the maximum for perfect conditions. In rain, fog, traffic or at night, the legal safe speed is lower.
Q5. In New Mexico, when passing a bicyclist, a motorist should try to keep a clearance of at least:
A One footB Two feetC Five feetD Twenty feet
New Mexico's manual tells motorists to keep a safe distance when passing a bicyclist, trying for at least five feet.
Q6. In New Mexico, a driver under 21 is over the limit with:
A Any blood alcohol content of 0.01% or aboveB Any blood alcohol content of 0.05% or aboveC Any blood alcohol content of 0.02% or aboveD Any blood alcohol content above 0.00%
The under-21 threshold is far below the 0.08% adult limit, so even a small amount of alcohol can reach it.
Q7. Excessive speeding, well above the limit, is treated more seriously because:
A It is treated as a problem only on city streets, not the highwayB It wastes more fuel than driving at a moderate, steady speedC Crash energy and stopping distance rise sharply with speedD It is harder on the engine and brakes than normal driving
Kinetic energy rises with the square of speed, so a small increase in speed is a large increase in damage and stopping distance.
Q8. A U-turn should never be made:
A On an ordinary residential street with light trafficB On a curve or near the crest of a hill where you cannot be seenC Inside a parking lot with a clear, open viewD At an intersection controlled by a working signal
You need to be visible for the whole maneuver. Blind curves and crests hide you from traffic that arrives at speed.
Q9. A bicycle on a public road is:
A Required by law to ride facing oncoming trafficB A vehicle whose rider has most of the same rights and duties as a driverC Legally treated the same as a pedestrian on the roadwayD Required by law to ride on the sidewalk wherever one exists
Riders must obey signals and signs, and drivers must yield to them the same way they would to another vehicle.
Q10. A flashing yellow traffic light means:
A The intersection is closedB Yield only to traffic on the leftC Stop before entering the intersectionD Slow down and proceed with caution
Flashing yellow means proceed with care. You do not have to stop, but you must slow down and watch for cross traffic and pedestrians.
Q11. A wide white line across your lane at an intersection is:
A A lane divider separating two lanes of trafficB A crosswalk marking where pedestrians should crossC A stop line showing where to stopD A bike box reserved for cyclists at the light
Stop at the line, not past it. If your view is blocked once stopped, edge forward slowly only after stopping at the line.
Q12. When leaving a freeway you should:
A Cross several lanes at the last momentB Slow to 25 mph before the rampC Signal, move into the exit lane, and slow down mostly on the rampD Brake hard in the travel lane before the exit
Keep your speed until you are on the deceleration ramp, then slow. Braking in the travel lane surprises the traffic behind you.
Q13. A left turn on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street is:
A Allowed without first coming to a complete stopB Not allowed anywhere, even after a complete stopC Allowed only after 10 p.m., unless a sign prohibits itD Allowed in many states after stopping, unless a sign prohibits it
Most states permit this turn after a complete stop and yielding, but it is banned in some cities, so obey any posted sign.
Q14. A crash with the vehicle ahead is unavoidable. The safest choice is usually to:
A Take both hands off the wheel and brace for the impactB Brake hard and steer toward something that gives, such as bushes or a shoulderC Steer into the oncoming lane to look for an open pathD Speed up so the crash is over more quickly
Reduce speed as much as possible and choose a glancing impact with something soft over a head-on with something solid.
Q15. In New Mexico, a person supervising an instructional permit holder's practice driving must be:
A At least 25 years old with five years of experienceB At least 21 years old and licensed to drive that type of vehicleC Any adult with a valid license, regardless of ageD At least 18 years old and licensed to drive any vehicle
New Mexico requires that a permit holder be supervised by another driver who is at least 21 years of age and licensed to drive that type of vehicle.
Q16. The first ability alcohol affects in a driver is:
A Your eyesight, before anything else is affectedB Your reaction time, before your judgment is affectedC Your judgment and decision-making, before anything else is affectedD Your steering control, before your judgment is affected
Judgment goes first, which is why an impaired driver often believes they are fine. Reaction time, vision and coordination follow.
Q17. In New Mexico, the minimum age to apply for a learner permit is:
A 14B 14, 6 monthsC 15, 6 monthsD 15
Applicants under 18 also need parental consent, and the permit must be held for a set period before the road test.
Q18. Black ice is most likely to form:
A In the middle of a sunny afternoonB On steep hills onlyC On bridges, overpasses and shaded spotsD On gravel roads only
Bridges and shaded stretches lose heat fastest. If the road looks wet but spray has stopped coming off other cars, suspect ice.
Q19. The best response to feeling drowsy while driving is to:
A Drink coffee and continue for another hourB Open a window and keep goingC Stop somewhere safe and restD Turn the radio up
Drowsy driving impairs you much like alcohol, and micro-sleeps happen without warning. Only sleep fixes it.
Q20. In New Mexico, if a driver accumulates twelve or more points within a twelve-month period, their license will be:
A Suspended for one yearB Suspended for one monthC Permanently revokedD Downgraded to a learner permit
New Mexico suspends a driver's license for one year if the driver has twelve or more points within a twelve-month period.
Q21. New Mexico's no-parking rules keep a stopped vehicle how far back from a railroad crossing?
A 15 feetB 10 feetC 5 feetD 50 feet
New Mexico prohibits parking within 50 feet of a railroad crossing.
Q22. Where a state uses a point system, it is used to:
A Track violations and suspend the licenses of repeat offendersB Decide insurance rates only, with no effect on the licenseC Reward safe drivers with lower fees or small discountsD Rank licensed drivers against each other by skill
Points accumulate with each conviction and are removed over time. Reaching the threshold brings a suspension. A few states, such as Minnesota, act on specific violations instead of points.
Q23. In New Mexico, when merging with other traffic, a driver needs a gap of about:
A Four secondsB One secondC Thirty secondsD Fifteen seconds
New Mexico's manual states that merging with other traffic requires a gap of about four seconds.
Q24. In New Mexico, drivers may not park within how many feet of a fire hydrant?
A 100 feetB 50 feetC 5 feetD 15 feet
New Mexico prohibits parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
Q25. Your brakes fail while driving. You should:
A Put the transmission into reverse while still moving forwardB Turn off the engine right away while still at full speedC Pump the pedal, shift to a lower gear, then use the parking brake graduallyD Steer into oncoming traffic, where there is more room to slow
Pump to build pressure, downshift for engine braking, apply the parking brake gradually, and look for an open escape path or an uphill slope.
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