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New Mexico MVD permit practice test 3

25 questions written from the New Mexico Driver Manual, covering parking, hazards, weather and night driving, emergencies, following and passing, sharing the road and more. Pick an answer to see straight away whether you're right and why.

25 questions

  1. Question 1In New Mexico, do not park within how many feet of a railroad crossing?

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    C: 50 feet. Do not park within 50 feet of a railroad crossing. New Mexico Driver Manual: Parking, page 13.

  2. Question 2Which lights should you use in fog or heavy snow?

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    B: Low beams (and fog lights if you have them). Use low beams in fog or heavy snow or rain; high beams reflect back and cause glare. New Mexico Driver Manual: Use Your Lights, page 18.

  3. Question 3Pumping the brakes doesn't work. What next?

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    B: Pull the parking brake slowly, ready to release it if the car skids. Use the parking brake slowly so you don't lock the rear wheels; be ready to release it if you start to skid. New Mexico Driver Manual: Brake Failure, page 31.

  4. Question 4At 55 mph, about how much time do you need to pass another vehicle?

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    C: About 10 seconds. At 55 mph you need about 10 seconds to pass, so you need a 10-second gap in oncoming traffic. New Mexico Driver Manual: Space to Pass, page 25.

  5. Question 5What are 'sharrows'?

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    B: Shared lane pavement markings showing bicyclists may use the whole lane. Sharrows are shared lane markings used where a road is too narrow to share side by side. New Mexico Driver Manual: What are sharrows?, page 26.

  6. Question 6Which is one standard alcoholic drink?

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    B: 1½ oz. of 80-proof liquor. One drink is 1½ oz. of 80-proof liquor, 12 oz. of beer, or a 5 oz. glass of wine. New Mexico Driver Manual: Effects of Alcohol, page 29.

  7. Question 7In a car, where must the licensed supervising driver sit with a permit holder?

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    B: In the right front seat. In all vehicles except motorcycles, the licensed driver must sit in the right front seat. New Mexico Driver Manual: Instructional Permit, page 1.

  8. Question 8If your car has an automatic shoulder belt, what else must you do?

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    B: Buckle the lap belt as well. With an automatic shoulder belt, buckle your lap belt too, or you could slide out of the belt in a collision. New Mexico Driver Manual: Safety Belts and Child Restraints, page 3.

  9. Question 9What does a yellow arrow mean?

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    B: The protection of the green arrow is ending; prepare to stop and yield to oncoming traffic before turning. A yellow arrow means the green arrow's protection is ending; prepare to stop and yield before turning. New Mexico Driver Manual: Traffic Signals, page 4.

  10. Question 10What does a sign under a crossbuck showing the number of tracks warn you about?

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    B: There is more than one track and more than one train may cross. These signs warn that there is more than one track and there may be more than one train. New Mexico Driver Manual: Railroad Crossing Warning Signs, page 6.

  11. Question 11When may you back a vehicle in a travel lane?

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    A: Never, except to parallel park. Never back in any travel lane except to parallel park. New Mexico Driver Manual: General Rules, page 10.

  12. Question 12When is the most important time to look left and right at an intersection, even with a green light?

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    B: Just after the light has turned green. Right after the light turns green, cross-street drivers are most likely to hurry through. New Mexico Driver Manual: Scanning, page 16.

  13. Question 13Entering a traffic circle, whom must you yield to?

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    B: Drivers already in the circle. Drivers entering a traffic circle or rotary must yield to drivers already in the circle. New Mexico Driver Manual: Right-of-Way, page 11.

  14. Question 14If no minimum speed is posted, how should you choose your speed?

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    B: Drive so you do not interfere with the normal flow of traffic. If no minimum is posted, drive so that you do not interfere with regular traffic flow, keeping right if slower. New Mexico Driver Manual: Speed Limits, page 12.

  15. Question 15When parked along a curb, your vehicle may not be more than how far from the curb?

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    C: 18 inches. Do not park more than 18 inches from the curb. New Mexico Driver Manual: Parking, page 13.

  16. Question 16May you drive with only your parking lights on?

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    B: No, parking lights are for parking only. Do not drive at any time with only your parking lights on. New Mexico Driver Manual: Use Your Lights, page 18.

  17. Question 17If the parking brake doesn't stop the car either, what should you do?

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    B: Shift to lower gears and look for a safe place to stop off the road. Shift to lower gears and look for a safe place to slow and stop off the roadway. New Mexico Driver Manual: Brake Failure, page 31.

  18. Question 18You should not start to pass within what distance of a hill or curve?

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    C: One-third of a mile. You must be able to see at least one-third of a mile ahead; don't start to pass within one-third mile of a hill or curve. New Mexico Driver Manual: Space to Pass, page 25.

  19. Question 19What should a motorist do when sharrows are present?

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    B: Slow down, yield to bicyclists, and pass only when there is room. Slow down and yield to bicyclists, and pass only when the road width lets the cyclist move right. New Mexico Driver Manual: What are sharrows?, page 26.

  20. Question 20How fast does your body get rid of alcohol?

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    B: About one drink per hour. Your body gets rid of about one drink per hour; only time sobers you up. New Mexico Driver Manual: Effects of Alcohol, page 29.

  21. Question 21When a permit holder rides a motorcycle, where must the licensed supervising driver be?

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    B: Following the learner. On motorcycles, the licensed driver must follow the learner. New Mexico Driver Manual: Instructional Permit, page 1.

  22. Question 22What should you do before starting a vehicle?

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    B: Make sure the parking brake is on and an automatic is in park. Make sure the parking brake is on; an automatic must be in park and a manual must not be in gear. New Mexico Driver Manual: Starting, page 14.

  23. Question 23What does a small, very bright blinking light in the middle of a red signal mean?

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    B: It alerts you to the red light; you must stop. The bright blinking light inside the red light alerts you to the red and that you must stop. New Mexico Driver Manual: Traffic Signals, page 4.

  24. Question 24What color are work area (construction and maintenance) signs?

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    B: Orange with black letters or symbols. Work area signs are generally diamond or rectangular, orange with black letters or symbols. New Mexico Driver Manual: Work Area Signs, page 6.

  25. Question 25Is it ever acceptable to pass on the shoulder?

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    B: No, never, paved or not. Never pass on the shoulder, whether it is paved or not. New Mexico Driver Manual: General Rules, page 10.

Answer every question to see your score.

Next: practice test 4

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How to use these tests

Read each explanation, even when you get the question right: it tells you the rule and the handbook section, so you can look it up. Your answers are saved in this browser only, so the weak spots mode can give you more questions on the topics you miss. When you're scoring well, take the exam simulator: it uses 25 questions at the MVD's pass mark, since it doesn't publish the number of questions.

Our own questions, written from the New Mexico Driver Manual and checked against it. Not affiliated with the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (Taxation and Revenue Department). Found a mistake? Tell us.