New Mexico safe driving practice questions
5 questions below test New Mexico’s own safe driving law, each with the statute or New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division handbook section it came from, plus 10 more on safe driving rules that apply in every state.
The New Mexico permit knowledge test has 25 questions in total and needs 18 correct (70%) to pass.
New Mexico law
5 questions on New Mexico’s own safe driving rules
These differ from the rules that hold nationally — they are the ones that catch out drivers who studied another state’s handbook.
1. A New Mexico provisional license generally prohibits unsupervised driving between:
- A10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- B11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- C9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- Midnight and 5:00 a.m.
Answer: Midnight and 5:00 a.m.. The New Mexico Driver Manual states a provisional licensee may not operate on public highways between midnight and 5:00 AM, with listed exceptions such as a licensed driver 21 or older, work, school, medical necessity, or family necessity with the required signed statements.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual — Provisional License
2. Unless a licensed driver 21 or older is in the vehicle, a New Mexico provisional licensee may not have more than how many other passengers under 21 who are not immediate family?
- One
- BTwo
- CThree
- DNone
Answer: One. The New Mexico Driver Manual states that unless a licensed driver that is 21 years old or older is in the vehicle, you may not have more than one other passenger under the age of 21 who is not a member of your immediate family.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual — Provisional License
3. New Mexico law requires all children under what age to wear appropriate safety restraints while the vehicle is in motion?
- AAge 10
- Age 12
- CAge 16
- DAge 8
Answer: Age 12. The New Mexico Driver Manual states the law requires that all children under the age of 12 wear appropriate safety restraints while the vehicle is in motion.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual — Safety Belts and Child Restraints
4. In New Mexico, children under 24 months, or weighing less than 60 pounds, must be secured in:
- AA lap belt only
- BA seat belt alone
- An approved safety device
- DNo restraint if in the back seat
Answer: An approved safety device. The New Mexico Driver Manual states children under the age of 24 months, or weighing less than 60 pounds, must be secured in an approved safety device.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual — Safety Belts and Child Restraints
5. New Mexico law requires motorcycle helmets for:
- AAll riders at all ages
- All motorcycle drivers and passengers under 18 years old
- CPassengers only
- DOnly interstate travel
Answer: All motorcycle drivers and passengers under 18 years old. The New Mexico Driver Manual states New Mexico law requires all motorcycle drivers and passengers under 18 years old to wear a helmet (and recommends helmets for all riders).
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual — Helmet Requirements
Sources for the New Mexico items above
Applies everywhere
Safe driving rules that hold in every state
A sample of the national safe driving bank. All 10 are in the practice run, combined with the New Mexico items above for 15 questions in total.
1. How often should you check your mirrors in normal driving?
- AAbout once a minute
- BOnly when slowing down
- Every 5 to 8 seconds
- DOnly before changing lanes
Answer: Every 5 to 8 seconds. Frequent mirror checks keep you aware of vehicles approaching or sitting in your blind areas before a situation develops.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Safe driving — visual search
2. Maintaining a space cushion around your vehicle mainly gives you:
- AFreedom from signalling
- BBetter fuel economy
- Time and room to react to a hazard
- DA higher legal speed limit
Answer: Time and room to react to a hazard. Open space on all sides means a sudden hazard can be met with a steering or braking option instead of a collision.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Space management — space cushion
3. If you must handle something that will take your attention from driving, the safest choice is to:
- ADrive faster to finish the trip sooner
- BLook down briefly while moving
- CAsk traffic to move around you
- Pull over and stop in a safe place
Answer: Pull over and stop in a safe place. Anything that takes your eyes, hands, or mind from driving increases risk. Stop safely before handling the task.
Source: Official state driver handbook — Driver fitness — distraction
More New Mexico topics
Other New Mexico rules with their own questions
Safe driving elsewhere
Safe driving rules in other states
Safe driving law is set state by state — compare how another state handles it.
Confirm current New Mexico rules
Statutes and handbooks change. New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division is authoritative for New Mexico safe driving rules and for the permit test itself.
Visit New Mexico Motor Vehicle DivisionCommon questions
About New Mexico safe driving rules and this practice set.