New Mexico permit test: lanes, merging and passing
Lane use, adjusting to traffic, entering and leaving traffic, and space to merge, cross and pass. 20 questions, 10 at a time, starting with ones you haven't seen.
Rules to remember10 key lanes, merging and passing rulesShow the rules
- Stopping at the end of a ramp leaves you too little room to get up to traffic speed, and drivers behind may not expect it. (p. 24)
- When you merge, try to enter at the same speed traffic is moving, using the ramp to build up speed. (p. 24)
- Speeding saves no more than a few minutes an hour, and each extra pass adds a chance of a collision. (p. 24)
- When turning from a high-speed two-lane road with traffic behind, do not slow too early; tap your brakes and reduce speed quickly but safely. (p. 25)
- At 30 mph it can take about 200 feet to stop, almost half a city block. (p. 25)
- Farm tractors, animal-drawn vehicles and road maintenance vehicles usually go 25 mph or less and should have an orange slow-moving vehicle triangle. (p. 25)
- With the three-second rule, passing the mark before you finish counting means you are following too closely; drop back and check again. (p. 27)
- If you want to cross several lanes, take them one at a time. (p. 27)
- You need a gap of about four seconds whenever you merge, change lanes or enter a roadway. (p. 27)
- At 55 mph you need about 10 seconds to pass, so you need a 10-second gap in oncoming traffic. (p. 28)
Taken from the explanations to checked practice questions; page numbers link to the official handbook.
Sample lanes, merging and passing questions
1.Which place does the handbook name as one where cars change lanes, stop and then speed up again?
- AToll plazas
- BRural highways
- CDivided freeways
- DEmpty parking lots
Show the answer
✓ A. Toll plazas
At toll plazas, vehicles change lanes, prepare to stop and then speed up again, so slow down there.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (No edition date printed in the document), page 25
2.You need to cross several lanes to reach your exit. How should you do it?
- AUse the shoulder to get over
- BCross them all at once
- CCross only when traffic stops
- DTake them one at a time
Show the answer
✓ D. Take them one at a time
If you want to cross several lanes, take them one at a time.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (No edition date printed in the document), page 27
3.At 55 mph, about how long does it take to pass another vehicle?
- AAbout 10 seconds
- BAbout 20 seconds
- CAbout 5 seconds
- DAbout 3 seconds
Show the answer
✓ A. About 10 seconds
At 55 mph you need about 10 seconds to pass, so you need a 10-second gap in oncoming traffic.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (No edition date printed in the document), page 28
4.You turn off a high-speed two-lane road with traffic close behind you. How should you slow down?
- ATap your brakes and slow quickly but safely
- BTurn without slowing at all
- CSlow down gradually a long way back
- DBrake hard at the last moment
Show the answer
✓ A. Tap your brakes and slow quickly but safely
When turning from a high-speed two-lane road with traffic behind, do not slow too early; tap your brakes and reduce speed quickly but safely.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (No edition date printed in the document), page 25