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Lanes & Passing
New Mexico Permit Test: Lanes & Passing Practice Questions
Lane use, merging, passing safely and freeway driving.
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Question 1
On a road with two or more lanes going your direction, which lane should you normally use?
Any lane
The right lane, except to pass
The left lane
The lane with the least traffic
Correct answer: The right lane, except to pass
Stay in the right lane except when passing.
Source: Rules of the Road β General Rules
Question 2
On a road with three or more lanes in your direction and lots of entering and exiting traffic, which lane should you use?
The shoulder
The center lane
The far left lane
The far right lane
Correct answer: The center lane
With three or more lanes and heavy entering or exiting traffic, use the center travel lane.
Source: Rules of the Road β General Rules
Question 3
When may you drive on the shoulder of the road?
When traffic is heavy
To pass a slow vehicle on the right
Only when officials direct you to
Whenever the shoulder is paved
Correct answer: Only when officials direct you to
Never drive on the shoulder unless told to by officials, and never pass on the shoulder, paved or not.
Source: Rules of the Road β General Rules
Question 4
You missed your highway exit. What should you do?
Back up carefully along the shoulder to the exit ramp
Go on to a place where you can safely turn around
Cross the median at the nearest opening you see
Stop and back up in the travel lane to the exit
Correct answer: Go on to a place where you can safely turn around
Never back up in a travel lane; go on to where you can safely turn around.
Source: Rules of the Road β General Rules
Question 5
When is backing up in a travel lane allowed?
Only to parallel park
When you miss a turn
Never, not even to parallel park
When traffic is light
Correct answer: Only to parallel park
Backing in any travel lane is illegal and unsafe except to parallel park.
Source: Rules of the Road β General Rules
Question 6
Your passenger needs to get out. Where should you stop?
Pull completely off the road where it is safe
Stop in the intersection
Stop on a crosswalk
Stop briefly in the travel lane
Correct answer: Pull completely off the road where it is safe
Do not stop in travel lanes for any reason; keep moving until you can safely pull off the road.
Source: Rules of the Road β General Rules
Question 7
Why is passing on the right dangerous?
Right lanes are always narrower than left lanes
It is too fast compared with passing on the left
The other driver may not see you and move into you
It is only dangerous when you are passing large trucks
Correct answer: The other driver may not see you and move into you
The left-most lane is meant for passing; a driver being passed on the right may not see you and could move over suddenly.
Source: Rules of the Road β General Rules β Passing
Question 8
At 55 mph, about how much time do you need to pass another vehicle?
About 3 seconds
About 5 seconds
About 10 seconds
About 20 seconds or more
Correct answer: About 10 seconds
At 55 mph you need about 10 seconds to pass, so you need a 10-second gap in oncoming traffic.
Source: Communicating β Sharing Space β Space to Pass
Question 9
You should not start to pass if you are within what distance of a hill or curve?
One short city block
About 100 feet away
One-third of a mile
One full mile
Correct answer: One-third of a mile
You must see at least one-third of a mile (about 10 seconds) ahead, so do not begin passing within a third of a mile of a hill or curve.
Source: Communicating β Sharing Space β Space to Pass
Question 10
After passing, how do you know it is safe to return to the driving lane?
After counting to two
When the other driver flashes their lights
When you can see both headlights of the passed vehicle in your rearview mirror
As soon as your rear bumper clears its front bumper
Correct answer: When you can see both headlights of the passed vehicle in your rearview mirror
Return to your lane when both headlights of the vehicle you passed are visible in your rearview mirror.
Source: Communicating β Sharing Space β Space to Pass
Question 11
As a general rule, how many vehicles should you pass at one time?
Three
As many as the gap allows
One
Two
Correct answer: One
Do not count on enough time to pass several vehicles; as a rule, pass only one vehicle at a time.
Source: Communicating β Sharing Space β Space to Pass
Question 12
Which of these is a place where you should NOT pass?
Approaching a railroad grade crossing
A straight road with a dashed yellow line and clear view
A passing zone marked by signs
An open highway with no oncoming traffic
Correct answer: Approaching a railroad grade crossing
Do not pass near a railroad grade crossing, intersections or shopping center entrances, where vehicles or trains may cross.
Source: Communicating β Sharing Space β Space to Pass
Question 13
When your view ahead is blocked by a hill or curve, what should you assume when deciding whether to pass?
That an oncoming vehicle is just out of sight
That passing is allowed if the line is dashed
That the road is clear
That oncoming traffic will slow down to let you in
Correct answer: That an oncoming vehicle is just out of sight
Treat a hill or curve as you would an oncoming vehicle and do not start to pass.
Source: Communicating β Sharing Space β Space to Pass
Question 14
About how large a gap do you need to merge into traffic or change lanes?
About two seconds
About ten full seconds
About one second
About four seconds
Correct answer: About four seconds
You need about a four-second gap; merging into the middle of it leaves two seconds of space in front and behind.
Source: Communicating β Sharing Space β Space to Merge
Question 15
You need to cross several lanes of traffic. What should you do?
Cross all of them at once
Cross them one at a time
Wait on the shoulder until all lanes are empty
Speed up and cut across
Correct answer: Cross them one at a time
If you need to cross several lanes, take them one at a time.
Source: Communicating β Sharing Space β Space to Merge
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