Practice breakdowns, emergency vehicles and railroad crossings, with questions based on the New Mexico Driver Manual.
Turn for a glancing blow
Your belts keep you behind the wheel if there is a second crash.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual, Protect Yourself in Collisions, PDF p. 36
It is harder to turn but still works
The brakes still work too, but you may have to press very hard.
Press back against the seat and head restraint
Be ready to brake so you are not pushed into another vehicle.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual, Protect Yourself in Collisions, PDF p. 36
Shift to neutral quickly
Keep your eyes on the road, pull off when safe and then turn off the engine.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual, Gas Pedal Sticks, PDF pp. 34-35
Press hard and keep pressing
The ABS works only while the pedal is held down.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual, Stopping Quickly, PDF p. 35
Work the headlight switch a few times
If that fails, use flashers, turn signals or fog lights and pull off soon.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual, Headlight Failure, PDF p. 34
Hold the wheel tightly and keep straight
Take your foot off the gas, brake lightly and pull off in a safe place.
Just over a hill or around a curve
Turn on your flashers and place flares behind the vehicle.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual, Use emergency signals, PDF p. 22
Turning
Your three options are to stop, turn or speed up.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual, Avoiding Collisions, PDF p. 35
Pump the brake pedal
If pumping fails, apply the parking brake slowly, then shift to lower gears.
We wrote these practice questions from the facts in the New Mexico Driver Manual (New Mexico Driver Manual (English), file 'English Drivers Manualver11.19.19.pdf' (version label 11.19.19, i.e. November 19, 2019; no printed edition date; PDF metadata: created 2011-06-16, last modified 2026-08-14) on realfile.tax.newmexico.gov, linked as the English Driver's Manual under 'Materials to Study to Pass the Knowledge Test' on the MVD Procedures Manuals page (https://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/resources/mvd-procedures-manuals/), 43 PDF pages, read 2026-11-10. Citations use PDF page numbers; the printed page number is the PDF page minus 3 (PDF p. 4 = printed p. 1; PDF pp. 1-3 are the table of contents). The PDF is encrypted (no password needed to open) and was extracted with pypdf plus the cryptography package. The manual is short and old, so the MVD pages (Apply for a Learner's Permit, Driver's Licenses & IDs, Renew a Driving Credential, General DWI Information, DWI FAQ, Insurance; read 2026-11-10), 18.19.5 NMAC on srca.nm.gov and statute text on nmlegis.gov are also used. NMSA 1978 is published officially only on nmonesource.com (not a .gov or .us host), so current statute wording was read from enacted bills (Laws 2001 SB 499, 2011 SB 9, 2014 SB 19, 2017 SB 76) and, for sections not amended since, from the unchanged existing text quoted in later bills that did not pass (2024 HB 186 for 66-7-207; 2025 SB 226 for 66-7-301 and the 66-8-116 penalty schedule; 2026 SB 313 for 66-7-369); later amendments after those bills could not be ruled out on an official host. Manual statements found out of date or inexact, and how they were handled: (1) child restraints (PDF p. 6: children under 12 must be restrained; under 24 months or under 60 pounds in an approved device) differ from NMSA 66-7-369 (all passengers under 18; under 1 rear-facing in the rear seat; 1-4 years or under 40 pounds in a child seat; 5-6 years or under 60 pounds in a booster or child seat; 7-12 in a restraint or belt); questions follow the statute; (2) DWI record (PDF p. 32: a DWI conviction stays on the record for 25 years) is out of date: the MVD DWI FAQ says 55 years for DWIs cited from June 17, 2005; questions use the MVD page; (3) the manual has no move-over rule; NMSA 66-7-332(B) (Laws 2017, ch. 75) requires drivers to change to a non-adjacent lane if safe, or slow down, for stopped emergency, recovery or repair vehicles with flashing lights; questions use the statute; (4) phones (PDF p. 33: only says some towns ban hand-held use) omits the statewide texting ban (NMSA 66-7-374, Laws 2014 SB 19) and the GDL rule that phone use while driving is a traffic violation adding 30 days to the permit or provisional period (66-5-1.1(N), 66-5-8, 66-5-9 as amended by Laws 2011 SB 9); questions use the statutes; (5) speed limits (PDF p. 15) list 55 mph on public highways unless posted; NMSA 66-7-301(A) sets 55 mph only for county roads without a posted limit and 75 mph as the overall maximum; questions use the statute and ask the 55 mph limit only for county roads; (6) GDL: the manual (PDF pp. 4-5) and the MVD permit page require no traffic violation conviction in the 90 days before applying for the provisional or full license, but the 66-5-8 and 66-5-9 text enacted in 2011 has no 90-day rule (it requires no pending citation and adds 30 days per violation); the 90-day rule is not tested; (7) renewal: the manual (PDF p. 5) allows renewal up to 30 days after expiry, the MVD Renew page says renewal is possible up to two years after expiry; only the 90 days before expiry (both sources) is tested; (8) under-21 DWI revocation: the MVD permit page says a 0.02 result can bring a 6-month revocation, while the MVD General DWI Information and DWI FAQ pages give one year for drivers under 21; questions use the one-year figure from the DWI pages; (9) the manual says the written test is waived for current out-of-state licensees; the two MVD license pages disagree on when an expired license needs the written test again (one year or five years); not tested; (10) bicyclists: the manual (PDF pp. 28-29) says to try for at least five feet when passing, which is advice, not a statutory minimum found on an official host; bicycle_pass_ft is left open and the question says 'try to give'; (11) high beams: the manual (PDF p. 21) says to dim within about one block of an oncoming vehicle and, inconsistently, to use headlights 'within at least 500 feet' of another car; dim_oncoming_ft is left open; the 200-foot rule for following vehicles is used; (12) parking distances (PDF p. 16: 25 feet from a crosswalk at an intersection, 30 feet from signs and signals) could not be checked against 66-7-351 on an official host; questions say 'according to the New Mexico handbook' where the figure differs from common rules. The manual's typo 'LARGE TUCKS' and its motorcycle section are not used for questions. edition) and from official sources on road signs. Every answer links to its source, so you can check it and read more.
DMV Decoded is an independent guide, not a government agency. This practice test is not connected to the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), and your actual test will have different questions. Study the handbook, and check the agency's website for current rules.