New Mexico: Cheat Sheet

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Road signs

Warning signs warn you to slow down and be prepared to stop if necessary because a special situation or hazard is ahead.
A diamond warning sign with a traffic light symbol is the Signal Ahead sign.
Lane use control signs can be on the side of the road or hanging over the lane, and arrows may also be painted on the road.
The shape and color of route number signs indicate the type of roadway: interstate, U.S., state, city or county road.
“HOV” stands for “High Occupancy Vehicles” and indicates lanes reserved for vehicles with more than one person in them.
A red circle with a red slash over a symbol prohibits certain actions, such as a left turn, right turn or U-turn.
Traffic control can also be provided by law enforcement, highway personnel or school crossing guards, and you must obey their directions.
The warning sign with a skidding car symbol is the Slippery When Wet sign.

Sign shapes and colors

The shape and color of traffic signs give clues to the type of information they provide.
Regulatory signs give information about rules for traffic direction, lane use, turning, speed, parking and other special situations.
Service signs are square or rectangular and are blue with white letters or symbols.
A stop sign has eight sides and is red with white letters.

Traffic signals

Over a reversible lane, a red “X” means you cannot use that lane.
A steady green light means you can go, but you must yield to emergency vehicles and others as required by law.
A green light means you can go if it is safe.
A yellow arrow means the protection of a green arrow is ending, so prepare to stop and give the right of way to oncoming traffic.
At a steady red light you must wait until the light turns green and there is no crossing traffic before you move ahead.
Over a reversible lane, a flashing yellow “X” means the lane is only for turning.

Right-of-way and turning

On right turns, avoid swinging wide to the left before turning.
The manual says to look for a safe gap in the traffic before you turn left across oncoming traffic.
The manual says not to pass unless you have enough space to return to the driving lane, and not to count on other drivers to make room for you.
The law says who must yield the right-of-way but does not give anyone the right-of-way.
The manual says to make room for vehicles entering on a roadway that has two or more lanes.
When you drive around a traffic circle you must drive on the right side of the island.
The manual says you should look to the sides to make sure no one is coming, especially at intersections and railroad crossings.

Alcohol and drugs

Any DWI conviction remains on your driving record for twenty-five years.
The drugs could multiply the effects of alcohol or have additional effects of their own, which can even cause death.
A driver adjudicated guilty of, or with pending, an offense involving alcohol or drugs during the provisional period cannot get an unrestricted license.
The manual says to use a designated driver or public transportation or a cab, if available.
The manual states there is no safe amount of alcohol, because even one drink can affect your driving.
The manual says that refusing a BAC test can cost you your driver license for one year.

Speed and following distance

The manual says looking well ahead lets you drive more safely, save on fuel, help keep traffic moving at a steady pace and see better around your vehicle.
The manual calls it hydroplaning when tires ride up on the water like water skis.
The manual says that at 30 mph it can take about 200 feet to stop, which is almost half a city block.
The manual says to pick out a stationary object as far ahead as you can clearly see and start counting “one-one-thousand” up to “four-one-thousand.”
On roads with minimum speed limits you are required to travel at least that fast so as not to be a hazard to other drivers.
The manual says that if it feels like your tires have lost traction, you should ease your foot off the gas pedal.
The maximum limit should be driven only in ideal driving conditions, and you must reduce speed when conditions require it.

Licensing basics

The driver must have held a provisional license for the 12-month period immediately before applying for an unrestricted license.
The manual states the minimum age for an instructional permit is 15 years of age.
New Mexico requires you to pass a vision test showing at least 20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses.
The driver must complete not less than 50 hours of practice driving, including 10 hours at night.

Signals and vehicle controls

The manual says to always slow down as early as it is safe to do so.
The manual says that, if needed, you can flick your headlights to alert other road users you are there.
The manual gives the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions as one balanced position for steering control.
The manual says to look several times if you need to, so as not to look for too long a period at any one time.

Pavement markings

Lines separating traffic moving in opposite directions are yellow.
A shared center lane is marked on each side by a solid yellow and a dashed yellow line.
Multiple lanes of travel in the same direction are separated by white lane markings.
Reversible lanes, which carry traffic in one direction at certain times and the opposite direction at other times, are usually marked by double-dashed yellow lines.

Ramps and merging

The manual says that if you stop at the end of the ramp you will not have enough room to reach the speed of traffic, and drivers behind you may hit you from the rear.
The manual says to keep up with the speed of traffic on the main road and not slow down until you move onto the exit ramp.

Parking rules

You may not park within 25 ft. of a crosswalk at an intersection.
A curb painted white indicates that only short stops are permitted.
You may not park within 15 ft. of a fire hydrant.
If you must park on a roadway, park as far away from traffic as possible, and as close to the curb as you can if there is one.

Railroad crossings

Trains are large and may be moving faster than they look.
The manual says that when you cross railroad tracks you should make sure you can cross without having to stop on the tracks.
The manual says assuming that a train is not coming is one of the leading causes of fatalities at railroad crossings.

Pedestrians

You must always yield to a pedestrian, even if the pedestrian is not obeying traffic controls.
The manual lists shopping centers and parking lots, construction areas, busy sidewalks, playgrounds and schoolyards as places where looking to the sides is very important.
The manual says these areas often have children present, so you should always be alert for children crossing or running or riding into the street.

Sharing the road

Drivers are required to treat the bicycle as a legal, slow-moving vehicle such as a backhoe.
Bicyclists typically take the whole lane to prepare for a left turn, to avoid being squeezed on a narrow street, or to avoid hazards, grates and debris.
The manual says to give extra space to pedestrians or bicycles, especially children.
The manual says to be especially alert for these harder-to-see road users when entering the roadway from the curb or driveway.

Seat belts and child safety

The manual says a number of organizations will loan you a child safety device if you are unable to afford one.
If you cannot avoid a collision, the most important thing you can do is to use your lap and shoulder belts.

Vision, fatigue and distractions

Eating lightly helps you avoid getting sleepy; some people get sleepy after they eat a big meal.
The manual says such a situation could result from skipping a meal or snack or from taking the wrong amount of insulin.
If you are angry or excited, give yourself time to cool off, take a short walk if necessary, and stay off the road until you have calmed down.

Emergencies and crashes

Get the names and addresses of all people involved in the accident and any witnesses, including injured persons.
After shifting to neutral, pull off the road when safe to do so and turn off the engine.
The manual says to use your 2-way radio or telephone, if available, to notify authorities of a breakdown.

Emergency vehicles and work areas

Work area signs warn of reduced speed, detours, slow moving construction equipment and poor or suddenly changing road surfaces.
If you are in an intersection when an emergency vehicle approaches, you should drive through the intersection before you pull over.
In work areas traffic may be controlled by a person with a sign or flag, and you must obey these people.

Insurance

Failure to have insurance could result in non-issuance or suspension of your vehicle registration, surrender of the license plates, and possible criminal penalties.

Losing your license

Having too many points on your driving record is a reason you can lose your driving privileges.
A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is one reason you can lose your driving privileges.