New Mexico: Traffic signals Practice Test
Red, yellow and green lights, arrows, flashing signals, turns on red and lane-control lights.
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "New Mexico Driver Manual" (Version 11.19.19), New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD).
All 20 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
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What do the traffic control devices described in the manual include?
- Traffic signals, guardrails and street lamps
- Traffic signals, signs and pavement markings
- Speed bumps, guardrails and street lamps
- Pavement markings, mirrors and guardrails
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Correct answer: Traffic signals, signs and pavement markings
Traffic control devices include traffic signals, signs and pavement markings.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 3
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When a traffic signal has red, yellow and green lights together, what is their order from bottom to top?
- Red, yellow, green
- Yellow, green, red
- Green, red, yellow
- Green, yellow, red
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Correct answer: Green, yellow, red
Traffic lights that are together are green, yellow and red from bottom to top.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 3
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The manual says a green light means you can go. Under what condition?
- If it is safe
- If no police officer is present
- If the light has been green for ten seconds
- If you are the first vehicle in line
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Correct answer: If it is safe
A green light means you can go if it is safe.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 3
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At a steady green light, whom must you still yield to?
- No one, because a green light gives absolute right-of-way
- Only large trucks and buses
- Emergency vehicles and others as required by law
- Only vehicles that are behind you
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Correct answer: Emergency vehicles and others as required by law
A steady green light means you can go, but you must yield to emergency vehicles and others as required by law.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 4
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You are stopped and the light turns green. What must you do before you go ahead?
- Allow crossing traffic to clear the intersection
- Honk your horn to warn the crossing traffic
- Flash your headlights at the cross traffic
- Wait ten seconds before you move ahead
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Correct answer: Allow crossing traffic to clear the intersection
If you are stopped and the light turns green, you must allow crossing traffic to clear the intersection before you go ahead.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 4
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What does a green arrow mean?
- You must stop before turning in the direction of the arrow
- You may go straight or turn in either direction
- You can safely turn in the direction of the arrow
- The light is about to change to red
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Correct answer: You can safely turn in the direction of the arrow
A green arrow means you can safely turn in the direction of the arrow; there should be no oncoming or crossing traffic while it is green.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 4
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You are turning left at a steady green light. Who has the right-of-way?
- You, because the light is green
- Oncoming traffic
- Pedestrians standing behind you
- Vehicles that are behind you
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Correct answer: Oncoming traffic
When turning left on a steady green light you may turn only when safe, because oncoming traffic has the right-of-way.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 4
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What does a steady yellow traffic light mean?
- The light is about to change to green
- The light is about to change to red
- You should speed up to clear the intersection
- All traffic may now go in every direction
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Correct answer: The light is about to change to red
A steady yellow light means the traffic light is about to change to red.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 4
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You are already in the intersection when a yellow light comes on. What should you do?
- Stop where you are
- Back up behind the stop line
- Stop and wait for the next green
- Continue through the intersection
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Correct answer: Continue through the intersection
If you are in the intersection when the yellow light comes on, you do not stop but continue through.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 4
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What does a flashing yellow traffic light mean?
- Slow down and proceed with caution
- Come to a full stop, then go when safe
- Stop and wait for a green light
- Yield only to vehicles on your right
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Correct answer: Slow down and proceed with caution
A flashing yellow traffic light means slow down and proceed with caution.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 4
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If you are turning in the direction of a yellow arrow, what should you prepare to do?
- Speed up and turn before the arrow disappears
- Turn only if there are pedestrians crossing
- Stop and give the right of way to oncoming traffic before turning
- Continue turning because the protection is just beginning
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Correct answer: Stop and give the right of way to oncoming traffic before turning
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.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 4
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After a steady red light, when may you move ahead?
- When the light turns green and there is no crossing traffic
- As soon as the light changes to yellow after the red
- After you have waited at the line for thirty seconds
- When no pedestrians are left in the crosswalk ahead of you
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Correct answer: When the light turns green and there is no crossing traffic
At a steady red light you must wait until the light turns green and there is no crossing traffic before you move ahead.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 4
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In some locations a small, very bright blinking light sits in the middle of the red light. What is its purpose?
- To show that the light is broken
- To tell you that a right turn is allowed
- To alert you of the red light and that you must stop
- To warn that the light is about to turn green
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Correct answer: To alert you of the red light and that you must stop
The small blinking light is a device that alerts you of the red light and that you must stop.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 4
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When may you turn right at a red light?
- Only after the light has changed back to green again
- After a full stop, if it is safe and no sign prohibits the turn
- Without stopping at all, if no other cars are in sight
- Only when a police officer waves you on after you stop
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Correct answer: After a full stop, if it is safe and no sign prohibits the turn
You may turn right on red after coming to a full stop if it is safe and no sign prohibits turning on red.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 4
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A flashing red traffic light means the same as which sign?
- A yield sign
- A do not enter sign
- A slow moving vehicle sign
- A stop sign
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Correct answer: A stop sign
A flashing red traffic light means the same as a stop sign: you must come to a full stop and then proceed when it is safe.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 4
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You face a red arrow. When may you proceed?
- After a full stop, when you see no traffic coming
- When the red arrow goes off and a green arrow or light goes on
- When the red arrow begins to flash on and off quickly
- As soon as there is no crossing traffic at the intersection
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Correct answer: When the red arrow goes off and a green arrow or light goes on
A red arrow means you must stop and cannot go in the direction of the arrow until it goes off and a green arrow or light goes on.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 4
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A special light over a reversible lane shows a green arrow. What does it mean?
- The lane is open only to buses
- You must leave the lane at the next exit
- You can use the lane beneath it
- The lane is closed for repairs
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Correct answer: You can use the lane beneath it
Over a reversible lane, a green arrow means you can use the lane beneath it.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 9
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A special light over a reversible lane shows a red “X”. What does it mean?
- You cannot use the lane beneath it
- The lane is open to all traffic
- You may use the lane if you drive slowly
- The lane is for emergency vehicles only
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Correct answer: You cannot use the lane beneath it
Over a reversible lane, a red “X” means you cannot use that lane.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 9
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A special light over a reversible lane shows a flashing yellow “X”. What does it mean?
- The lane is closed to all traffic
- The lane is only for turning
- The lane is open for passing only
- The lane is for vehicles with two or more people
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Correct answer: The lane is only for turning
Over a reversible lane, a flashing yellow “X” means the lane is only for turning.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 9
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A special light over a reversible lane shows a steady yellow “X”. What should you do?
- Stop in the lane and wait until a green arrow appears
- Speed up to travel through the lane before the signal turns red
- Stay in the lane, because it is reserved for turning
- Move out of the lane as soon as it is safe, because its use is changing
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Correct answer: Move out of the lane as soon as it is safe, because its use is changing
A steady yellow “X” means the use of the lane is changing, so you should move out of it as soon as it is safe to do so.
Source: New Mexico Driver Manual (Version 11.19.19), page 9