At a signal-controlled intersection, your light turns green while a pedestrian is still lawfully in the adjacent crosswalk across your path. What should you do?
Correct answer: Yield to the pedestrian before proceeding through the crossing.
A green light does not cancel the priority of pedestrians lawfully in the adjacent crosswalk or vehicles lawfully in the intersection. Yield before moving through their path. Follow an officer’s directions if an officer is controlling traffic.
Source: §12-5-6(A)(1), physical 53, reader lines 1948–1952; cited counterpart §66-7-105 NMSA 1978; ordinary official-device qualification §12-5-3, physical 52, lines 1918–1922. New Mexico Municipal League, New Mexico Uniform Traffic Ordinance, 2025 Compilation, all revisions through July 2025; footers Revised June 2025. Dated 2025 municipal compilation, state-cited passages, not verified current statewide code or proof of municipal adoption. Actual complete relevant PDF text read October 1, 2026; sourcePage and URL fragment are one-based physical PDF pages. No visual inspection claim. Ordinary private-car scenarios do not invoke authorized-emergency-vehicle privileges or override contrary police directions. ↗
As you approach an ordinary intersection, a steady green signal changes to steady yellow. What does that change warn you about?
Correct answer: Red is about to follow; you must not begin going straight into the intersection on red.
Steady yellow after green warns that red will immediately follow. It does not grant extra priority or order a car already inside the intersection to stop there. Do not begin going straight into the intersection after the light turns red.
Source: §12-5-6(B)(1), physical 53, reader lines 1956–1959; cited counterpart §66-7-105 NMSA 1978; §12-5-3 ordinary police-direction/emergency qualifications apply. New Mexico Municipal League, New Mexico Uniform Traffic Ordinance, 2025 Compilation, all revisions through July 2025; footers Revised June 2025. Dated 2025 municipal compilation, state-cited passages, not verified current statewide code or proof of municipal adoption. Actual complete relevant PDF text read October 1, 2026; sourcePage and URL fragment are one-based physical PDF pages. No visual inspection claim. Ordinary private-car scenarios do not invoke authorized-emergency-vehicle privileges or override contrary police directions. ↗
You approach a steady red light in an ordinary car and intend to go straight. No officer is directing traffic, and the intersection appears empty. What must you do before reaching the crossing?
Correct answer: Come to a complete stop before entering the crossing.
Stop before the near-side crosswalk, or before the intersection if there is no crosswalk. An apparently empty intersection does not remove the duty to stop for the red signal.
Source: §12-5-6(C)(1), physical 53–54, reader lines 1963–1966, stopping sentence through the §66-7-105 citation; excludes the subsequent starred remain-stopped phrase and all turn-on-red provisions. New Mexico Municipal League, New Mexico Uniform Traffic Ordinance, 2025 Compilation, all revisions through July 2025; footers Revised June 2025. Dated 2025 municipal compilation, state-cited passages, not verified current statewide code or proof of municipal adoption. Actual complete relevant PDF text read October 1, 2026; sourcePage and URL fragment are one-based physical PDF pages. No visual inspection claim. Ordinary private-car scenarios do not invoke authorized-emergency-vehicle privileges or override contrary police directions. ↗
A circular red light is displayed with a green right-turn arrow. A pedestrian is lawfully in the adjacent crosswalk across your ordinary car’s turn, and no officer is directing traffic. How should you proceed?
Correct answer: Yield to the pedestrian, then turn right cautiously as the arrow indicates.
The green arrow allows cautious movement in its indicated direction, but you must yield to pedestrians lawfully in the adjacent crosswalk and other traffic lawfully using the intersection. It does not authorize an unrelated straight-through movement.
Source: §12-5-6(D)(1), physical 54, reader lines 1987–1990; cited counterpart §66-7-105 NMSA 1978. New Mexico Municipal League, New Mexico Uniform Traffic Ordinance, 2025 Compilation, all revisions through July 2025; footers Revised June 2025. Dated 2025 municipal compilation, state-cited passages, not verified current statewide code or proof of municipal adoption. Actual complete relevant PDF text read October 1, 2026; sourcePage and URL fragment are one-based physical PDF pages. No visual inspection claim. Ordinary private-car scenarios do not invoke authorized-emergency-vehicle privileges or override contrary police directions. ↗
A flashing red traffic light controls your approach to an ordinary road intersection, not a railroad crossing. No officer is directing traffic. How should you handle it?
Correct answer: Stop completely, then proceed subject to the rules for a stop sign.
At this ordinary road intersection, flashing red requires a complete stop. Then apply the same yielding and safe-entry rules as after a stop sign; merely slowing is not enough.
Source: §12-5-8(A)(1), physical 55, reader lines 2019–2023; railroad exclusion in (B), lines 2027–2029; cited counterpart §66-7-107 NMSA 1978. New Mexico Municipal League, New Mexico Uniform Traffic Ordinance, 2025 Compilation, all revisions through July 2025; footers Revised June 2025. Dated 2025 municipal compilation, state-cited passages, not verified current statewide code or proof of municipal adoption. Actual complete relevant PDF text read October 1, 2026; sourcePage and URL fragment are one-based physical PDF pages. No visual inspection claim. Ordinary private-car scenarios do not invoke authorized-emergency-vehicle privileges or override contrary police directions. ↗
You approach a flashing yellow light in an ordinary car at a road intersection, not a railroad crossing. No officer is directing traffic. What response does the signal require?
Correct answer: Proceed only with caution, checking for conflicts before entering.
Flashing yellow calls for caution. It does not impose the automatic stop requirement of flashing red or guarantee priority over a conflict. Check carefully, and stop if that is necessary to avoid a collision.
Source: §12-5-8(A)(2), physical 55, reader lines 2024–2026; railroad exclusion in (B), lines 2027–2029; cited counterpart §66-7-107 NMSA 1978. New Mexico Municipal League, New Mexico Uniform Traffic Ordinance, 2025 Compilation, all revisions through July 2025; footers Revised June 2025. Dated 2025 municipal compilation, state-cited passages, not verified current statewide code or proof of municipal adoption. Actual complete relevant PDF text read October 1, 2026; sourcePage and URL fragment are one-based physical PDF pages. No visual inspection claim. Ordinary private-car scenarios do not invoke authorized-emergency-vehicle privileges or override contrary police directions. ↗
Two ordinary cars approach crossing roads with no signs, signals, officer or preferential-road rule. The other car has already entered the intersection before you reach it. Who should yield?
Correct answer: You should yield to the car already in the intersection.
Yield to the vehicle that has already entered from the crossing street. The left-yields-to-right rule addresses approximately simultaneous entry, not this already-entered case. Road width does not reverse that duty at the uncontrolled intersection described.
Source: §12-6-4.1(A), with qualifications in (C), physical 72, reader lines 2639–2646; cited counterpart §66-7-328 NMSA 1978; municipal-only (D) excluded. New Mexico Municipal League, New Mexico Uniform Traffic Ordinance, 2025 Compilation, all revisions through July 2025; footers Revised June 2025. Dated 2025 municipal compilation, state-cited passages, not verified current statewide code or proof of municipal adoption. Actual complete relevant PDF text read October 1, 2026; sourcePage and URL fragment are one-based physical PDF pages. No visual inspection claim. Ordinary private-car scenarios do not invoke authorized-emergency-vehicle privileges or override contrary police directions. ↗
At an uncontrolled intersection, you and a car on your right approach at approximately the same time and both intend to go straight. Neither road has preferential status, and no officer is directing traffic. Which driver yields?
Correct answer: You yield because you are the driver on the left.
When vehicles enter from different streets at approximately the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. That resolves this uncontrolled, equal-priority situation. Still be ready to avoid a collision if the other driver makes a mistake.
Source: §12-6-4.1(B), with qualifications in (C), physical 72, reader lines 2642–2646; cited counterpart §66-7-328 NMSA 1978; municipal-only (D) excluded. New Mexico Municipal League, New Mexico Uniform Traffic Ordinance, 2025 Compilation, all revisions through July 2025; footers Revised June 2025. Dated 2025 municipal compilation, state-cited passages, not verified current statewide code or proof of municipal adoption. Actual complete relevant PDF text read October 1, 2026; sourcePage and URL fragment are one-based physical PDF pages. No visual inspection claim. Ordinary private-car scenarios do not invoke authorized-emergency-vehicle privileges or override contrary police directions. ↗
You have signaled a left turn at an intersection in an ordinary car. An oncoming car is close enough that turning now would force its driver to brake. There is no protected turn signal or officer directing traffic. What should you do?
Correct answer: Wait and yield until the opposing car is no longer an immediate hazard.
Before turning left, yield to opposing traffic within the intersection or close enough to pose an immediate hazard. Proceed only after yielding and giving the required signal. Signaling alone does not reserve the path or require the approaching driver to brake for you.
Source: Complete §12-6-4.2, physical 72, reader lines 2649–2656; cited counterpart §66-7-329 NMSA 1978. New Mexico Municipal League, New Mexico Uniform Traffic Ordinance, 2025 Compilation, all revisions through July 2025; footers Revised June 2025. Dated 2025 municipal compilation, state-cited passages, not verified current statewide code or proof of municipal adoption. Actual complete relevant PDF text read October 1, 2026; sourcePage and URL fragment are one-based physical PDF pages. No visual inspection claim. Ordinary private-car scenarios do not invoke authorized-emergency-vehicle privileges or override contrary police directions. ↗
After stopping properly at a stop sign, you see a car on the crossing street so close that entering would create an immediate conflict. No officer or traffic signal directs you to proceed. What should you do?
Correct answer: Remain stopped and yield until you can enter without that conflict.
Stopping is only the first obligation. You must also yield to a vehicle already in the intersection or approaching closely enough to create an immediate hazard while you cross. Waiting longer does not give you permission to force that driver to brake.
Source: §12-6-4.3(B), physical 73, reader lines 2661–2666; cited counterpart §66-7-330 NMSA 1978; no reliance on the internal reference to (D) for stopping position. New Mexico Municipal League, New Mexico Uniform Traffic Ordinance, 2025 Compilation, all revisions through July 2025; footers Revised June 2025. Dated 2025 municipal compilation, state-cited passages, not verified current statewide code or proof of municipal adoption. Actual complete relevant PDF text read October 1, 2026; sourcePage and URL fragment are one-based physical PDF pages. No visual inspection claim. Ordinary private-car scenarios do not invoke authorized-emergency-vehicle privileges or override contrary police directions. ↗
You approach a yield sign in an ordinary car. A vehicle on the crossing road is so close that you cannot give it room without stopping. No officer or signal directs otherwise. What should you do?
Correct answer: Stop and yield until the immediate conflict has cleared.
Approach at a reasonable speed and yield to an immediate hazard. If you cannot do that safely while moving, stop and wait. A yield sign is not permission to keep rolling through a conflict, and sounding the horn does not transfer your duty to the other driver.
Source: §12-6-4.3(C) and (G), physical 73, reader lines 2667–2673 and 2687–2691; cited counterparts §§66-7-330 and 66-7-345 NMSA 1978; bicycle provisions in (H) excluded. New Mexico Municipal League, New Mexico Uniform Traffic Ordinance, 2025 Compilation, all revisions through July 2025; footers Revised June 2025. Dated 2025 municipal compilation, state-cited passages, not verified current statewide code or proof of municipal adoption. Actual complete relevant PDF text read October 1, 2026; sourcePage and URL fragment are one-based physical PDF pages. No visual inspection claim. Ordinary private-car scenarios do not invoke authorized-emergency-vehicle privileges or override contrary police directions. ↗
You are driving an ordinary car out of a driveway in a residential district. A sidewalk crosses the driveway before the street. What should you do before crossing the sidewalk?
Correct answer: Stop before the sidewalk, yield to pedestrians, and yield to approaching vehicles before entering the street.
When leaving a driveway, alley or building in a business or residential district, stop before crossing the sidewalk or sidewalk area. Yield to pedestrians as necessary to avoid a collision, then yield to approaching vehicles before entering the street. Stopping on the sidewalk would obstruct the crossing rather than protect it.
Source: §12-6-7.1(A), physical 82, reader lines 3003–3010; cited counterpart §66-7-346 NMSA 1978; complete (A)–(B) read through line 3013; starred §12-6-7.2 excluded. New Mexico Municipal League, New Mexico Uniform Traffic Ordinance, 2025 Compilation, all revisions through July 2025; footers Revised June 2025. Dated 2025 municipal compilation, state-cited passages, not verified current statewide code or proof of municipal adoption. Actual complete relevant PDF text read October 1, 2026; sourcePage and URL fragment are one-based physical PDF pages. No visual inspection claim. Ordinary private-car scenarios do not invoke authorized-emergency-vehicle privileges or override contrary police directions. ↗
