Sight distance conditions — New Mexico Permit Test

At night your headlights let you see about 400 feet ahead, so drive at a speed that lets you stop within that distance, about 50 mph.

At night you can only stop for what your lights show you. Going faster means a deer or a stalled car shows up too late.

headlights will let you see about 400 feet ahead.

When heavy rain, snow or thick fog keeps you from seeing farther than about 200 feet, you cannot safely drive faster than 30 mph.

In thick fog the road you can see is short, so your speed has to drop until you could stop inside it.

When you cannot see any farther than that, you cannot safely drive faster than 30 mph.

If a very heavy downpour leaves you unable to see well enough to drive, pull off the road in a safe place and wait until it clears.

Creeping on when you cannot see invites a crash with a car you never saw. Waiting a few minutes off the road is safer.

If this happens, pull off the road in a safe place and wait until it clears.

Whenever you come to a hill or curve you cannot see over or around, adjust your speed so you can stop if necessary.

A stalled car may sit just over a hill or around a bend, even on a road you drive every day. You need room to stop for it.

Whenever you come to a hill or curve where you cannot see over or around, adjust your speed so you can stop if necessary.

Parked vehicles can block your view, and people may step out of them or from between them, so give parked vehicles as much room as you can.

A door can swing open or a child can dart out from between parked cars. Extra room gives you a moment to react.

People may be ready to get out of a vehicle or walk out from between parked vehicles.

About how far ahead do your headlights let you see at night?

400 feet. At night you can only stop for what your lights show you. Going faster means a deer or a stalled car shows up too late. New Mexico Driver Manual, p.23: “headlights will let you see about 400 feet ahead.”