What action should you take when merging onto a highway?

When merging onto a highway, utilizing the acceleration lane to match the speed of traffic is crucial for safety and smooth traffic flow. The acceleration lane allows drivers to increase their speed alongside vehicles already on the highway, facilitating a seamless entry. This practice is important because merging at the correct speed helps prevent collisions and reduces the likelihood of disrupting the flow of traffic.

Using the acceleration lane correctly means that when you approach the end of the ramp, you are likely to be traveling at a similar speed to the cars in the lane you intend to enter, making it easier to find a gap and integrate with the other vehicles safely. It also minimizes abrupt changes in speed for both merging drivers and existing highway traffic.

Stopping to wait for an opening is not advisable because it can create hazards for drivers behind you and may lead to unsafe situations. Similarly, merging without signaling can cause confusion and impede other drivers’ ability to react properly. Finally, stating that merging should only occur from the left disregards the fact that many highways allow merging from multiple lanes, depending on their design. Therefore, using the acceleration lane to match the speeds of existing traffic promotes safe merging practices.