When merging onto a freeway, it is usually best to:
- Proceed slowly while waiting for an opening.
- Accelerate to a speed that is faster than the speed of traffic.
- Turn on your hazard lights until safely on the freeway.
- Accelerate to the speed of freeway traffic. ✓
Answer: D. Accelerate to the speed of freeway traffic.
Accelerate to the speed of freeway traffic.
Why this is the answer
The handbook describes entering a limited access highway in stages: use the entrance ramp to look for an opening, signal, then build speed as the ramp becomes the acceleration lane. At the end of that lane, adjust your speed so you can merge safely, and yield to traffic already on the highway. Accelerating to the speed of freeway traffic fits the handbook's instruction to increase speed and adjust it for a safe merge.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Proceed slowly while waiting for an opening. — Proceeding slowly while waiting for an opening conflicts with the handbook's instruction to increase speed on the ramp and acceleration lane, and it says not to stop in the acceleration lane unless traffic is too heavy and there is no safe space.
- B. Accelerate to a speed that is faster than the speed of traffic. — The handbook does not tell you to go faster than traffic; it says to adjust your speed to merge safely and yield to traffic on the highway.
- C. Turn on your hazard lights until safely on the freeway. — Hazard lights are not mentioned for merging in the handbook; the instruction is to signal your intent to merge and adjust speed.
Remember it
Use the ramp and acceleration lane to build speed, signal early, and merge only when you can do it safely.