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 so you can merge smoothly with the vehicles already there.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says that when you enter the speed change lane, you should stay right, signal left, and once the way is clear, build speed so you join the flow of traffic. It also says to speed up when entering a freeway. That matches accelerating to the speed of the traffic you are joining. The passage also tells you to yield to vehicles already on the highway, so the idea is to fit into their speed rather than move slowly or faster than them.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Proceed slowly while waiting for an opening. — The handbook tells you to increase speed to merge with traffic, not proceed slowly while waiting for a gap.
- B. Accelerate to a speed that is faster than the speed of traffic. — Going faster than the traffic you are joining conflicts with the handbook's direction to merge with the flow of traffic after signaling and checking that it is clear.
- C. Turn on your hazard lights until safely on the freeway. — Hazard lights are not mentioned for freeway merging; the handbook says to signal left when entering the speed change lane and merge when clear.
Remember it
Signal left and match the flow before you merge.
Official handbook: Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7), Chapter 8: Speed and Speed Limits , p. 47