You are entering a crowded freeway. What should you do to merge into traffic?
- Use your side and rearview mirrors and check your blind spots.
- Use the acceleration lane to adjust your speed to match the speed of freeway traffic.
- Yield to traffic already on the freeway.
- All of the above. ✓
Answer: D. All of the above.
The correct choice is all of the above: check your mirrors and blind spots, use the acceleration lane to match freeway speed, and yield to traffic already on the freeway.
Why this is the answer
The handbook's freeway entry steps line up with each item. It says you must give the right-of-way to vehicles already on the highway, which covers yielding. It then describes entering the speed change lane, staying right, signaling left, and once clear increasing speed to merge with the traffic flow. The handbook also says to speed up when entering the freeway, which is the acceleration lane part. Separately, it tells drivers to check mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane, which is what the mirror and blind-spot item describes.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Use your side and rearview mirrors and check your blind spots. — Checking mirrors and blind spots is only one part of merging; the handbook also requires yielding and building speed in the acceleration lane.
- B. Use the acceleration lane to adjust your speed to match the speed of freeway traffic. — Matching freeway speed in the acceleration lane is only one part of merging; you also have to yield to traffic already there and make the visual checks.
- C. Yield to traffic already on the freeway. — Yielding to freeway traffic is only one part of merging; you still need to use the acceleration lane to build speed and check mirrors and blind spots.
Remember it
Think of freeway entry as three moves in order: look, yield, then speed up in the ramp lane to blend in.