Arizona Driving Permit Written Practice Test

What is the correct procedure for merging onto the freeway?

1. Signal and immediately merge

2. Accelerate to match the speed of traffic, signal, and merge safely

3. Reduce speed before merging

4. Wait until there is a large gap to enter

The correct answer is: Accelerate to match the speed of traffic, signal, and merge safely

The correct procedure for merging onto the freeway emphasizes the need to accelerate to match the speed of traffic already on the roadway. This is crucial because freeways are designed for high-speed travel, and merging at a similar speed helps to maintain traffic flow and reduces the likelihood of accidents. By signaling your intent to merge before you actually move into a lane, you communicate to other drivers what you plan to do, further ensuring safety. The merging lane is often designed to provide enough space for drivers to increase their speed to match that of the traffic in the right lane, which aids in creating a smooth transition. Merging safely also involves being aware of your surroundings and choosing an appropriate gap in traffic, but doing so without the preceding acceleration may not provide enough time for a safe merge. This procedural method helps prevent disruptions to both the merging vehicle's trajectory and the flow of existing freeway traffic, thus promoting overall road safety.