What is the proper way to merge onto a highway?

Merging onto a highway requires careful consideration of the speed and flow of traffic on the roadway. The proper technique involves matching the speed of the vehicles already traveling in the lane you are merging into. This helps ensure a smoother and safer transition into the flow of traffic.

By matching the speed of the traffic, you increase the likelihood of finding a safe gap where you can merge without forcing other drivers to slow down or change lanes unexpectedly. This is essential for maintaining safety on the highway and preventing accidents, as sudden changes in speed can lead to collisions.

In contrast, immediately changing lanes without consideration of speed or traffic gaps can create dangerous situations for both the merging driver and other road users. Reducing speed before merging could also be counterproductive, as it risks creating a larger disparity in speed between your vehicle and the highway traffic, which may lead to collisions. Only merging when there is no traffic is impractical, as highways are often busy and finding an endless gap is unlikely.