What do you need to do before merging onto a highway?

Before merging onto a highway, it is important to accelerate to match the speed of traffic on the highway. This ensures a smooth and safe integration into the flow of vehicles already traveling on the highway. Merging at an appropriate speed helps you avoid disrupting the traffic patterns and reduces the risk of accidents by maintaining a consistent pace with other vehicles.

Matching the speed of traffic allows for safer gaps in which to enter, and helps drivers on the highway to anticipate your movements. This is crucial, as high-speed highways have a different dynamic than slower roads. Not maintaining speed can lead to potentially dangerous situations, such as forcing vehicles already on the highway to brake or maneuver around you.

In contrast, yielding to the vehicle on the highway is still essential; however, simply yielding without proper speed could still create hazards. Turning on hazard lights is not necessary while merging and could confuse other drivers. Stopping at the merge point is not advisable as it poses a significant danger to both you and other drivers on the highway. Therefore, ensuring that you are at an appropriate speed is a critical step before merging.