What is the correct action when merging onto a highway?

When merging onto a highway, the correct action is to accelerate to match the speed of the traffic. This is crucial for ensuring a smooth and safe transition onto the highway. Highways are designed for higher speed travel, and maintaining an appropriate speed when merging minimizes the risk of collisions or disrupting the flow of traffic.

By matching the speed of vehicles already on the highway, drivers can find suitable gaps in traffic without causing others to brake suddenly or change lanes abruptly. It is essential for safety and efficient traffic movement that anyone merging integrates seamlessly into the existing traffic patterns.

The other actions, while relevant to safe driving, do not specifically facilitate a smooth merge. For example, stopping before merging can create hazardous situations by disrupting the momentum of traffic behind you. Looking for an open spot without adjusting speed might lead to dangerous situations if a driver is unable to merge safely into traffic due to discrepancies in speed. Additionally, while yielding to highway traffic is important, it is not sufficient on its own; merging also requires accelerating appropriately to ensure safety and fluidity in traffic flow.