How do I merge onto the freeway?

Question

I've had a phobia of driving on the freeway for years. I'm an excellent driver around the city, just never done much interstate driving. Merging scares the h**l out of me.

What happens if I can't merge before the acceleration lane runs out? And how do you know for sure that you have enough room to get in the next lane? Everyone speeds so much over the limit, if I'm doing 65 must I accelerate to 80 just to get in without getting hit?

Answer 1

Enter the on-ramp and accelerate. Once you have made your way onto the freeway ramp, you will want to accelerate so you can meet up with the speed on the traffic on the freeway before your merge lane ends.

Watch approaching drivers and use your mirrors. Always keep an on eye on the drivers behind you on the entrance ramp, quite often they will take no heed of you and zip on by. If they do this let them, as it is much safer to wait until it is clear.

Signal to change lanes. Once you deem the merge lane safe enough to enter, be sure to check your mirrors again and turn on your turning signal to let other drivers know you intend to change lanes.

Merge. Glance once over your shoulder just to make sure that there are no cars approaching in your blind spots, and then quickly make the lane change. After you have changed lanes you can turn off your turning signal.

Answer 2

You just accelerate on the on ramp and merge with an open spot in traffic. It's not much different from hanging lanes.

If it really scares you, try it a few times when traffic is light.

If traffic is very heavy and you need 'help', signal with your indicators and with your arm -- extended out the window and pointing to the left.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Hi,

  Its simple-just accelerate smoothly but not slowly up the ramp. Be sure to put your turn signal on, as this might encourage other drivers to move to another lane. If someone is coming up quickly behind you, you have 2 choices: Either gas it and get in front of them, or let off and let them pass. This is completely up to you to decide...and remember-the more you practice the easier it is!

Answer 4

Once you get on the on ramp, your committed.

You just have to keep giving it gas, keep accelerating, keep an eye on the speedometer, look in your mirrors, don't slow down, signal when you finally merge, and please DON'T at anytime stop in front of anybody. People can be too cautious when merging. People like that create accidents.

If you do it right, it's not hard to get up to speed with most cars, but some cars are underpowered and need a good start to get up to speed.

Answer 5

For the legal answer your supposed to go the same speed as the cars on the freeway to merge.  It just takes common sense in my opinion I mean you see an opening take it, if you need to hit the brake to avoid an accident then do what it takes.  I mean personally I drive a Ford F 350 with a big V8 so merging isn't typically that hard for me.  Stay calm if one person doesn't let you over hit the brake and get in front of the next car, by law they don't have a choice, in fact there supposed to get over if possible to provide you with room to get on the freeway.  I've been on the freeway before almost in a wreck since everyone on the freeway was doing 75-80 mph and this car gets in front of us doing 55-60 mph.  Everyone had to jam on there brakes, I've also had to put half my car on the shoulder before since no one would let me over.  Good Luck You can do it.