What must you do before merging onto a highway?

Before merging onto a highway, it's crucial to accelerate to match the speed of the traffic. This action helps ensure a smooth and safe entry onto the roadway. Highways typically have higher speed limits, and aligning your speed with that of existing traffic reduces the likelihood of conflicts and accidents. It allows you to blend into the flow of traffic, making it safer for both yourself and other drivers.

While having a clear line of sight is important for safe driving, simply having visibility does not guarantee that you can merge effectively. Merging immediately could create dangerous situations, especially if it disrupts the flow of traffic. Signaling your intent after merging is also not advisable, as proper signaling should occur before you merge to alert other drivers of your intentions. Therefore, accelerating to match the speed of traffic is the most critical step before merging onto a highway.