How to Correctly Merge Onto Highway, Interstate, Motorway

NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVERY STOP ON AN ON-RAMP OR ACCELERATION LANE

The only exception to that rule is if traffic is stopped on the highway.

When merging onto a freeway, highway, intestate or motorway, always get your vehicle up to the speed of the flow of traffic and merge.

COMMUNICATION YOUR INTENTION EARLY

And the key to a successful merge is to signal early to communicate your intentions and give other traffic ample notice.

SOCIAL DRIVING - IT'S A TEAM EVENT

For drivers already on the highway, they can--if possible--either merge and move over to allow space for the merging vehicle.

Or the driver could simply let off the throttle or cancel the cruise control and decelerate slightly.

The speed differential between the accelerating and decelerating vehicle will often create a sufficient gap for the merging vehicle.

Merging onto a highway or freeway is a team event. All drivers must participate to make it a seamless manoeuvre.

Good luck on your road test!
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[fixedgearforlife]

This video needs to go viral. Everyday I see people doing things they shouldn't when merging on.

[theinquisitor]

Please! Do not go 40 miles per hour (65km/h) on the acceleration lane. This is a major hazard. Trucks are an exception. If you do not feel comfortable putting the pedal to the floor then please take a different highway. I can not tell you how many times I've almost rear-ended someone while we were on the acceleration lane because they are not accelerating fast enough. It makes it a challenge for all involved especially the people who are already on the highway. I recommend you Practice merging on a highway with lower speeds first before you try the faster highways. I've been driving for almost 4 years now. I really enjoy these videos. They help me improve my driving skills. I'm always looking to improve my skills. I can't thank you! enough!

[TheChubbyDoe]

I'm learning how to drive within 1 month, and thank goodness for your videos. You are a better teacher than the actual driving school teachers in the car with me.

[NargisC]

I watched your vids and i passed my road test 2 days ago!!!! thank you so much sir for the tips and effort put into the vids!!! I highly appreciate it!!!

[therie]

Thank you for your effort to make videos to help people like me who wants to pass the driving test. I passed my driving test earlier.

To you who are going to have their driving test soon, it’s normal to get nervous but know that u got this. Just feel confident, tell yourself “this is my last chance, there is no next time”. Move your head as u scan and shoulder check and of course pray.

[beautiful_bella_chocolat]

I'm so glad your on here, I passed my road test May 23rd in Albany, NY and I couldn't have done it without these videos! and as a new driver your advice Is always straight to the point and with conviction, and that's what's needed! I still watch the videos to gain extra confidence while driving! Thank you so much!

[Thejadecutie]

I watched most of your videos and practiced for months and I just passed my test today! Thank you so much you’re very helpful and clear with explaining. Couldn’t of done it without ya!

[bianccawright]

Thank-you so much for your videos, it's helped me more than I can say as a newer driver. I appreciate every video you post, a lot of us aren't taught half of these rules and need guidance. So thank-you again.

[alskndlaskndal]

You say it's a "team event"--but sometimes other drivers think you're the opposing team! Others are distracted, and then there's semi trucks which, no matter how nice the driver, have limited ability to slow down, accelerate, or move over to help you.

I agree that "Plan A" should be to merge seamlessly at speed, but conditions sometimes make that difficult and possibly unsafe--how should we prepare for a "Plan B" if things start to go wrong? Maybe no one's leaving a gap for you, or maybe a semi's coming up on your left that you can't see behind... suddenly you're at the end of the merging lane, now going at highway speed, with a line of vehicles beside you and only shoulder ahead...

In my state's laws, drivers on the highway have the right of way, and the merging driver is assumed at fault for any collision that occurs. Unfortunately some take this to mean that they never have to slow down or change lanes for a merging car... they'd consider the merge at 5:22 to be "cutting them off" and get angry/aggressive. (Rear ends, on the other hand, are legally the fault of the person hitting from behind, although of course we shouldn't rely on right of ways to keep us safe).

[brentscott]

Again, a very informative video for those of us with decades of driving. Always good to have a refresher. Dragging a holiday trailer can be a challenge to get up to highway speed but more often than not, drivers are very accommodating. Must confess to going significantly over limit a few times to merge as in Alberta, tail gating is the norm and there is nowhere to go if no one will back off. Have never had occasion to stop but have introduced myself to the shoulder once or twice. Again, tailgating and no one can/will move out of the way.

Which brings me to another couple of points. Would love the police to focus a bit more on tail gaters and less on speeders, within reason of course. Two second + rule and all for distance. Would be thrilled to have drivers take a road test upon renewal or at the least, the written test. We all pick up some bad habits over the years and need a reminder from time to time. Again, thanks for the series.

[damonmason]

Dr. Rick August:

Many salutations! Driving out on the highway like you were doing in this video looks like a lot of fun; if my economy were not whimpering in pain right now, I would go rent a vehicle and join in the fun. I got hit with a $111 electric bill this month (September 2019); still, I am confident that my fortunes will be better next month.

While I am waiting, I shall share some of my experiences. When I was heading back home from prosecuting a DoorDash delivery session in Kerrville, IH-10 was quite different at night than during the day and I at first wondered if I had accidently turned west instead of east because the San Antonio radio station Magic 105.3 was not clearly audible when I was in Kerrville. As I drove further east, the aforementioned radio station came in with greater volume and clarity which lifted my spirits quite a lot.


This memory is also why I reversed course back to San Antonio when my rental car reported a tire pressurization diagnostic fault during my second trip to Kerrville which ultimately led to that tire blowing out on me to the tune of $46 to have the tire replaced; even though I could then set course toward Kerrville after having the tire replaced, I was so freaked out by the experience that I stayed home for the rest of that day. Why would the right rear tire develop this fault in spite of me driving the car forward most of the time? Would one of the front tires not be the first to give way? What is to say that one of the three other tires would not blow out on me after I had the right rear tire replaced? Such worries played out very heavily in my mind, Dr. August . . . especially since I got that tire pressurization diagnostic fault for the same tire while I was prosecuting a DoorDash delivery session in Pleasanton; fortunately, re-pressurizing the tire did the trick.

But back to my original point. Driving on IH-37 at night north from Pleasanton was only slightly less scary because I had Magic 105.3 coming in loud and clear which is a sign of my proximity to San Antonio; still, I really had to hustle through Poteet to Jourdanton or I would have lost that DoorDash delivery session. I remember my rental car advising me to consider taking a break during these two road trips I conducted; still, what if there is nowhere to heed that counsel? What if the vehicle makes this choice for me and how can I diminish this likelihood, Dr. August?

[sarahk]

No question at all, just wanted to tell you that you’re very knowledgeable and you’re the best! Thank you for your amazing videos!!!

[tinacolbourneart]

So my question is: what happens in those situations that the highway is busy and there are no gaps big enough for you to merge and nobody is letting you in and you are coming to the end of the lane? I've had this happen several times now and it's super frustrating. Too many people on the roads are out for themselves and don't want to let people in.

[karanbantawa]

Epic icing to the cake!: "I didn't see the emergency vehicle so..." Helps us be more alert for sirens and flashing lights. Thank you, Rick. :)

[kevindawes]

Thank you, Rick. This question has bugged me for years and I’m glad that I’ve got my answer

[gregchernyy]

i have watched all your videos and i have passed my driving test! thank you so much you were very helpful!

[jooka]

Hey Rick, bit of a scare today. I was driving in the right lane at 110 which was admittedly too fast. I could see that cars were up ahead merging, I let go of the throttle as you suggested but one vehicle merged on, and our speed differential was too high, I doubt he merged at 100 but I can't be certain. I ended up having to blindly enter the left lane and quickly veer back to the right lane a definite near miss. Is avoiding this simply a matter of going less fast. I'll do my best to stay in the left lane at this point as well. I don't want to say its shaken me up, but it definitely puts driving on the highway up for reevalution on the list of things that seem like a good idea.

[Massage]

Your saveing lives with your videos really do appreciate you. Thank you

[XenoPop]

Thanks very much! I have a drive today that's been stressing me out about a freeway. Your video significantly helps and relieves me. Looking forward to exploring more of your videos!

[Jess-ewtm]

yoouu!!! You demonstrated and explained things extremely well!!