What is a safe driving technique to use when merging onto highways?

When merging onto highways, the safest driving technique is to signal and speed up to match the traffic. This approach ensures that you are integrating smoothly with the flow of vehicles already on the highway. By using your turn signal, you communicate your intentions to other drivers, which enhances safety and allows them to adjust their speed or position if necessary. Speeding up to match the pace of the traffic helps to minimize the risk of collisions and allows for a more fluid merging process as drivers have less chance of being caught off guard by a slower-moving vehicle merging into their lane.

Maintaining a similar speed to that of the highway traffic reduces the likelihood of sudden braking or lane changes, which can create hazardous situations. Being aware of the gap in traffic and effectively judging speed plays a crucial role in a successful merge. In contrast, merging at low speed or relying solely on mirrors without signaling can lead to dangerous scenarios where other drivers might not anticipate your movement. Joining from the breakdown lane is generally unsafe and often illegal, as it puts the merging driver at a significant risk and can cause confusion among other vehicles.