What is the primary concern when merging into traffic?

Maintaining a safe gap is essential when merging into traffic as it ensures that you can safely enter the flow of vehicles without causing a disruption. When you merge, it’s crucial to gauge the speed and distance of the vehicles already on the road so that you can adjust your speed and position accordingly. This safe gap allows for smoother transitions, reduces the risk of collisions, and helps keep traffic flowing efficiently. A driver that successfully maintains a safe distance can make better judgments about when to merge and how to do so without endangering themselves or others on the road.

The other concerns, while they may play a role in overall driving safety, are secondary to the primary goal of establishing and maintaining a safe space during the merging process. For example, following too closely can lead to rear-end collisions, speeding up excessively can create abrupt changes in traffic flow, and changing lanes frequently can confuse other drivers and make it harder to merge safely. In contrast, keeping that safe gap as you merge is foundational to safe driving practices.