Video lessons · Unit 9: Freeway driving

Merging onto the Freeway

Scared of merging onto the freeway? Grandpa explains it in one minute.

What you'll learn

• Freeway day, kiddo! Hold on to your dentures.
• No way! The ramp is for building speed. Merge at the speed of traffic.
• Right lane to cruise, left lane to pass. And don't hang out in anyone's blind spot.
• Never! Take the next exit and turn around. Ten extra minutes won't kill you.
• Work zone? Slow down. Those tickets bite harder than my hot sauce.
• Car breaks down? Pull to the shoulder, hazards on, stay put with your belt on.

Test yourself: 5 exam-style questions

1. 1. You're on a freeway on-ramp. What should you do?

   1. Speed up to match traffic and find a gap
   2. Enter slowly so others can see you
   3. Just go: freeway traffic must brake for you
   4. Stop at the end of the ramp and wait
   Show answer

   Answer: Speed up to match traffic and find a gap

   The ramp is for building speed. Merge at the speed of traffic.

2. 2. Approaching a toll plaza, one lane says "electronic pay only" and you have no transponder. You…

   1. Use it anyway, it's free without a tag
   2. Swerve across several lanes right at the booth
   3. Move early to a lane that takes your payment
   4. Stop in the lane and back up
   Show answer

   Answer: Move early to a lane that takes your payment

   Read the signs early and pick your lane in time. Toll rules vary by road.

3. 3. You're exiting the freeway. When do you start slowing down?

   1. In the main lane, well before the exit
   2. Once you're already in the ramp's curve
   3. Once you're in the deceleration lane
   4. When you see the first exit sign
   Show answer

   Answer: Once you're in the deceleration lane

   Keep your speed on the freeway. Slow down once you're in the exit lane.

4. 4. You missed your freeway exit. What do you do?

   1. Make a U-turn across the median
   2. Continue to the next exit
   3. Back up along the shoulder
   4. Stop and wait for a gap to go back
   Show answer

   Answer: Continue to the next exit

   Never back up on a freeway! Take the next exit and turn around.

5. 5. On a multi-lane freeway, if you're driving slower than traffic, use…

   1. Always the center lane
   2. The right lane
   3. The shoulder
   4. The left lane
   Show answer

   Answer: The right lane

   Right lane to cruise, left lane to pass. Easy.