The manual lists three steps to merge with traffic from an acceleration lane. What is the first step?
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A.
Flash your headlights to warn drivers already on the highway.
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B.
Signal and look for an opening in traffic. Correct
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C.
Accelerate to the speed of the highway traffic.
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D.
Stop at the end of the ramp and wait for a large gap.
The answer is "Signal and look for an opening in traffic."
Step one puts your turn signal on and picks the opening in traffic; accelerating up to traffic speed is step two, and the actual merge is step three. Choice C swaps the first two steps, tempting drivers who read the lane's name and assume speed-matching is the opener.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. Flash your headlights to warn drivers already on the highway.
The merge steps call for a turn signal, not a headlight flash; headlights are not part of the three-step sequence. This answer substitutes the courtesy headlight flash truckers use on highways for the turn signal the manual names as step one.
C. Accelerate to the speed of the highway traffic.
Accelerating up to the speed of traffic is step two, done after you have signaled and identified a gap. This answer swaps steps one and two, treating speed-matching as the opener because the lane's name puts acceleration in front.
D. Stop at the end of the ramp and wait for a large gap.
None of the three steps says to stop; an acceleration lane is meant for rolling entry so you can reach traffic speed before merging. This answer imports the stop-and-wait habit from a yield-controlled entrance ramp, where stopping for a large gap is the right move.
This question tests your knowledge of Lane Changes & Merging in Pennsylvania. Source: Pennsylvania Driver Manual, "MERGING WITH TRAFFIC," p.46..
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