You approach a large electronic flashing arrow panel telling you to move or merge. When should you begin your merge?
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A.
After the lane you are traveling in has ended completely.
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B.
Only after you have driven past the arrow panel itself.
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C.
Once you see brake lights from the vehicle ahead of you.
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D.
Well in advance of the sign. Correct
The answer is "Well in advance of the sign."
Arrow panels warn of a lane closure ahead, and the manual says to begin your merge well in advance of the sign. Drivers who wait until the lane ends (A) are falling back on the last-second zipper habit from congested city merges, not the manual's rule to move over early.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. After the lane you are traveling in has ended completely.
The lane closure is the very thing the panel is warning about in advance. This answer falls back on the last-second zipper merge habit from congested city traffic instead of moving over as soon as the panel appears.
B. Only after you have driven past the arrow panel itself.
Waiting until the panel is behind you leaves no room to merge safely. This answer reads the arrow panel as the merge point itself rather than the advance warning of a lane closure ahead.
C. Once you see brake lights from the vehicle ahead of you.
Waiting for brake lights means merging late into slowing traffic. This answer substitutes the driver-ahead's brake lights for the arrow panel as the trigger to change lanes.
This question tests your knowledge of Lane Changes & Merging in Pennsylvania. Source: Pennsylvania Driver Manual, "ELECTRIC ARROW PANELS," p.19..
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