Practice question

On-ramp merging:

  1. Enter the highway before accelerating.
  2. Accelerate to match the speed of traffic and merge safely.
  3. Stop at the end of the ramp and wait for a gap.
  4. Merge by changing lanes immediately without signaling.

Answer: B — Accelerate to match the speed of traffic and merge safely.

On-ramp merging relies on matching the speed of highway traffic before you blend in. Use the acceleration lane to bring your speed up to the flow, then look for a safe gap and merge smoothly into traffic. This keeps the traffic moving and gives drivers behind you time to react. Entering before you accelerate creates a speed difference with the surrounding vehicles, making it hard for others to anticipate your move. Stopping at the end of the ramp blocks the ramp and wastes a potential gap you could have used. Merging by changing lanes immediately without signaling hides your intentions and can surprise drivers, raising the risk of a collision. Signaling, checking mirrors and blind spots, and merging when you have a safe opening is the proper approach.

Practice more: Japanese Provisional Learner's Permit (Karimen) Practice Test →