California Car / Permit practice question · Speed & Space Management
When you merge onto a freeway, you should:
Answer choices
- Stop at the end of the ramp and wait for a gap
- Match the speed of freeway traffic and merge into a gap— Correct answer
- Enter as slowly as possible
- Expect freeway traffic to move over for you
Why this is the answer
Highway traffic has the right-of-way, so when you merge, be in the proper lane on the on-ramp, reach or approach the speed of traffic, and join when there is a space large enough for your vehicle. Do not stop unless it is absolutely necessary. Entering slowly or waiting at the end of the ramp makes it harder to merge safely.
Source: California Driver Handbook — Freeway Driving
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
More Speed & Space Management questions
- As your speed increases, the distance needed to stop your vehicle:
- To keep a cushion of space around your vehicle in traffic, you should:
- If another vehicle merges into your lane too closely ahead of you, the best response is to:
- Under good conditions, you should keep a following distance of at least:
- Before passing another vehicle on a two-lane road, you should be able to see the road ahead clearly for at least: