Tennessee Permit Practice Test

What vehicle should you yield to when merging onto a highway?

1. Emergency vehicles only

2. Vehicles stopped at the highway entrance

3. Traffic already on the highway

4. Any vehicle with a trailer

The correct answer is: Traffic already on the highway

When merging onto a highway, it is essential to yield to traffic already on the highway. This is important for maintaining the flow of traffic and ensuring safety for all road users. Vehicles on the highway have the right-of-way because they are already moving at highway speed, and it is critical for those entering the highway to adjust their speed and make safe maneuvers to merge seamlessly into the traffic without causing disruptions or hazards. Yielding to traffic already on the highway helps prevent accidents that can occur when a merging vehicle forces its way into the lane of an oncoming vehicle. By giving way, the merging driver can find an appropriate gap in traffic and enter safely. While emergency vehicles, stopped vehicles, and vehicles with trailers are also considerations in various traffic situations, they do not take precedence over vehicles that are already traveling on the highway. Therefore, the correct focus when merging is to ensure a smooth integration into the existing traffic flow on the highway.