What is essential to look for when merging into traffic?

When merging into traffic, it is crucial to assess your speed in relation to the vehicles already on the roadway. Ensuring that your speed is compatible with the flow of traffic allows for a smoother and safer merging process. If you merge at a significantly slower speed than the surrounding traffic, you risk creating a hazardous situation, potentially causing accidents or forcing other drivers to make sudden adjustments to their speed or direction.

While other factors, such as traffic signals and the presence of parked cars, can influence your overall situational awareness, they are not as directly relevant to the task of merging. Understanding your speed compared to that of other vehicles helps you to gauge the timing and positioning needed to safely enter traffic without disrupting the flow. Thus, focusing on your speed relative to other vehicles is fundamental for a successful and safe merging maneuver.