A 3-minute lesson from the Arkansas course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Vehicles moving the same direction at the same speed rarely hit each other. Crashes involving two or more vehicles often happen when someone goes much faster or slower than everyone else.
Know the rule
The safest speed in traffic is the same speed as other vehicles.
Merge at the speed of traffic: use the ramp to reach that speed. Don't drive to the end of the ramp and stop. If you must wait, slow down on the ramp so you have room to speed up, and glance over your shoulder before merging.
When exiting, don't slow down until you're on the exit ramp. On a high-speed two-lane road, don't slow too soon with traffic behind you: tap your brakes, reduce speed safely, and signal.
On an interstate on-ramp, traffic is moving at 65 mph. Accelerate along the ramp to match it, check your mirror and glance over your shoulder, then slide into a gap. Stopping at the end of the ramp would risk being hit from behind.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
According to the handbook, what is the safest speed to drive in traffic?
5 mph below other traffic
The same speed as other vehicles
The maximum posted speed
Slightly faster than other traffic
Answer: The same speed as other vehicles
Crashes often happen when drivers go faster or slower than others; the safest speed is the same speed as other vehicles.