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Washington Personal Driver Knowledge Test
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Passing target: 80% (32/40)
Freeways & High-Speed RoadsStandalone practice
Your lane ends ahead, and traffic in the next lane moves steadily at about 40 mph. Beside you is a small gap, about one car length long. A larger gap is a few car lengths farther back. What should you do?
A’s lower lane ends. In the continuing lane, the gap beside A is about one car length; a larger gap lies farther behind.
Correct answer: Signal, adjust your speed, and merge into the larger gap
Why
A merge needs space in front of you and behind you. If you squeeze into a small gap and the driver ahead slows down, you have no room to stop, and the driver behind you must brake hard. In slow or stopped traffic at a lane closure, the guide recommends the zipper merge instead.
Verified against Washington Driver Guide · Merging · p. 159, 160
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