How should you handle a vehicle merging into your lane?

When handling a vehicle merging into your lane, adjusting your speed and creating space is the most effective strategy. This approach allows you to safely accommodate the merging vehicle, reducing the risk of a collision and maintaining the flow of traffic. By slowing down or speeding up slightly as needed, you create a gap that enables the other driver to merge smoothly without feeling pressured or hurried.

Creating space also helps in maintaining situational awareness, as it gives you more room to maneuver if something unexpected occurs. This technique is foundational in defensive driving, where the emphasis is on anticipating the actions of other drivers and responding in a way that promotes safety for everyone on the road.

In contrast, accelerating to block the merge can lead to aggressive driving behaviors, which can escalate tensions on the road and increase the likelihood of an accident. Remaining in your lane without any changes can leave you at risk of an unexpected collision with the merging vehicle, as it doesn’t take into account the dynamic nature of traffic. Finally, braking suddenly can lead to dangerous situations, as it may cause drivers behind you to react unpredictably, potentially causing a rear-end collision.