New Hampshire CDL Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Preparation

Matching the speed of traffic before merging is essential for a commercial vehicle for several reasons. The primary goal when merging onto a highway is to safely integrate into the existing traffic flow without causing disruptions. Commercial vehicles, due to their size and weight, require more time and space to accelerate to highway speeds compared to standard passenger vehicles. If a commercial driver cannot match the speed of other vehicles during the merge, it can lead to dangerous situations, such as creating obstacles to faster-moving traffic, increasing the risk of collisions, or forcing other drivers to brake suddenly.

In addition, merging at the same speed as the traffic helps in maintaining the flow of the highway, contributing to overall road safety and efficiency. It's crucial for drivers of all vehicles, especially large ones like trucks, to be aware of their speed relative to others and adjust accordingly before attempting to merge. This practice is part of defensive driving and is critical for ensuring the safety of all road users.