Entering

Rear-end collisions are the leading type of accidents at entrances to expressways. Not only do you face the possibility of being rear-ended by traffic behind you in the entrance lane or on the expressway, you might rear-end a vehicle while your attention is focused on traffic in the expressway. The following advice will help minimize the risk of rear-end collisions:

1. As you enter the entrance lane, adjust your speed to match traffic and keep plenty of space between you and the vehicle ahead, so that you and the vehicle behind you will have more time and distance to stop in an emergency.
2. Check expressway traffic to determine if it will be necessary for you to slow down or stop at the point immediately before the entrance of the merge lane. (See diagram.) Keep in mind that the decision could be made for you by the driver immediately ahead of you.
   If you’re not entirely sure if you’ll have to slow down or stop, touch your brakes lightly to alert drivers behind that you may have to do so. The place to stop is just before the entrance of the merge lane.
3. Use the merge lane to match your speed with expressway traffic, so as to merge without having to stop. If you stop at the end of the entrance lane, you sharply increase the risk of being struck from behind.

Leaving

1. Give yourself plenty of time to move over to the lane closest to the exit. (Follow the instructions given earlier for making lane changes.)
2. Maintain your speed until you are completely in the exit ramp, and then slow down smoothly to whatever speed is posted or to the prevailing speed in the exit ramp (whichever is slower).

If you pass your exit on an expressway, never stop to back up. Continue on to the next exit.