What is the safe way to merge when entering a highway in a commercial vehicle?

To merge safely when entering a highway in a commercial vehicle, increasing speed in the acceleration lane and then merging with traffic when it is safe is crucial. This practice allows the vehicle to match the speed of the traffic already on the highway, making the merging process smoother and minimizing disruption to the flow of traffic.

The acceleration lane is specifically designed to allow vehicles to increase their speed before joining the main flow of traffic. This means that drivers can find a suitable gap while ensuring they are moving at a comparable speed to those already on the highway, which reduces the risk of causing accidents or forcing other vehicles to brake suddenly.

In contrast, other options like slowing down and waiting for a gap can lead to dangerous situations, as it may cause confusion for drivers already on the highway who expect vehicles to be merging at highway speeds. Stopping before merging can create a severe hazard, as it may cause unexpected traffic interruptions and increase the likelihood of rear-end collisions. Additionally, merging without checking mirrors is highly unsafe, as it disregards the necessity of being aware of surrounding vehicles, potentially leading to collisions due to blind spots.

Thus, the correct approach is to accelerate in the designated lane and find an appropriate gap to merge safely and efficiently.