Highway driving — Texas Permit Test

A driver entering a highway must yield the right-of-way to vehicles already on it.

The traffic already up to speed has nowhere to go. Fitting in is the job of the car arriving.

You must yield the right-of-way to vehicles already on the highway

A driver entering a highway uses the speed change lane, stays right, signals left, and increases speed to merge with the flow of traffic.

Arriving at the end of the ramp below the traffic speed forces everybody else to brake. The ramp is for getting up to speed.

Enter the speed change lane, stay to the right, signal left, and when it is clear, increase your speed to merge with the flow of traffic

A driver who cannot or does not want to drive at or above the minimum speed limit should not use the highway.

A car well below the flow is an obstacle everything else has to swerve round. The alternative is another road.

cannot or do not want to drive at or above the minimum speed limit, do not use the highway

On a highway a driver stays at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead, and increases that to at least four seconds in bad weather.

The gap is what turns a sudden stop ahead into a slow one for you. Bad weather doubles what it takes.

Stay at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you. In bad weather, increase the time to at least four seconds

Exit signs are usually placed at least 1,000 yards ahead of the exit, and a driver moves into the proper lane well in advance.

The sign is far enough back to change lanes calmly. Leaving it to the exit itself means crossing lanes at speed.

proper lane. Exit signs are usually placed at least 1,000 yards ahead of the exit

A driver slows down on the exit ramp so that by the time they are off the highway they are within the new, slower speed limit.

The slowing belongs on the ramp, not on the highway behind you. Braking in the through lane is how cars get hit from behind.

Slow down on the exit ramp so by the time you are off the highway, you are within the new, slower speed limit

Once in the proper lane a driver stays in the middle of their lane, does not weave in and out of traffic, and keeps a constant speed.

Weaving gives nobody time to predict the car. Holding a lane and a speed is what makes it readable.

Maintain a constant speed. Keep pace with the traffic

A driver adjusts their speed to allow others to enter the highway safely.

The car on the ramp has a fixed amount of road to get up to speed in. A small change from you gives them the gap.

Adjust your speed to allow others to enter the highway safely

A vehicle in any lane except the right lane used for slower traffic should be ready to move to another lane to let faster traffic pass.

The right lane is where slower traffic belongs. Everywhere else, somebody faster may need through.

Vehicles in any lane, except the right lane used for slower traffic, should be prepared to move to another lane to allow faster traffic to pass

Who yields when a Texas driver enters a highway?

The driver entering the highway. The traffic already up to speed has nowhere to go. Fitting in is the job of the car arriving. Texas Driver Handbook, p.47: “You must yield the right-of-way to vehicles already on the highway”