When driving on a freeway entrance ramp, what should you do to find a gap in traffic?

To effectively find a gap in traffic while driving on a freeway entrance ramp, it is crucial to check your mirrors and turn your head. This action allows you to gain a comprehensive view of the traffic situation around you. By checking your mirrors, you can observe vehicles in your immediate vicinity, while turning your head helps ensure you’re aware of any vehicles that may be in your blind spots. This combination of visual checks is essential for making an informed decision about when and how to merge safely onto the freeway.

Looking straight ahead may assist with maintaining focus on the road ahead but does not provide the necessary awareness of surrounding traffic. Merely increasing speed to merge faster can lead to unsafe situations if you are not aware of oncoming traffic, as it may force you into a gap that doesn’t exist. Finally, signaling your intent to merge is important, but it should be done after you have assessed the situation and identified a suitable gap, not as the only action taken. Thus, checking mirrors and turning your head is the most effective strategy for finding a safe merging opportunity.