• Law
College

Exiting traffic that is behind entering traffic should continue to merge behind entering traffic since entering traffic is accelerating and exiting traffic is decelerating.

True or False

Answer :

Exiting and entering traffic behavior depends on road design and current conditions, and drivers should adjust accordingly to maintain traffic flow.

The statement regarding traffic behavior in situations involving exiting and entering traffic is a nuanced one. In general, traffic should flow smoothly, with drivers adjusting their speed and positioning to maintain safety and efficiency. Exiting traffic, which is decelerating, often has a designated exit lane giving them space to slow down separately from the main flow of traffic. However, this scenario can change based on the specific design of the road and current traffic conditions.

In practice, either exiting or entering traffic may need to adjust their merge behavior to prevent the formation of a 'wave' of slower traffic that can propagate backward through the traffic stream and possibly cause a traffic jam. Drivers should avoid unnecessary braking by anticipating stops and decelerating gradually. This concept connects to the physics of motion and kinematics, where the relative velocities and accelerations of the vehicles determine the traffic dynamics and safety.