Merging and Changing Lanes on Your Driving Test

Changing lanes and merging look simple, but they are manoeuvres where many candidates lose points. Not because they are technically difficult, but because you have to do several things at once: observe, signal, adjust your speed and make a decision.

The basics: mirror, signal, shoulder, decide

Every lane change follows the same sequence. First you check your mirrors: the interior mirror and the door mirror on the side you want to move to. Then you signal in good time, so others see it before you move. A quick shoulder check for the blind spot follows. And only then do you decide: if there is enough room, you steer calmly and smoothly, and if not, you wait.

When you change lanes, do it in one fluid movement, without steering abruptly. Then drive straight ahead for a few metres before switching off your indicator.

When it goes wrong

Too little space. A gap that seems just big enough is often too small. You need room for your own car as well as a safe distance to the car behind you. If you are unsure, wait for a better gap.

Speed difference. A vehicle travelling faster than you is close in no time. Don't underestimate the speed difference, especially on busy roads. Adjust your speed so you can change lanes without braking or accelerating sharply.

Deciding too late. If you only want to leave a lane at the last moment because your exit is approaching, you get into trouble. Read signs and markings far ahead and choose your lane early.

How to judge a gap

A good gap has three characteristics: it is big enough for your car, the traffic behind the gap is not closing in too quickly and the traffic in front of the gap is not braking. If one of the three is missing, you wait. It is tempting to squeeze "just" into a small gap, but that forces others to brake, and that is exactly what an examiner wants to avoid.

Merging

When you merge onto a road with traffic, you adjust your speed to the traffic you are joining. Look for a suitable gap, signal and merge as soon as it is safe. Don't wait until the last metres of an acceleration lane if you still need to build up speed. Stopping on the acceleration lane is an emergency solution, not a plan.

An example: you are on an acceleration lane and want to join a busy road. You look early at the traffic on the main carriageway and estimate its speed. You accelerate on the acceleration lane, to get closer to the speed of the traffic. You check your mirrors, signal and do a shoulder check. You find a gap and merge calmly and smoothly. Only then do you switch off your indicator.

If the traffic is too busy, stay calm and take your time. It is better to let a gap go by than to force a dangerous situation.

Zipper merging

When a lane narrows or ends, vehicles from both lanes go through in turn: this is called a zipper merge. Drive on up to the point where the lane ends and then let a vehicle from the other lane in, one at a time. Merging well in turn requires mutual respect and a smooth, predictable driving style.

Lane changes in town

In town, lanes are sometimes close together, with buses, cyclists and parked cars. Pay extra attention here to cyclists on the side, who are not always visible in your mirror, to buses pulling away from a stop and wanting to re-enter traffic, and to vehicles coming out of a side street. Only change lanes when it is really necessary, and do it calmly.

Communicating with other drivers

Your indicator is your most important means of communication. Use it in good time, not only at the moment you are already steering. You can also show your intentions with your speed and position. A slight slowing down can make another driver understand that he may let you go ahead. Always be clear and predictable.

Ideally, a lane change happens at a steady speed. If you suddenly accelerate or brake during the change, you make it hard for others to follow you. So adjust your speed before you start, not during the movement.

On the test

During lane changes, examiners look at several things: whether you observe in good time, whether you signal and check the blind spot, whether you change smoothly rather than abruptly, and whether you choose a suitable gap without forcing others to brake. A candidate who calmly waits for a better gap scores better here than someone who squeezes through a gap that is too small.

Common mistakes

Signalling and steering immediately without looking, only looking in the mirror and forgetting the blind spot, driving too slowly on an acceleration lane and steering too abruptly: these are the classics.

How to practise it

Build up gradually. Start with lane changes on a quiet road with two lanes in the same direction. Then move on to merging on a road with moderate traffic, then to lane changes in busier traffic, and finally combine that with junctions or roundabouts where you have to choose your lane early. Ask your supervisor to note whether you take all the steps in the right order.

What to do when the gap disappears

Sometimes you decide to change lanes, your indicator starts flashing and the gap closes just before you move. That is not a problem. Don't carry on steering just because you have already signalled. Switch off your indicator if necessary, continue in your lane and look for a new gap. A small setback is no reason to take a risk.

The role of your speed in choosing the gap

You can use your speed to make a gap appear. If you drive a little slower, the gap moves towards you. If you drive a little faster, a gap comes into view ahead of you. This does require you to anticipate: if you only adjust your speed at the last moment, you no longer get a chance.

Lane changes at roundabouts and junctions

At roundabouts with multiple lanes and at junctions with filter lanes, you often have to change lanes well before the junction. Do it as early as possible, when traffic is light. If you only want to change lanes just before the junction, you often squeeze into a gap that is too small and force others to brake.

Good lane changes are all about preparation: looking far ahead, deciding in good time and carrying it out calmly. The earlier you plan, the less you need to hurry. And anyone who does this shows the examiner that they understand traffic, even without spectacular manoeuvres.