TAIC HIGHWAY SAFETY LAB

You Passed the Truck. Would You Merge Now?

The lane looks open. Your exit is coming. But is there enough room in front of the truck? Make the decision, watch the roadway scenario unfold, and test your merge awareness.

Interactive Merge Decision Challenge

INTERACTIVE MERGE DEMONSTRATION

When does “I’m ahead of the truck” become “I have enough space”?

FMCSA advises motorists to make sure the truck or bus is visible in the rearview mirror before merging in front, and to leave extra space. Choose what you would do before revealing the scenario.

MERGE
SPACE

TRUCK STOPPING SPACE REDUCED

You are ahead of the truck in the left lane Simplified educational animation

TAIC safety takeaway

Do not cut closely in front of a large truck. FMCSA advises motorists to make sure the truck or bus is visible in the rearview mirror before merging in front and to leave extra space. Large trucks need substantially more stopping distance than passenger vehicles.

Source basis: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Tips for Passenger Vehicle Drivers. FMCSA guidance → This animation is conceptual and does not establish a fixed safe merging distance for every roadway condition.

60-SECOND MERGE CHALLENGE

Would you merge?

Five quick situations test whether you give large trucks the room they need when lanes converge.

TAIC WOULD YOU MERGE? Question 1 of 5

YOUR MERGE AWARENESS SCORE

0/100

KEEP EXPLORING THE TAIC HIGHWAY SAFETY LAB

How much road does a large truck need to stop?

Continue with TAIC’s Stopping-Distance Visualizer and see why extra merge space matters.

Open the Stopping-Distance Visualizer →