chapter 4 — rules of the road A sign will tell you when  the passing lane is about  to end. Vehicles in the right  lane and the passing lane  must merge before the  passing lane ends. This sign tells you the right lane will end soon.  If you’r driving in a lane that ends ahead, you need to change  lanes. Adjust your speed, keeping within the speed limit, and  wait for a safe gap in the other lane.  If you ar driving next to a lane that ends ahead, help the  merging traffic by adjusting your speed or changing lanes.  These lanes are designed to help you safely enter and exit the  freeway.  The entrance consists of an entrance ramp, an acceleration lane  and a merging area. Some freeway entrances have ramp meters  — a traffic light that controls traffic entering the freeway by  restricting the number of vehicles that may proceed along the  entrance ramp. Avoid stopping in the  acceleration lane or  merging area. You could  risk being rear-ended.  warning! Highway or freeway entrances and exits  Entrance  Merging  • While you’re on the entrance ramp, scan the freeway traffic  for a safe gap.  • The acceleration lane is divided from the rest of the roadway  by a solid white line. Use this lane to match your speed to the  speed of traffic on the freeway.  • The merging area is divided from the freeway by a broken  white line. Use this area to find a safe gap to merge with  freeway traffic. Be aware that cycling is permitted on some  freeways, so be careful not to cut in front of a cyclist. 55