Expect merging vehicles at onramps and interchanges. Be prepared for rapid changes in road conditions and traffic flow. Be alert for vehicles on either side, to the front, and to the rear. Use your mirrors. Leave enough space between you and the vehicle ahead for safe stops.
Mistakes cause accidents.
To protect yourself, know which lanes are clear so you can use them if you need to. Any time you come to a place where people may cross or enter your path, you should look to the sides to make sure no one is coming. Always look to the sides at intersections, crosswalks, and railroad crossings. An intersection is any place where one line of traffic meets another. Cross streets, side streets, and alleys.