After passing another car, you should return to the right lane when?

• A. You can see the front bumper of the other car in your mirror
• B. You can see the rear bumper of the other car
• C. You must wait until you reach the same speed as the other car
• D. You should immediately merge as soon as you pass

Answer: (A)

After you’ve finished passing another vehicle, your safe return to the right lane depends on your visibility of that vehicle in your rear-view mirror. When you can clearly see the front bumper of the car you just passed in your rear-view mirror, you’ve gained enough clearance and it’s safe to merge back. If you still see only the rear of that car or you can’t see it at all, you’re too close and it’s unsafe to re-enter. Merging right away or waiting to match speed doesn’t address the important safety cue of having clear visibility of the passed vehicle to ensure you’ve fully cleared it.